1. Plant Taxonomy
How Plants are Named!

2. Introduction
Most plants have more than one common name, some have several
Boston Fern and Sword Fern
Two different plants may have the same name but may exist in different areas
Cowslip in NY vs Cowslip in England

3. Binomial System of Naming Plants
Early scholars wrote in Latin or Greek so they gave plants Latin or Greek describing names
They were too long or complicated
Dianthus floribus solitariis, squamis calycinis subovatis brevissimis, corollis, crenatis= common carnation

4. Swedish botanist, Carolus Linaeus simplified this by forming the binomial system (means two name system)
He gave all plants 2 latin names
Catnip= Nepeta cataria
Genus Species
All plants belonging to same genus have similar characteristics
All plants with same specific name belong to same species (in Latin means “kind”)
Species are also divided into varieties as well

5. Varieties in a species are similar but will always have one or two differences that are consistent and inherited
Cultivars are “cultivated varieties” or one that is developed for a purpose
The generic name is a noun and the species name is an adjective
Betula lutea Juglans nigra Quercus rubra
birch yellow walnut black oak ruby

6. Sometimes the specific names gives geographical information about where a plant occurs
Anemone virginiana= Virginian Anemone
Macro and Micro are greek words meaning large and small and are often used
Macrophylla= large leaves, microphylla= small leaves

7. When meanings of scientific names are understood, names are interesting and not difficult to learn
This is a universal language so all places use the same names for plants
Common names are misleading, the scientific name never is

8. Plant Families
Related genera (plural genus) with similar flower structures are grouped together in families
All members in each family will have similar flower structures
Simple flower
Tube flower
Composite flower

9. Taxonomy Chart Shows the hierarch of botanical nomenclature Kingdom
Division or Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Variety or cultivar