Segregate (taxonomy)

This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "Segregate" taxonomy – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2024)

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.

• A more detailed explanation, with multiple examples on mushrooms.