How plants are named
Taxonomy from family to cultivar, how to write each part of a plant name for full credit, and how Plant Breeders' Rights protect new cultivars.
Key points
Summary
| Term | Meaning | Written as | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxonomy | The science of classifying and naming plants | n/a | n/a |
| Family | A group of related genera | Capital; usually ends -aceae | Rosaceae |
| Genus | A group of closely related species | Capital, italic | Malus |
| Species | Genus + specific epithet | Genus capital, epithet lower case, both italic | Malus domestica |
| Cultivar | Selected and maintained in cultivation by people | Capitals, single quotes, not italic | Malus domestica 'Bramley's Seedling' |
| Variety | Naturally occurring variation within a species | var. (not italic) | Salix alba var. vitellina |
| Hybrid | Cross between two species (interspecific) or two genera (intergeneric) | × between genus and epithet | Magnolia × soulangeana; ×Heucherella |
| Plant Breeders' Rights | Intellectual property protection for a new cultivar | PBR | Royalties; licence to propagate for sale |
When handwriting, underline the genus and species instead of using italics.
Test yourself
Which part of a plant name is written in single quotation marks?
- Genus
- Species
- Cultivar
- Family
What does the × in Magnolia × soulangeana show?
- It is a hybrid between two species
- It is a naturally occurring variety
- It is protected by Plant Breeders' Rights
- It is a sterile cultivar
Which is a benefit of Plant Breeders' Rights to the breeder?
- The plant becomes resistant to pests
- They earn royalties when the cultivar is propagated
- The cultivar can be sold without labels
- The species name can never change
Video transcript
Every plant has one accepted scientific name, recognised worldwide. In this lesson: how plants are classified, how to write each part of a name correctly, and how Plant Breeders' Rights protect new cultivars.
Taxonomy is the science of classifying and naming plants. A family groups related genera, and family names usually end in aceae, as in Rosaceae, the rose family. A genus is a group of closely related species, such as Malus, the apples. The species name pairs the genus with a specific epithet: Malus domestica. And a cultivar is a cultivated variety, selected by people, such as Malus domestica 'Bramley's Seedling'.
Writing names correctly earns marks. The genus starts with a capital letter, and the species is all lower case. Both are written in italics, or underlined when handwritten. The cultivar name is not italic. It starts with capitals, and sits in single quotation marks.
Three terms are often confused. A variety, written var., is a naturally occurring variation within a species. A cultivar is selected, and maintained in cultivation, by people. And a hybrid is a cross between two different species, shown in the name with a multiplication sign.
Plant Breeders' Rights give legal protection to a new cultivar. They are a form of intellectual property, like a patent. The breeder earns royalties when the cultivar is propagated and sold. So propagating a protected cultivar for sale, without a licence, is not allowed. Breaking the rules can lead to fines and legal action.
One exam tip. A definition question wants a precise meaning, not everything you know. For example: a cultivar is a plant selected by people for desirable characteristics. That's the key idea. And maintained in cultivation, usually by vegetative propagation. That makes it precise, and earns the second mark.
This is one of 33 lessons in Unit 1
The full course adds sorting drills, flashcards, a written question with a model answer, and a printable sheet for every lesson.