Plant Classification and Naming

Reference: Adams, Bamford and Early, Principles of Horticulture, Routledge 5th ed.

Example Usage:

• Ranunculus repens

Scientific Terms:

• Kingdom: Plantae

• Division: Spermatophyta (Seed-bearing plants)

• Class: Angiospermae (Flowering plants)

• Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledon)

• Order: Ranales

• Family: Ranunculaceae

• Genus: Ranunculus

• Specific Epithet: repens

• Common Name: Creeping buttercup

Image Reference

• Echinacea purpurea

  • Image:

• Echinacea purpurea Classification:

  • Kingdom: Plantae

  • Division: Spermatophyta

  • Class: Angiospermae

  • Subclass: Dicotyledonae

  • Order: Asterales

  • Family: Asteraceae

  • Genus: Echinacea

Higher Plants Examples:

• Silver Fir: Abies amabilis 'Spreading Star'

• Lebanon Cedar: Cedrus libani 'Sargentii'

• European Larch: Larix decidua

• Sitka Spruce: Picea sitchensis

• Scots Pine: Pinus sylvestris 'Aurea'

• Douglas Fir: Pseudotsuga taxifolia

• Bald Cypress: Taxodium distichum

• Cherry Tree: Prunus avium 'Plena'

• Raspberry: Rubus ideaus 'Autumn Bliss'

Classification Structure:

• Division: Group of related classes (usually ends in "phyta")

• Class: Related orders form a class (mostly ends in "ae")

• Order: Closely related families make an order (usually ends in "ales")

• Family: Group of genera with similar flowers, varying growth forms (ends in "aceae")

  • Family Example: Rosaceae

  • Genera Examples: Rosa, Malus, Prunus, Cotoneaster, etc.

Common Issue:

• Nearly all are susceptible to fireblight.

Binomial System of Nomenclature:

• Designer: Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778)

• Purpose: Prevents confusion and adheres to international nomenclature codes.

Genus:

• Definition: Group of closely related species; always starts with a capital letter; in Latin and italic or underlined.

• Hierarchy: Rank between family and species; may represent a single species or a group with distinctive features.

Species:

• Definition: Basic unit of plants capable of interbreeding; ranks below genus.

• Further Division: Can be divided into subspecies.

Full Species Name Structure:

• Example: Solanum tuberosum

  • Genus Position: Capitalized (Solanum)

  • Specific Epithet: Lowercase (tuberosum)

  • Formatting: Both names in Italian; underline when handwritten.

Cultivars:

• Definition: Cultivated varieties bred for specific characteristics; names start with a capital letter and are not in Latin.

• Example: Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin' or Solanum crispum cv. Glasnevin

Common Names:

• Issues: Common names vary by region, which can be inconsistent and misleading.

• Limitations: They have limited usefulness in professional contexts.

Relatedness in Horticulture:

Factors Considered:

• Soil type

• Form

• Disease

• Habitat

• Compatibility

Echinacea purpurea Classification (Revisited):

• Similar Classifications: Notes its alignment with other taxonomic classifications.

Evolving Classifications:

• Context: Classifications aren't static; species can be reassigned and renamed as new information arises.

Historical Insight:

• Value: Awareness of past classifications is crucial when researching older texts, as nomenclature continues to evolve.