Plant Taxonomy: How Plants are Named

HorticultureUnit 2Plant TaxonomyObjectiveTo differentiate between scientific and common plant names and explain the binomial system of naming plants.

Introduction*Most plants have more than one common name however they can be confusing because two totally different plants may have the same common name.For this reason it is import to know both the proper and the common name of plantsFor example the Red Maple is also know as the Swamp Maple and Scarlet Maple depending on the area you are in.The Binomial System of Naming PlantsDeveloped by Swedish botanist Carolus LinnaeusGave all plants two Latin names as their scientific nameFirst name is the generic name, group name of GENUSPlants with the same generic name belong to the same genus and have similar characteristics and are more closely relatedSecond name is the specific name or SPECIESPlants with the same specific name belong to the same species. These plants have the same characteristics and will consistently produce plants of the same type.Universal name of plantsVarietiesSubdivision of speciesResemble another variety but have one or two different characteristics that are consistent and inheritedExample: Peach Tree is Prunus persica and the nectarine is Prunus persica var. nucipersicaCultivarsAnother subdivision Cultivar means cultivated varietyExample: Two cultivars of Acer rubrum (red maple) are Red Sunset and Autumn Flame

Autumn Flame Red SunsetGenus NameNounOften are the names of botanists Common Generic namesAcer (maple)Chrysanthemum (mum)Dianthus (pink)Hibiscus (mallow)Mimulus (monkey flower)Pinus (Pine)

Species NameAdjectiveOften gives important information about the plant such as color, if the plant is creeping or erect, size or geographic location where the plant occurs naturally

Plant FamiliesMajor units of related genera with similar flower structureExample: The rose family Rosaceae consists of several genera- Prunus (plum), Fragaria (strawberry), Rubus (bramble) and Malus (apple)Each have simple flowers with seperated petalsLargest plant family is the Asteraceae (Aster) family

Plant Families

Plum

Apple

Bramble

StrawberryExpressing Scientific NamesTaxonomy Chart: Hierarch of SpecificationKingdomPlantDivision or Phylum Spermatophyta (seed plants)ClassAngiospermae (seeds in fruit)Order- AceralesFamily--AceraceaeGenus--AcerSpeciesrubrumVariety or cultivar var. October Glory

The TaxonomistScientist who identify and classify plants Identify and classify plants in a hierarch of specificationMust follow a national set of rules known as the International Code of Botanical NomenclatureAssignmentComplete the self evaluation Multiple Choice and MatchingDue Wednesday August 21 end of period