Binomial Nomenclature Practice #2
Name ___________________________________
Biologists use binomial nomenclature to assign a two-part Latin name to each species of living thing. The genus
name and the species name often describe something about the organism. The list below shows the meanings
of several Latin prefixes, suffixes, or words that are frequently used in species names.





alba, white
borealis, northern
-carpa, seed
coccinea, scarlet
dentaria, pertaining to the teeth





laciniate, edge or fringe
macro,-, large
-phylla, leaf
rubra, red
suber, cork
1. Using the information about Latin word parts, match the scientific name on the left with the correct common
name on the right. Draw lines to match them.
1. Quercus albe
a. Basket oak
2. Quercus suber
b. Bigleaf magnolia
3. Quercus rubra
c. Cork oak
4. Quercus michauxii
d. Cut-leaved toothwort
5. Quercus coccinea
e. Largeseed bittercress
6. Dentaria laciniata
f. Northern birch
7. Magnolia macrophylla
g. Red oak
8. Betula albe
h. Scarlet oak
9. Cardamine macrocarpa
i. White birch
10. Betula borealis
j. White oak
2. André Michaux was a French botanist who spent 12 years collecting plants in North America in the late
1700’s. Which of the species listed above is named for him?
Binomial Nomenclature Practice #2
Name ____________________________________
Biologists use binomial nomenclature to assign a two-part Latin name to each species of living thing. The genus
name and the species name often describe something about the organism. The list below shows the meanings
of several Latin prefixes, suffixes, or words that are frequently used in species names.





alba, white
borealis, northern
-carpa, seed
coccinea, scarlet
dentaria, pertaining to the teeth





laciniate, edge or fringe
macro,-, large
-phylla, leaf
rubra, red
suber, cork
1. Using the information about Latin word parts, match the scientific name on the left with the correct common
name on the right. Draw lines to match them.
1. Quercus albe
a. Basket oak
2. Quercus suber
b. Bigleaf magnolia
3. Quercus rubra
c. Cork oak
4. Quercus michauxii
d. Cut-leaved toothwort
5. Quercus coccinea
e. Largeseed bittercress
6. Dentaria laciniata
f. Northern birch
7. Magnolia macrophylla
g. Red oak
8. Betula albe
h. Scarlet oak
9. Cardamine macrocarpa
i. White birch
10. Betula borealis
j. White oak
2. André Michaux was a French botanist who spent 12 years collecting plants in North America in the late
1700’s. Which of the species listed above is named for him?