Naming Plants
Scientifically
Objectives:
1. To learn to write scientific names
2. To understand reasons for using
scientific names
3. To define binomial nomenclature
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Naming Plants
• Ancient people needed to
communicate about which plants
were edible, poisonous or could be
used medicinally
• They needed to identify plants to
be used for fiber or for shelter
• Names varied from region to
region and among different
languages
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Naming Plants
Problems with common
naming include:
• One plant having many
common names
• Many different plants
having the same common
name, for example:
– “Creeping Jenny” can
apply to 15 different
plants
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Naming Plants
• Common names can be
confusing
– Poison Oak is not an oak
– Poison Ivy is not an ivy
– Canna lily is not a lily
– Pineapple is not an apple
• Can you think of others?
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What is the importance of
using scientific names?
• Scientists worldwide
rely on accurate
information about
organisms
• Buyers require correct
ordering information to
guarantee they receive
the correct plant
species
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Carolus
Linnaeus
• Carl von Linné (1707-1778), a Swedish
physician, naturalist and botanist
– Carolus Linnaeus is the Latinization of his
name
• Used the binomial system of naming plants
and animals
• Known as the Father of Taxonomy
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Binomial System of
Nomenclature
• Binomial (two names)
• Nomenclature (naming)
• All organisms have a scientific
name consisting of a genus
and a species
• Names derived from Latin
• Guidelines set by the
International Code of Botanical
Nomenclature
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Why Latin?
•
•
•
•
•
Was the language of scholars
Is a dead language
Does not continually change
Politically neutral
Very descriptive
Bur Oak Acorn
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– Quercus macrocarpa is a bur
oak which has large acorns.
“Macro” means large and
“carpa” means fruit
Why Latin?
Helianthus annuus
(annual sunflower)
• helios (sun)
• anthos (flower)
• annuus (annual)
alba – white
japonica – of Japan
altus – tall
repens – creeping
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Writing Scientific Names
• First words of scientific
names are the genus and
always capitalized
• Second words are specific
epithets and never capitalized
• Scientific names are always
underlined or italicized
– Quercus rubra or
– Quercus rubra
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Writing Scientific Names
• A genus is a group of closely related species
sharing similar characteristics
• The specific epithet is usually descriptive and it
may be used to name plants in different genera
• The name of the species must
include both the generic name
and its specific epithet
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Writing
Scientific
Names
Smith
• How would you • Notice that Smith is the
write your name?
largest group, and John,
Mary and Jane are
• Smith john
individuals in the group
• Smith mary
• Smith jane
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Writing Scientific Names
• A scientific name contains
a third word representing
a sub group
• A variety is a naturally
occurring group of plants
of less than species rank
• A cultivar is a form of
plant originating under
cultivation and often is the
result of plant breeding
Orange Tree
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Writing Scientific
Names
• Variety name is preceded by the prefix “var.” and
is never capitalized
• Always underlined or italicized
• Phlox carolina var. triflora
• Phlox carolina var. triflora
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Writing Scientific Names
• The cultivar name is preceded by the prefix
“cv.” or is enclosed by single quotation
marks and is always capitalized
–
–
–
–
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Hedera helix cv. Needlepoint
Hedera helix ‘Needlepoint’
Hedera helix cv. Needlepoint
Hedera helix ‘Needlepoint’
Writing Scientific Names
• Many plants in the
horticultural
marketplace are the
result of hybridization
• “x” is used to
designate a hybrid
• Petunia x hybrida
‘Purple Wave’
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Assessment
1. ______ is referred to as the Father of Taxonomy.
A. Aristotle
C. Theophrastus
B. Linnaeus
D. Pasteur
2. The language used for scientific classification is
_____________.
A. English
C. Latin
B. Ancient Greek
D. None of the above
3. Which scientific name is written correctly?
A. Populus alba
C. Populus alba
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B. Populus Alba
D. populus alba
Assessment
4. Common names ______________________.
A. can be confusing
C. vary from region to region
B. refer to different plants
D. all of the above
5. Binomial means ______________.
A. scientific
C. monetary
B. two names
D. in Latin
6. In the scientific name Petunia x hybrida, the “x”
means the plant is _______.
A. extinct
C. rare
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B. a genus
D. a hybrid
Naming Plants Scientifically
Acknowledgments:
Acquaah, George. Horticulture Principles and Practices. New Jersey:
Prentice Hall, 1999.
Janick, Jules. Horticulture Science. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Co.,
1972.
Northington, David K., and J.R. Goodin. The Botanical World. St. Louis:
Times Mirror/ Mosby, 1984.
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Naming Plants Scientifically
Acknowledgements
Sandra Balch – Production Coordinator
Jennifer Donaldson – Graphics Editor
Geoff Scott – Production Manager
G.W. Davis – Executive Producer
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