1. Plant Names and Nomenclature
“If you do not know the names of things, the knowledge of them is lost too”. Linnaeus, 1751

2. What is Taxonomy? Greek derivation:
“taxis” = arrangement
“nomia” = method
Taxonomy is the naming, describing, and classifying of organisms
What is systematics?
Why is Taxonomy Important?
What is Systematics?
Systematics is the study of evolutionary relationships among taxa, but is sometimes broadly applied to encompass Taxonomy

3. Phylogenetic relationships & biogeography of Fuchsia (Onagraceae) based on noncoding nuclear and chloroplast DNA data. Berry et al. 2004

4. Why not just use common names?
Doesn’t reflect evolutionary history/relationship of the organisms
Two different plants can have the same common name
One plant can have multiple common names
Example 1: Amelanchier arborea = common serviceberry, Alabama serviceberry, downy shadbush
Example 2: Helianthus angustifolia = swamp sunflower, narrow leaf sunflower
Example 3: Calycanthus floridus = eastern sweet shrub, Carolina allspice, bubby bush

5. International Code of Nomenclature
for algae, fungi, and plants (Melbourne Code)
adopted by the Eighteenth International Botanical Congress Melbourne, Australia, July 2011
prepared and edited by
J. MCNEILL, Chairman F. R. BARRIE, W. R. BUCK, V. DEMOULIN, W. GREUTER, D. L. HAWKSWORTH, P. S. HERENDEEN, S. KNAPP, K. MARHOLD, J. PRADO, W. F. PRUD'HOMME VAN REINE, G. F. SMITH, J. H. WIERSEMA, Members N. J. TURLAND, Secretary of the Editorial Committee
Koeltz Scientific Books
2012
The printed and only official version of the Code has been published as International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Melbourne Code). Regnum Vegetabile 154. Koeltz Scientific Books. ISBN

6. To provide a set of rules for naming of
Nomenclature provides a means of referring to taxonomic groups and of assigning ranks
Purpose of “The Code”
To provide a set of rules for naming of
plants to promote stability and prevent
nomenclatural chaos.
Basic purpose is stability -

7. Linnaean Hierarchy Kingdom – Plantae
Subkingdom – Tracheobionta (vascular plants)
Superdivision – Spermatophyta (seed plants)
Division – Magnoliophyta
Class – Magnoliopsida
Order – Nymphaeales
Family – Nymphaeaceae (nim-fee-a-si-ee)
Genus – Nuphar Sm.
Species – Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm.
Subspecies – Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm. ssp. ulvacea (G.S. Mill. & Standl.) E.O. Beal

8. Requirements for naming plants
Check type specimens associated with similar taxa (including synonyms)
Criteria for valid publication:
Name must not have been previously used
Taxon rank must be clearly specified
A holotype must be designated
Lectotype – designated when holotype has not been
Isotype – duplicate of holotype
Name must be effectively published

9. Starting point for species names = 1 May 1753
Priority – the correct species name is the earliest published name dating back to 1 May 1753

10. Components of a scientific name
Genus name – first letter is always capitalized;
treated as a noun
Isoetes louisianensis Thieret
Author citation
Specific epithet - all lower case; used as an adjective

11. Meanings of Selected Genus Names
Derivation
Acer
Latin for maple
Lindera
Named for John Linder
Quercus
Latin for oak
Trifolium
Means three leaves/leaflets
Kalmia
Named for Peter Kalm
Pinus
Latin for pine
Eleocharis
Greek for “marsh grace”

12. Lycopersicon Mill.
“wolf peach”

13. Meanings of Specific Epithets
Latin Derivation
arvensis
growing in a field
esculentus
edible
officinalis
used medicinally
palustris
growing in a marshy place
arenicola
growing in sandy soil
salina
growing in a saline environment
australis
southern
borealis
northern
orientalis
eastern
occidentalis
western

14. Meanings of Specific Epithets
Latin Derivation
sempervirens
long-lived
tenax
tough or resistant
annua
annual plant
perennis
Perennial
biennis
Biennial
lutea
yellow (sometimes orange)
alba
White
viridis
Green
rubra
Red
nigra
black

15. Meanings of Specific Epithets
Latin Derivation
pensylvanica (one or two n’s)
From Pennsylvania
americana
From America (North or South)
texana
From Texas
louisianensis and ludoviciana
From Louisiana
engelmannii
Named for George Engelmann
eastwoodiae
Named for Alice Eastwood
eastwoodiana
thieretii
Named for John Thieret
obtusetrigona
Trigonous with obtuse angles
melanocarpa
Black-fruited

16. Common Names
There are no official rules for assigning and applying common names to plants
Often common names are translations of scientific names
e.g. Quercus alba = white oak, Cyperus viridis = green flat sedge, etc.
For this course
Apply the common name provided or a name obtained from a flora or field guide
Capitalize only when commemorating a person or place

17. Conserved Family Names
Apiaceae = Umbelliferae - parsley carrot family
Arecaceae = Palmae - palm family
Asteraceae = Compositae - sunflower family
Brassicaceae = Cruciferae - mustard family
Clusiaceae = Guttiferae - St. John’s wort family
[Hypericaceae = Guttiferae]
Fabaceae = Leguminosae - legume or bean family
Lamiaceae = Labiatae - mint family
Poaceae = Gramineae - grass family

18. Useful Nomenclature Websites
Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
International Plant Names Index
International Code of Botanical Nomenclature-2005
Angiosperm Phylogeny Website
Plants National Database
Latin Dictionary and Grammar Aid

19. FLORA NORTH AMERICA: http://www.efloras.org/

20. Plants USDA Database: http://plants.usda.gov/

21. International Plant Names Index: http://www.ipni.org/index.html