{"id":28,"date":"2020-02-04T02:47:12","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T07:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/chapter\/conventions-for-binomial-nomenclature\/"},"modified":"2020-09-15T15:29:10","modified_gmt":"2020-09-15T19:29:10","slug":"conventions-for-binomial-nomenclature","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/chapter\/conventions-for-binomial-nomenclature\/","title":{"raw":"Conventions for Binomial Nomenclature","rendered":"Conventions for Binomial Nomenclature"},"content":{"raw":"
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Learning Objectives<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n

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  • Describe conventions for writing botanical names.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBotanical nomenclature is the scientific system of naming plants. The naming of plants is governed by two sets of published rules: The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants and the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. These rules establish a worldwide standard of reference for naming plants. By convention, when written in text a botanical name is always italicized or underlined, and the first letter of the genus name is always capitalized.<\/span>\n\nThe following summarizes the basic rules regarding the writing of botanical names for plants:\n
      \n \t
    • The generic epithet of a botanical name is always capitalized (e.g., Salvia, Impatiens),<\/em> and is underlined or italicized except where it is also used as a common name, as in salvia or impatiens. Within text or in a list \u2013 but only where unambiguous \u2013 the genus name is often abbreviated to the first letter, for example, Rosa<\/em> rugosa<\/em>, R. moyesii<\/em>, R. acicularis<\/em>.<\/li>\n \t
    • The specific epithet of a botanical name is always lower case, and is underlined or italicized in text, as Gaultheria<\/span> shallon<\/span> or Gaultheria shallon<\/em>. If only the genus of a plant is known, the specific epithet is abbreviated as sp. (designating a single species) or spp. (more than one species).<\/li>\n \t
    • Hybrids, produced from breeding 2 or more different species (interspecific), are noted by a multiplication sign between the genus and specific epithet, for example, Forsythia<\/em> \u00d7 intermedia<\/em>.<\/li>\n \t
    • Hybrids produced from crosses between genera (intergeneric), are noted by a multiplication sign before the genus, for example, \u00d7Solidaster luteus <\/em>which has the following parentage, (Solidago canadensis<\/em> \u00d7\u00a0Aster ptarmicoides<\/em>).<\/li>\n \t
    • Subspecies are abbreviated ssp. or subsp. The subspecies epithet is not capitalized but is underlined or italicized, for example Acer glabrum<\/em> ssp. douglasii<\/em><\/li>\n \t
    • Variety or more officially, varietas, is abbreviated var. The variety epithet is not capitalized but is underlined or italicized, as in this example, Clematis<\/em> montana<\/em> var. rubens<\/em><\/li>\n \t
    • Form or more officially, forma, is abbreviated f. (or sometimes fa.). For example, Cornus<\/em> florida<\/em> f. rubra<\/em>.<\/li>\n \t
    • Cultivars usually have vernacular names, are not italicized or underlined, and all words are capitalized and usually in single quotes. For example, Astilbe<\/em> chinensis<\/em> \u2018Pumila\u2019 or Ilex aquifolium<\/span><\/em>\u00a0'Ferox Argentea'<\/span>.<\/li>\n \t
    • Group: This describes a group of unnamed tree seedlings, for example Picea pungens<\/em> Glauca Group describes all the un-named seedlings with blue foliage that are available in the nursery trade.\u00a0 Groups names are not italicized or underlined, and all words are capitalized but are not in single quotes.<\/li>\n \t
    • The \u2122 designation indicates that the originator of the new plant, for example, Pyrus calleryana<\/em> Aristocrat\u2122, has applied for a trademarked name. The \u00ae indicates that the plant name is a registered trademark, such as in Pyrus calleryana<\/em> Chanticleer\u00ae. The trademark name is often the \u201cselling name\u201d of the plant, which may differ from the cultivar name. eg. Weigela florida<\/em> 'Alexandra' is sold under the moniker Wine & Roses\u00ae weigela.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Review<\/h2>\n[h5p id=\"6\"]","rendered":"
      \n
      \n

      Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

      \n
        \n
      • Describe conventions for writing botanical names.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        Botanical nomenclature is the scientific system of naming plants. The naming of plants is governed by two sets of published rules: The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants and the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. These rules establish a worldwide standard of reference for naming plants. By convention, when written in text a botanical name is always italicized or underlined, and the first letter of the genus name is always capitalized.<\/span><\/p>\n

        The following summarizes the basic rules regarding the writing of botanical names for plants:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • The generic epithet of a botanical name is always capitalized (e.g., Salvia, Impatiens),<\/em> and is underlined or italicized except where it is also used as a common name, as in salvia or impatiens. Within text or in a list \u2013 but only where unambiguous \u2013 the genus name is often abbreviated to the first letter, for example, Rosa<\/em> rugosa<\/em>, R. moyesii<\/em>, R. acicularis<\/em>.<\/li>\n
        • The specific epithet of a botanical name is always lower case, and is underlined or italicized in text, as Gaultheria<\/span> shallon<\/span> or Gaultheria shallon<\/em>. If only the genus of a plant is known, the specific epithet is abbreviated as sp. (designating a single species) or spp. (more than one species).<\/li>\n
        • Hybrids, produced from breeding 2 or more different species (interspecific), are noted by a multiplication sign between the genus and specific epithet, for example, Forsythia<\/em> \u00d7 intermedia<\/em>.<\/li>\n
        • Hybrids produced from crosses between genera (intergeneric), are noted by a multiplication sign before the genus, for example, \u00d7Solidaster luteus <\/em>which has the following parentage, (Solidago canadensis<\/em> \u00d7\u00a0Aster ptarmicoides<\/em>).<\/li>\n
        • Subspecies are abbreviated ssp. or subsp. The subspecies epithet is not capitalized but is underlined or italicized, for example Acer glabrum<\/em> ssp. douglasii<\/em><\/li>\n
        • Variety or more officially, varietas, is abbreviated var. The variety epithet is not capitalized but is underlined or italicized, as in this example, Clematis<\/em> montana<\/em> var. rubens<\/em><\/li>\n
        • Form or more officially, forma, is abbreviated f. (or sometimes fa.). For example, Cornus<\/em> florida<\/em> f. rubra<\/em>.<\/li>\n
        • Cultivars usually have vernacular names, are not italicized or underlined, and all words are capitalized and usually in single quotes. For example, Astilbe<\/em> chinensis<\/em> \u2018Pumila\u2019 or Ilex aquifolium<\/span><\/em>\u00a0‘Ferox Argentea’<\/span>.<\/li>\n
        • Group: This describes a group of unnamed tree seedlings, for example Picea pungens<\/em> Glauca Group describes all the un-named seedlings with blue foliage that are available in the nursery trade.\u00a0 Groups names are not italicized or underlined, and all words are capitalized but are not in single quotes.<\/li>\n
        • The \u2122 designation indicates that the originator of the new plant, for example, Pyrus calleryana<\/em> Aristocrat\u2122, has applied for a trademarked name. The \u00ae indicates that the plant name is a registered trademark, such as in Pyrus calleryana<\/em> Chanticleer\u00ae. The trademark name is often the \u201cselling name\u201d of the plant, which may differ from the cultivar name. eg. Weigela florida<\/em> ‘Alexandra’ is sold under the moniker Wine & Roses\u00ae weigela.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Review<\/h2>\n
          \n