The plant erythrina caffra is now being renamed to erythrina affra. This after botanists at an international congress voted to change plant names that can be perceived as racist, reports Vetenskapsradion i Sveriges Radio.
The word "kaffer" was used against black people during the apartheid regime in South Africa. Another example that has been discussed is to change the names of plants named after people who profited from the slave trade.
The congress decided that around 200 plants, fungi, and algae will get updated names. They also decided to create a special ethics committee to ensure that plants in the future do not get names that can be perceived as offensive.
The bird association American Ornithological Society has also stated that they will change offensive names of around 80 bird species. It concerns birds named after people with racist and discriminatory views.
