How Plants are Named

1
How Plants are Named

• Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Office
• June, 2002

2
Binomial Nomenclature

• Linnaeus
• Developed binomial system for naming plants

3
Linnaeus

• Swedish Botanist
• Gave all plants 2 Latin names as their specific
  name

4
Binomial Nomenclature

• First name Genus, the plants group name
• Second name species, means kind

5
Species

• Are divided into varieties

6
Genus

• Always capitalized
• Species is not capitalized
• Both names are underlined

7
Example

• Zea maize
• Corn

8
Why Scientific Names

• Many plants have more than one common name
• Universally understood

9
Example

• Sanseveria trifasciata
• Common names Mother in laws tongue, Snake plant

10
Plant Families

• Related genus with similar flower structures
• Rosacea rose family
• Malus apple family

11
Taxonomist

• Scientists who identify and classify plants
• International rules
• International code of Binomial Nomenclature