What Is Plant Taxonomy?
What is Cultivar? What is the meaning of “var.” in some latin name we see? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variety_(biology) In botanical nomenclature, variety is a low-level taxonomic rank below that of species: As such, it gets a ternary name (a name in three parts). A variety will have an appearance distinct from other varieties, but will hybridize freely with those other varieties (if brought into contact). Usually varieties will be geographically separate from each other. Example: The pincushion cactus, Escobaria vivipara (Nutt.) Buxb., is a wide-ranging variable species occurring from Canada to Mexico, and found throughout New Mexico below about 2600 m. Nine varieties have been described. Where the varieties of the pincushion cactus meet, they intergrade. The variety Escobaria vivipara var. arizonica is from Arizona, while Escobaria vivipara var. neo-mexicana is from New Mexico. Notes: To plant breeders, at least in countries that are signatory to the UPOV Convention, “variety” or “
Plant taxonomy is a branch of the sciences which is concerned with describing, identifying, categorizing, and naming plants. Several different systems are used to taxonomize plants, with the most familiar being the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species hierarchy. Biologists who work with plants utilize plant taxonomy on a daily basis to order and make sense of the plants they work with, and to effectively communicate information to other biologists. Taxonomy has very old roots. Simply by naming things, humans are starting to taxonomize them, as names allow people to distinguish between various items they interact with. For example, freezers and refrigerators look similar and have similar functions, but they are also very different, which is why two different terms are used to refer to these common appliances. In biology, taxonomy is especially important because it can be used to make sure that people are talking about the same thing, and to uncover similarities, differe
