August 2008 Naming Plants “Taxonomy” Source: Introductory Horticulture, fifth ed.. Delmar Publishers AgriTeach.com TM (12901ms)

August 2008 Why do we use Latin names? Latin is a “dead language” –Latin is a language that is no longer spoken, so it does not change. There can be many common names for the same plant; or the same common name for two different plants. Latin names are simple, universal, and only have 2 parts.

August 2008 Dionaea muscipula = venus flytrap

August 2008 The “Binomial” Naming System Binomial: Bi = two, nomial = name Made by the Swedish Botanist Linnaeus First part = genus; ex: Ficus Second part = species; ex: elastica –a.k.a. Rubber Tree

August 2008 Other Plant Groups Plants can also be sorted into “families” –Families are groups of genera (plural of genus) –The family “Compositae” includes sunflowers, daisies, mums, and marigolds.

August 2008 I’m confused... This is how every plant can be classified –Kindom (All Plants) –Phylum (Seed Plants) –Class (Seeds inside fruit - angiosperms) –Order –Family –Genus –Species (very few plants) –Variety (one plant; specific color, etc.)