ABSTRACT
The scientifi c name of lentil, Lens culinaris, was given in 1787 by Medikus , a German botanist and physician (Cubero et al. 2009) and is the scientifi c name currently accepted. However, the name of this cultivated grain legume was a matter of some confusion since Lens esculenta Moench was widely used and can be still found in many publications. Other less common synonymous names are Cicer lens, Vicia lens (L.) Coss. & Germ., Ervum lens L. or Lentilla lens . There was also controversy concerning the author to whom the genus name Lens had to be credited. Even in recent times, well known Floras have credited it sometimes to Adanson, Moench, and Tournefort and also to Grenier and Godron. Finally, the Congress on Botanical Nomenclature decided in 1966 to conserve Miller as the author. Lens Miller is thus a nomen conservatum and has priority over older names (Gunn 1969; Cubero et al. 2009).
