Binomial nomenclature and botanical naming conventions
Start with the big picture
A plant species’ binomial combines a capitalized, italicized genus with a lowercase, italicized specific epithet. Additional conventions clarify who described or transferred a name and how names are anchored to type specimens. Synonyms, homonyms, and the principle of priority help determine which name is accepted, while conserved or rejected names can support stability. The International Code of Nomenclature governs botanical naming and publication requirements. The lesson also introduces names for subdivisions below species, hybrids, families, orders, and cultivated plants, showing how their formats differ from the standard binomial. These rules provide a framework for reading and interpreting botanical names accurately.
What you'll learn
- Identify the genus and specific epithet in a botanical binomial.
- Apply capitalization and italicization conventions to scientific names.
- Explain the roles of authority citations, synonyms, and type specimens.
- Describe how priority, homonyms, and conserved names affect accepted names.
- Recognize conventions for infraspecific ranks, hybrids, and cultivar names.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
