Horticulture vocab words lecture 2

Common name

plant name based on the normal language of everyday life. One common name can be used to describe a variety of plants depending on language and region

Binomial system of nomenclature

developed by botanist Carl Linne in the 18th century. scientific names consist of two latin names, italicized, Genus species. Allows horticulturist to ensure that they are reffering to the correct plant

Taxon

taxonomic group of any rank

Kingdom

large taxonomic group: animal, plant, fungus, protist, monera

Phylum

share a certain degree of morphological or developmental similarity, 14 plant phyla, division can be used interchangeably

Class

a group of taxonomic orders that share similar features

order

a group of taxonomic families that share similar features

family

Unites plants with similar vegetative or reproductive features, similar growth habits, nutrient requirements, and the same pests and pathogens, suffix -aceae, several hundred plant families

Subfamily

intermediate taxonomic rank that groups together plants within the family that have some significant botanical differences

Genus

unites closely related plant species possessing a common ancestor, 30,000 accepted plant genera, first part of the scientific name always has a capital letter, and is always italicized

species

largest grouping of plants that can reproduce with one another and produce fertile offspring, 320,000 accepted plant species, second part of scientific name always in lower case, italicized

Subspecies

intermediate taxonomic rank that groups together plants within the species that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics, but can all breed successfully, always italicized, subsp. Not italicized when written in the name

Variant

Distinct morphological differences from other species members, but not so different as to be categorized as a different species or subspecies. Always italicized. Var. not italicized in name.

form

minute morphological differences from other species members, different flower color, narrower foliage always italicized, f. in name not italicized

cultivar

most basic unit of cultivated plant taxonomy, bred, do not exist in nature, man made, must be distinctive, uniform, and stable, single quotation marks, only first word of cultivar is capitalized

Hybrids

interspecies hybrid denoted by using a non-italicized x in which the first word is the genus and the second is a specific epithet

spp.

abbreviation for species pluralis, used to indicate multiple members of the same species, always italicized