The Naming of Plants

Question 1

Species

Answer 1

Plants of one kind - a basic unit of classification - group of plants made up of similar individual plants
Example: Red Maple (Acer rubrum) and Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)

Question 2

Genus

Answer 2

A group of related species (generic name), the genus will come first in a plant name and will be capitalized
Example: Acer is the genus for Maples/All Types and Acer rubrum is the name for Red Maple

Question 3

Specific Epithet

Answer 3

The second part of a plant name, follows the genus/generic name and distinguishes the species from others in the same genus and is not capitalized.
Example: rubrum (red) is a specific epithet and Acer rubrum is the name for Red Maple

Question 4

Botanical Variety

Answer 4

A sub-group within a species that has inheritable differences from the straight species. It will be a 3rd part of a plant name (the variety) and will be italicized following "var.".
Example: a thornless plant within a species that typically has thorns
Gleditsia triacanthos (honeylocust)
Gleditsia triancanthos var. inermis (thornless honeylocust)

Question 5

Cultivar (cultivated variety)

Answer 5

A plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding - reliably cloned. Indicated by putting the cultivar name in single quotation marks.
Example: Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’

Question 6

Can there be a cultivar of a bontanical variety?

Answer 6

Yes. Botanical varieties can be cloned to perpetuate their natural traits.

Question 7

Hybrid

Answer 7

Cross between 2 species. Typically you will see an “x” in the name to designate the cross.
Example: Platanus x acerifolia (London planetree)

Question 8

Trademark

Answer 8

A word(s) or symbol which identifies the place or origin of a product. Can last in perpetuity. Helps protect the investment of developing a plant especially after a patent expires.

Question 9

Patent

Answer 9

A plant patent lasts 17 years and controls royalties, propagation, distribution and sales for the patent holder of a particular plant.

Question 10

Plant Family

Answer 10

Groups of related genera (plural of genus - related species). Will often have similar fruits, seeds, and flowers.
Example: Rosaceae (rose family) includes:
Aronia (chokeberry)
Rosa (rose)
Spiraea (spiraea)
Malus (crabapple)

Question 11

Which of the following is a plant species?
A. Pyrus
B. calleryana
C. Pyrus calleryana
D. Rosaceae

Answer 11

C. Pyrus calleryana (Latin binomial)

Pyrus = genus
calleryana = specific epithet
Rosaceae = plant family

Question 12

What is Latin binomial?

Answer 12

Two-part naming system for naming organisms, including plants.

Question 13

Which of the following might be called a red maple?
A. Acer rubrum 'October Glory'
B. Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'
C. Acer platanoides 'Crimson King'
D. All of the above

Answer 13

D. All of the above

All could be called “red maple” since common names are whatever a person decides to use

Question 14

Common Name

Answer 14

The local or regional name used - the name that is commonly used for the plant.

Question 15

Which of the following is the smallest cranberrybush viburnum cultivar?
A. Viburnum opulus ‘Nanum’
B. Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’
C. Viburnum opulus
D. Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum ‘Shasta’

Answer 15

A. Viburnum opulus ‘Nanum’
Typically is no larger than 2 ft tall

Viburnum opulus is the straight species
Viburnum