In taxonomy, a segregate, or a segregate taxon is created when a taxon is split off from another taxon. This other taxon will be better known, usually bigger, and will continue to exist, even after the segregate taxon has been split off. A segregate will be either new or ephemeral: there is a tendency for taxonomists to disagree on segregates, and later workers often reunite a segregate with the 'mother' taxon.[1]

If a segregate is generally accepted as a 'good' taxon it ceases to be a segregate. Thus, this is a way of indicating change in the taxonomic status. It should not be confused with, for example, the subdivision of a genus into subgenera.[2]

For example, the genus Alsobia is a segregate from the genus Episcia; The genera Filipendula and Aruncus are segregates from the genus Spiraea.

References

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  1. ^ "How to separate taxonomy terms from two different vocabularies in $term array of node-custom_content_type.tpl.php". Drupal.org. 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  2. ^ "Split the taxonomy column". www.biostars.org. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
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