Botanical name

Botanical Naming and Classification

• Botanical names follow the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) and the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP).
• The purpose of a formal name is to have a single globally accepted name for a plant.
• The botanical name is fixed by a type specimen, which is an example specimen of the organism.
• Binary names consist of the genus name and an epithet, prescribed for taxa below the rank of genus down to species.
• Cultivated plants have an additional epithet, often non-Latin and not italicized.

Components of Botanical Names

• Botanical names include a connecting term to indicate rank for infraspecific names.
• Subdivision of a genus requires a connecting term.
• Generic, specific, and infraspecific botanical names are usually printed in italics.
• The International Code of Nomenclature prescribes a two-part name for taxa below the rank of genus down to species.
• For cultivars, the epithet is given in single quotation marks.

Cultivated Plants and Their Importance

• Cultivated plants serve as a food source for humans and have medicinal purposes.
• They hold economic value, provide environmental benefits, and have cultural significance.
• Classification includes Kingdom (Plantae), Phylum (Angiosperms), Class (Monocots), Order (Liliales), and Family (Liliaceae).
• Cultivated plants encompass fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, and flowers.
• Global production statistics include corn (maize), rice, wheat, potatoes, and sugarcane.

Diversity and Cultivation Practices

• Cultivated plants span a variety of categories such as fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, and flowers.
• Cultivation practices involve soil preparation, planting methods, irrigation techniques, pest control, and harvesting processes.
• The naming conventions for cultivated plants are outlined in the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants.

Taxonomic Classification and Circumscription

• Taxonomic groups may vary in size, affecting the circumscription of a taxon.
• Some botanical names refer to stable groups, while others require careful verification of circumscription.
• The name of a plant can have a maximum of three parts, except for cultivars.
• Examples of taxonomic groups include Equisetaceae, Magnoliaceae, Fabaceae, Amygdaloideae, etc.
• The italicization of botanical names above the genus level varies in scientific publications.

Botanical name Data Sources