Observations of species that aren't included in the iNaturalist list

I haven’t been here long, but I’ve had a few cases already where an observed species isn’t included in the iNaturalist database. In most cases this can be explained by the species not being accepted by all authorities, and presumably the ones used by Naturalist.

However yesterday I tried to upload an observation of Gossypium bickii. This is a good species, it’s been described and uncontentious for over 70 years. It’s accepted by all Australian herbaria in addition to Kew, WFO, IPNI and all the usual authorities. Yet the species doesn’t appear in the iNaturalist list, and doesn’t appear in the “Search external name providers” option.

What’s the correct procedure for adding an observation like this?

I thought about putting it in under the Genus name with a note for the correct spcies name. However it seems likely that will mean that either the observation is effectively lost forever as unidentified, or else someone will add an “accepted” species ID that, while incorrect, which will supercede the Genus ID.

I’ve decided to add it with a placeholder label, however i have no idea if that is the right thing to do,or even what the ramifications of that is. I notice that it still doesn’t show up on a search of the species, or even of higher level taxa, including “plants”, which means that, once again, the observation is effectively lost.

My second question is, where does iNaturalist genate it’s internal list from, and what the “external providers” that are searched that fail to show taxa with some regularity".

And finally, is there any way to get a taxon added to the iNatiuralist list?

Thanks in advance

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Flag for curation. See …

https://help.inaturalist.org/en/support/solutions/articles/151000170372-how-do-i-add-a-missing-species-to-the-inaturalist-database-

iNat external preferred authorities are …
https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/curator+guide#authorities

One of the discussions relating to the inadequacy of the ‘search external providers’ tool that non-curators can use …
https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/external-providers-time-for-an-update/55366

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welcome to the forum Mark

just to add to Jerry’s comment, the reason this (and other name) weren’t in iNat yet is that it’s an observational database rather than a taxonomic/nomenclatural one. So for some of the more esoteric/rare/underobserved species, the names won’t be in iNat yet until someone posts pics of one

also as an aside, if you encounter any Australian taxa missing, feel free to tag me directly in the observation/send me a message, and I’ll add them for you

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Thank you everyone. Problem is solved and I’m a little less ignorant how this place works.

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we are all here to learn ;)

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