Summary of The International Code of botanical nomenclature

The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature is the standard method for naming plants. This ensures that each plant has a unique name, distinguishing it from other plants, regardless of variations in common names and across all languages.

As the name suggests, the system is binomial, meaning that every plant has a first name and a second name. The first name is the genus name, while the second name is the species name.

Varieties or cultivars can be added as a third element to the name in order to differentiate between different types within the same species.

The first and last names should be italicized. The first name should be capitalized, while the last name should not be. To add the variety, use the shortcut 'v' or 'var'. To add the cultivar, use the shortcut 'cv'.

See also:

Taxomomy History

Endangered species system