Plant Taxonomy and Botanical Nomenclature

Vocabulary flashcards covering plant taxonomy, taxonomic hierarchy, classification terms, abbreviations, and botanical nomenclature conventions.

Taxonomy

The practice and science of classifying organisms into groups and then making connections to try and understand them better.

Taxons

A group of organisms.

Hierarchy

The system for classification in science. Once classified at a high level, organisms are then classified again into small groups.

Protists

Algae type lifeforms.

Monerans

Bacteria type lifeforms.

Plantae

Plant Kingdom.

Thallophyta

Algae lifeforms.

Bryophyta

Moss lifeforms; less complex and dependent on water to reproduce by spores.

Pteridophyta

Fern lifeforms; less complex and dependent on water to reproduce by spores.

Spermatophyta

Seed Plant lifeforms.

Angiosperm

Seed enclosed within a fruit.

Gymnosperm

Naked seed not within a fruit (naked seed).

Monocot (Monocotyledon)

Has one embryonic leaf emerging from a seed.

Eudicot (Eudicotyledon)

Has two embryonic leaves emerging from a seed.

Phyla

A Phylogenetic line (ancestral tree).

Clade

A group of plants evolved from a common ancestor.

Magnoliids

A plant group which includes Magnolias and Laurels.

ANA Group

A plant group containing waterlilies and tropical vines; ANA refers to Amborellales, Nymphaeales, and Austrobaileyales.

Cotyledon

A seed leaf.

Family

A group of plants which share physical characteristics.

Genus

A group of plants within a family which share many characteristics in common.

Genera

Plural of genus.

Species

A further grouping of plants based on very specific external characteristics.

Spp.

Denotes that many species within a genus are being referred to.

Variety

A rank in the taxonomic hierarchy below species.

Var.

Notation in a name that denotes the plant is a variety.

Subspecies

A variation within a species where the same plant has evolved slightly differently in different geographical areas.

Ssp.

Denotes the plant is a subspecies.

Forma

Denotes a minor variation between otherwise near identical plant specimens (e.g., leaf or flower colour).

F.

Used in the plant name to denote a minor variation.

Common name

A name used by most people when talking about plants in conversation.

Botanical name

The Latin name which is recognised internationally.

Binomial system

The naming system consisting of Genus name + Species name.

ICN

International Code of Nomenclature.

Cultivar

A new plant variation which has occurred through mankind's intervention; written in single quotation marks with initial capital letters, but not in italics or underlined.

Variegation

Appearance of different coloured zones on a plant caused by mutations, viruses, etc.

ICRA

International Cultivar Registration Authority.

International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants

The naming code for all cultivars.

Inter-specific Hybrid

A plant created via cross-pollination between two related species in the same genus.

Inter-generic Hybrid

A plant created via cross-pollination between two closely related genera in the same family.

X. (after genus name)

Used after the genus name to denote an inter-specific hybrid.

X. (before Genus name)

Used before the genus name to denote an inter-generic hybrid.

Graft Hybrid

A new plant created where parts of two plants from closely related genera are grafted together.

+

Used at the start of a plant name to denote that the plant is a graft hybrid.

Trade designation

A name given specifically to roses to indicate the seller's name.

Marketing name

A name given to a rose cultivar to help guarantee sales.

PBR

Plant Breeders Rights.

Plant Varieties Rights Office

Administrators of PBR in accordance with the Plant Varieties Act 1997.