Scientific and Common Plant Names Flashcards
What is a binomial?
Scientific classification written in Latin where two terms are used, first is the genus and second the specific epithet.
Centaurea cyanus (both italic)
What is a family?
Have similar characteristics and evolutionarily related.
Provides info on common pests and disease in families.
ENDS IN ACEAE. Rosaceae; brassicaceae.
Describe Genus
Subgroup of individuals within a family that has one or more species with characteristics in common.
Salvia, Acer, Brassica
Describe Species
Specific epithet.
Species in same plant family that have similar growth characteristics, nutrient needs, often same pests/disease.
Can interbreed to produce offspring with similar characteristics that keep them distinct from other populations.
Many specific epithets have a meaning
Alba: white; sinensis: chinese; japonica: japan
Skimmia japonica; Wisteria sinensis; Cornus alba.
Define subspecies
Written subsp. (not capitalised or italics)
NOT interbreed as usually geographically isolated.
Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii
Define variety
Naturally occurring variation within a species.
Sexual reproduction usually produces true to seed.
written var. not capitalized or italics
Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii; Salvida viridis var. comata
Define cultivar
CULTIVATED VARIETY: Subgroup of a species mostly produced by human intervention through selective breeding and maintained by vegetative propagation
cultivar in single quotes. Sometimes epithet not there. Since 1959 no longer written in Latin
Choisya termata ‘Sundance’
Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’
Issues of using cultivars?
Lack genetic diversity leaving them open to disease/pest infestations.
Cross pollination with natives may cause bloom period, fragrance or shape to change affecting pollinators.
Define Hybrid?
A plant that is the result of cross pollinating two different plant varieties.
Ideally brings together best qualities of two species, or varieties.
Hybrid marked with ‘x’
Abelia x grandiflora; Forsythia x intermedia; Helleborus x hybridicus cv.
x Cuprocyparis leylandii (hybrid is two separate genus)
What are the 4 divisions of plants?
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms
Pteridophytes
Bryophites
Why important to know the divisions?
Understand best conditions
Appropriate pruning
Soil needs
Size, suitability for area
Understand common diseases
Characteristics of gymnosperm
Naked seeds
non flowering
Harsher environment and poor soils
Majority are conifers (larch, pine, fir, cypress, ginkgo, cycads)
x Cuprocyparis leylandii
Characteristics of angiosperms
Flowering plants:
Monoctos and Dicots
Describe monocots
1 true leaf
Parallel leaf veins
Fibrous roots (wide network of thin that originate from stem and close to surface)
FLOWER: Multiple of 3 petals
As they look different with linear leaves, can make a big impact in the garden. Foliage lasts longer
Iris pseudacorus; Stipa gigantea
Describe Eudicots
2 true leaves
Broad leaf - veins from midrib
TAPROOT
Flower: multiple of 4-5 petals
Often perennials
Define pteridophytes
Vascular plant that produces spores
FERNS
No seeds
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Asplenium scolopendrium
Define Bryophyte
Mosses, algae liverworts
Non vascular, seedless plant
Live in damp, shaded areas
Ceratophyllum demersum
Ways to define plant family?
Phyllotaxy: arrangement of leaves on a stem: Opposite, whorl, alternate.
Floral structure: 3 or 5 petals.
Leaf structure:
Parallel veins - monocot
Pinnate veins - 1 midvein with spurs Achillea millefolium
Palmate: Acer palmatum
Tendril - lathyrus odoratus
Simple - 1 leaf attached to petiole
Compound - several leaves attached to rachis Clematis armandii
What is the petiole
Leaf stem directly attached to plant stem
Ginkgo biloba
What is a rachis
Found in compound leaves
leaf is attached to petiolule which is attached to rachis. Where leaves stops becomes petiole.
What is PBR
Plant Breeders Rights
Internationally agreed form of patenting
Protects nurseries who invest heavily in new varieties
Prevents other growers from propagating without a license
PBR more expensive
PBR nurseries reduce prop of older varieties to make $$
Name 3 ways conifers might be useful in a small or medium sized garden?
Evergreen hedging; decorative dwarf conifers, year-round screening for privacy.
State 2 reasons useful to know which botanical family a plant belongs?
Suffer from same pests/diseases
Similar growth form and life span.
How does understanding plant families help in plant location?
Understanding which plant families tolerate drought/water helps to put right plant right place. Lamiaceae (mint family) do well in drought
Lavandula angustifolia and Salvia officinalis for dry conditions.
