What Is The Difference Between Scientific Name And Botanical Name

What Is The Difference Between Scientific Name And Botanical Name

The terms “scientific name” and “botanical name” are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two.

A scientific name is a formal, standardized name for a species that is used by scientists around the world. It is based on the principles of binomial nomenclature, which was developed by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century.

A scientific name consists of two parts: the genus name and the species name. The genus name is written first (capitalized), followed by the species name (lowercase), both in italics. For example, the scientific name for the common house cat is Felis catus.

Another example, in the scientific name for humans, Homo sapiens, “Homo” is the genus, and “sapiens” is the species.

What Is The Difference Between Scientific Name And Botanical Name

A botanical name is a specific type of scientific name that is used for plants. It follows the same principles of binomial nomenclature, but it is also subject to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). The ICN sets out the rules for naming plants, including the use of Latinized names and the priority of names.

Conclusion

In general, the terms “scientific name” and “botanical name” can be used interchangeably when referring to plants. However, it is important to note that the term “botanical name” is more specific and only applies to plants, while the term “scientific name” can be used for any species.

What is difference between scientific name and common name?

Unlike common names, which are identical in all languages, scientific names give an organism a unique identity that ensures two people are speaking about the same thing.

Difference Between Scientific Name And Common Name List