Nomenclature: Understanding Scientific Plant Names

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health Care
Written By Peter Morris

What is it ?

The word nomenclature is derived from the Latinnomen ('name'), and calare ('to call').  It is a system of names or terms, or the rules for forming these terms in a particular field of arts or sciences.

In Botany - it is they way we identify a particular plant species or variety. It is also related to, but distinct from taxonomy – which is concerned with grouping and classifying plants.

We at Plant Specialists know our names !

For over 200 years we have used the “binomial” classification model of created by Linnaeus (1707-1778).  It is the language of plant taxonomy that is employed around the world. It uses one Latin (or Classic Greek) name to indicate the genus, and another to indicate the specific epithet. Together, the genus and epithet comprise the "species."

... a rose is NOT like any other rose unless it is the specific one you are looking for !

Just ask one of our landscape designers - they know !

Rosa rugosa - "the rugged rose"

- from Japan, Korea and Siberia where it grows in sandy beach dunes.

The natural habit of Rosa rugosa - perfect for a sunny rooftop with lots of wind ! 

Why the fuss?  

If you ever wanted our Garden care Team to replace a few boxwood plants in a hedge that did not make it through the winter one would need to know which species to purchase.  Otherwise your hedge might look wonky ! - Especially considering there are over 90 distinct species and over 365 cultivars of boxwood !!! ( can you believe that ! )

A field of boxwood - Buxus genus - ALL one cultivar !

The current International Code of Botanical Nomenclature is known as the Vienna Code.  It was adopted by the Seventeenth International Botanical Congress in Vienna, Austria, in July 2005.  Check them out !

Many times the name describes the plant in a particular way – a means of enhancing a known characteristic. Here is an example of what many of these names can mean.

Nepenthes alata - note the wing (ala) over the cup - also known as common pitcher plant.

More information ?

For a full List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names.

   Google : List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names.

It could even become a fun game resource for children -

to name imaginary plants from this list!  Try it !

Dracoruberderme didactylodente 

Red skinned dragon with two finger teeth ! HA HA HA !

Notation

Writing this reminded me of Lepanthes woodburyana – an endemic orchid with a tiny flower discovered and named by my beloved professor (and author) Dr. Roy Woodbury.

Lepanthes wooduryana - endemic orchid of the rainforests of Puerto Rico

For more names that you can shake a stick at - Call Plant Specialists TODAY !

Our Plant Garden Care Team can source Genus and species and plant them for you in the spring!

Don't delay – the sooner the better !

GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 51 YEARS !

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with permission from @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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