 The name "Gillenia" was thought to be already occupied by "Gillena", a very similar name used by Michel Adanson as a synonym for "Clethra" (under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants "names that are so similar that they are likely to be confused" should be treated as homonyms Art.53.3-5).However, a proposal to formally conserve "Gillenia" was mooted after it was determined that "Gillena" was not validly published and a vote at the International Botanical Congress decided that it and "Gillenia" were not likely to be confused.