A decadal review of gymnosperms of the world and their phytoetymological investigation

Abstract Gymnosperms, the least diverse group of seed plants compared to angiosperms, continue to face significant challenges in terms of taxonomy and nomenclature. The current research highlights gymnosperm discoveries made over a decade (2015–2024), along with an assessment of their phytoetymological origins. The study reveals that the highest number of newly described species and new combinations reported from North America, followed by Asia in the northern hemisphere, while Australia (Oceania) led in the southern hemisphere. The findings underscore the ongoing challenges related to species identification and synonymic names throughout the decade. From a phytoetymological perspective, notable patterns of both similarity and variation were observed across three taxonomic levels of genus, species, and infraspecific ranks during the decadal study.