Botanical Names Reveal Relationships
You can think of genera and species like different levels on a family tree. They tell us how closely related plants are to each other. Plants in the same species always have the same botanical name, like Acer macrophyllum.
What are the benefits of using botanical names?
There are many advantages to using the botanical names:
- Common names may vary from region to region.
- Because the world uses the botanical names, it's possible to refer to foreign gardening sources and visit foreign gardens with some comprehension.
Why is it important to use botanical names instead of common names?
Scientific names are informative
Every recognized species on earth (at least in theory) is given a two-part scientific name. This system is called "binomial nomenclature." These names are important because they allow people throughout the world to communicate unambiguously about animal species.
