Plant Classification

Question 1

Common name

Answer 1

Easy to remember, unspecific (may change from region to region). tell us little about habitat, etc.

Question 2

Botanical Names

Answer 2

Latin is a dead language, universal, precise, provides clues to growing requirements.

Question 3

Species

Answer 3

A group of individuals who breed among themselves, giving rise to similar individuals (exception– hybridization, sterile offspring)

Question 4

Genus

Answer 4

A group of closely related plants, compromised of one to many species (no epithat needed if only one species in one genus). Capitalized. Epithat lowercase.

Question 5

Family

Answer 5

A grouping from one to many similar genera (<– plural of genus). Often have similar structural and cultural characteristics. ends in -aceae

Question 6

Variety

Answer 6

A naturally occurring variation within a species. Brassica oleracea acephala (Kale), B. oleracea gemmifera (Brussel sprouts), etc. the variety is lowercase and underlines/italicized.

Question 7

Cultivar

Answer 7

A plant with unique traits that are maintained through propagation (grafting, pollination). Echinacea pupurea ‘Ruby Giant’ (Genus epithat ‘Cultivar’). the cultivar is uppercase (proper noun) and in single quotes.