| Term | Definition |
| Carl Linnaeus | 1707 - 1778
Swedish botanist - father of modern taxonomy
'Systema Naturae' 1735
Relied on observation to name plants |
| Nomenclature | System of naming |
| Binomial System | Genera and Species |
| Why do we need a plant naming system? | Because common / local names differ greatly for one species - leads to confusion |
| Plant kingdom specifics | Ability to photosynthesise, rooted in soil, immobile |
| Contemporary naming process | Regulated by International Code for Nomenclature (ICN)
Genomic classification |
| Plant taxonomy terms (taxon pl. taxa) | Family
Genus
Species (-Subspecies)
Cultivar
Variety
Hybrid |
| Family | Share characteristics
Similarity in flowers, reproductive structures, pests and diseases
Suffix -aceae
4 majors:
Rosaceae
Brassicaceae
Lamiaceae
Asteraceae |
| Genus | A group of related plants
Phylogenetic relationships - morphological and genetic similarities
Names derive from Greek , Latin, mythological figures or plant characteristics.
Genera is plural form (get general from this) |
| Species | Adjective or commemorative
A 'specific epithet' (get 'specific' from this)
Some genus may have thousands of species, others just one e.g. Quercus 450 Gingko 1
Can interbreed same species to create fertile offspring identical to parent plant |
| Subspecies | Variations in species develop where they have evolved separately, geographically
Same genetic make-up but with minor differences |
| Variety | Variation in a species - unlike subspecies does not necessarily occur in a different geographical location
Needs no human intervention to grow or reproduce
Written as var. followed by variety name |
| Cultivar | Controlled plant breeding
Involves crossbreeding parent plants with desirable characteristics
Need to ensure can be consistently propogated (not seed)
Written in quotation marks and never italics
Should not be Latinised or repeated in a genus |
| Hybrid | Crossbreeding two different species - male pollen from stamen fertilises pistil of other plant, seed is then collected
Creates range of desirable characteristics from both plants
Good characteristics taken forward (F1 hybrids) |
| Open pollination | Wind pollination - can't predict or control results - genetically very diverse, large range
Natural creation of hybrids with strong vigour - heterosis
Genetically stronger, more resistant to disease. Same visual as parent plant |
