# Host Taxon

**URL:** <https://speciforum.org/t/host-taxon/3716>\
**Category:** Get Help\
**Tags:** Members-only\
**Created:** [June 8, 2026, 11:11am UTC](https://speciforum.org/t/host-taxon/3716 "2026-06-08T11:11:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Anna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Anna](https://speciforum.org/u/Anna)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:11am UTC](https://speciforum.org/t/host-taxon/3716/1 "2026-06-08T11:11:33Z")

</div>

Hello,  
I would like to add the **“Host Taxon”** field to the data entry form for the **Fungi/Lichen Collection Object Types (COTs)** in our **Botany** discipline.

Is there a post or guide that explains how to configure and display “Host Taxon” on the COT form in Specify 7? Any pointers to relevant documentation or examples would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much!  
Anna

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bronwyn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/speciforum.org/bronwyn/32/5742_2.png) [@bronwyn](https://speciforum.org/u/bronwyn)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 2:25pm UTC](https://speciforum.org/t/host-taxon/3716/2 "2026-06-08T14:25:18Z")

</div>

Hi @Anna,

Thanks for your question!

A conditional form definition can be used to limit the Host Taxon relationship to Collection Object records with the Fungi/Lichen COT.

The first step is to configure the Host Taxon relationship. This entails adding the `CollectionRelType` form (if needed), creating a Collection Relation Type record for the new relationship, and modifying the form definition. The left side is the collection with the COT and the right side is the collection with the taxon tree of the host. The form definition modification step is more complex in this case since you want to limit the Host Taxon to only one COT in the left side collection.

> See [Collection Relationships: Host Taxon](https://speciforum.org/t/collection-relationships/182#p-247-host-taxon-id-4) and [Create a Collection Relationship](https://speciforum.org/t/create-a-collection-relationship-in-specify-7/1837). A video walkthrough of host taxon setup is in the [Advanced Specify Customization Webinar](https://speciforum.org/t/webinar-advanced-specify-customization-in-specify-7/1848).

Since the Host Taxon relationship is added to the Collecting Event Attribute form, you should create two form definitions for the Collecting Event table: one with Collecting Event Attribute and one without. XML for the CEAttribute definition:

```auto
<row>
 <cell type="label" label="Host Plant"/>
  <cell type="field" id="55" uitype="plugin" name="this" initialize="name=HostTaxonPlugin;relname=HostPlant"/>
</row>

```

XML for the new CE definition:

```auto
<row>
<cell type="subview" id="CEA" name="collectingEventAttribute" viewname="CollectingEventAttribute"/>
</row>

```

> Adding Host Taxon to the forms is detailed in [Editing Forms in Specify: Host Taxon Plugin](https://speciforum.org/t/editing-forms-in-specify/1557#p-2936-hosttaxonplugin-52).

In the Collection Object form definition, set up a conditional panel around the Collecting Event subview based on the COT name field. When the COT is Fungi/Lichen, the CE subview with CEAttribute should be shown. Conditional Form definitions are covered in [Editing Forms in Specify: Conditional Rendering](https://speciforum.org/t/editing-forms-in-specify/1557#p-2936-conditional-rendering-27) and the [Advanced Specify Customization Webinar](https://speciforum.org/t/webinar-advanced-specify-customization-in-specify-7/1848).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Anna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Anna](https://speciforum.org/u/Anna)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 8:29am UTC](https://speciforum.org/t/host-taxon/3716/3 "2026-06-09T08:29:37Z")

</div>

> [@bronwyn](#):
>
> In the Collection Object form definition, set up a conditional panel around the Collecting Event subview based on the COT name field. When the COT is Fungi/Lichen, the CE subview with CEAttribute should be shown. Conditional Form definitions are covered in [Editing Forms in Specify: Conditional Rendering](https://speciforum.org/t/editing-forms-in-specify/1557#p-2936-conditional-rendering-27) and the [Advanced Specify Customization Webinar](https://speciforum.org/t/webinar-advanced-specify-customization-in-specify-7/1848)

Many thanks for the explanations @bronwyn !!  
I’ve got it now, everything is working!

Anna

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/specifysoftware/original/2X/1/18a843c97bc32b40e8ad0e035755bc88ffaacaf7.svg) [@system](https://speciforum.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 8:30am UTC](https://speciforum.org/t/host-taxon/3716/4 "2026-06-16T08:30:15Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 7 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.