Scientific Names - In this topic, we will learn about scientific names, their meaning, usage, and examples.
Meaning of Scientific Names
In science, you will always see that plants and animals have names other than common names. We generally call them scientific names. What we don't know is that they are named using a species-naming system called binomial nomenclature.
According to Byju, this is the widely used formal system of naming a certain species. It consists of two names that are usually in Latin but there are also some that have come from other languages as well. There are two names:
Generic name
The initial name highlights the genus to which the organism belongs. It is always capitalized and in italics.
Specific name
It identifies the exact species to which the organism belongs. The name is in lowercase and italicized.
Uses of Scientific Names
- Taxonomy and organization: These are widely organized which makes it easy and systematic to understand and study the characteristics of particular organisms.
- Accuracy and Clarity: These are so unique that identifying the creatures will not lead to confusion.
- Binomial names (other terms for scientific names) are universally recognized and standardized
- They are retained even when species are transferred to another genus based on new knowledge.
- Helps in understanding the similarities and differences between different species belonging to the same genera.
Examples- Humans – Homo sapiens
- Blackbuck – Antelope cervicapra
- Cheetah – Acinonyx jubatus
- Red Fox – Vulpes vulpes
- Great horned owl – Bubo virginianus
- Indian Python – Python molurus
- Carrot – Daucas carota
- Coriander – Coriandrum sativum
- Green Gram – Phaseolies auicus
- Orange – Citrus aurantium
- Tomato – Lycopersican esculentum
Another example Scientific names of the seeds
| | |
Aconite, Chinese | Aconitum carmichaeli | |
Alkanet, Oriental Seeds, | Alkanna orientalis | Bedding plant |
Aloe, Cape Aloe | Aloe ferox | Laxative |
Amla | Emblica officinalis | Antioxidant, Vitamin C, Anemia, Side Effects of Cancer Treatment |
Andrographis | Andrographis paniculata | Digestion, Lyme disease |
Angelica, Official | Angelica archangelica | Digestion, immunity, typhoid |
Arnica, Mountain | Arnica montana | Homeopathy, Ointments |
Sweet Annie | Artemisia Annua | Malaria, cancer |
Artichoke | Cynara scolymus | Liver and Digestion |
Arugula, Wild Roquette | Diplotaxis tenuifolia | Vegetables, raw or cooked, liqueurs and beer |
Ashwagandha | Withania somnifera | Stamina, regeneration |
Asparagus | Asparagus officinalis | Cardiovascular System, Potassium. Edible Hedge |
Asparagus, Chinese | Tian-men-dong | |
Astragalus | Astragalus membranaceus | Immunity |
Baikal Skullcap | Scutellaria baicalensis | Immunity |
Barley | Hordeum vulgare | Algicide, Animal Food, Cereal Grain |
Basil | Ocimum basilicum | |
Bean, Scarlet Emperor | Phaseolus coccineus | Adrenals |
Bearsfoot | Polymnia uvedalia | Ointments for swelling, liver and kidney tonic |
Bears Garlic | Alium ursinum | Food, Medicine (natural antibiotic) |
Bhringaraj | Eclipta alba | Kaya Kalpa, Detoxification, Hair, Cirrhosis, Asthma, Insomnia |
Black Cohosh | Cimifuga racemosa | Female Reproductiive System |
Bloodflower | Asclepias curassavica | Butterflies |
Broccoli | Brassica oleracea | Prostate Cancer, Heart Disease |
Buckwheat | Fagopyrum esculentum | |
Burdock | Arctium lappa | Food, Cancer |
Calamus | Acorus calamus | Soil Remediation, Digestion |
Calendula | Calendula officinalis | |
Camas, Blue | Camassia quamash | Baked as a staple food |
Cancer Bush | Sutherlandia frutescens | Tonic herb, antitumoral |
Carob | Ceratonia siliqua | Chocolate substitute |
Carrots | Daucus carota | Antioxidant, Vitamin A, Eyes |
Cayenne Pepper | Capsicum frutescens | |
Chameleon Plant | Houttuynia cordata | Lungs, urinary tract infections, Lyme disease, cuisine |
Chamomile, German | Matricaria recutita | |
Chervil, Brussels Winter | Anthriscus cerefolium | Slug control, carminative, diuretic, winter vegetable |
Chia | Salvia hispanica | |
Chickweed | Stellaria media | Ground Cover, Vitamins |
Clover, Medium Red | Trifolium pratense | Herbal teas, ointments, tonics, cover crops |
Codonopsis | Codonopsis pilosula | Stamina |
Comfrey | Symphytum officinalis | Organic Gardening |
Dong Quai | Angelica sinensis | |
Echinacea | Echinacea angustifolia | Herbal antiseptic and immune enhancer |
Elecampane | Inula magnifica | |
Eleuthero | Eleutherococcus senticosus | Stamina, bone marrow suppression |
Epazote | Chenopodium ambrosioides | Intestinal gas, parasites, salads, cooked beans |
Evening Primrose | Oenothera biennis | |
Fenugreek | Trigonella foenum-graecum | Cover Crop |
Figwort | Scrophularia nodosa | Bees, lymphatic system |
Flax, Brown | Linum usitatissimum | |
Geranium, Umcka | Pelargonium sidoides | Upper respiratory conditions |
Gotu Kola | Centella asiatica | Memory, sleep |
Indigo, wild | Baptisia tinctoria | Immunity |
Kale | Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra | Salads or Cooked |
Lamb's Quarters | Chenopodium album | Protein, Edible, Birds |
Lavender | Lavandula angustifolia | |
Lemongrass | Cymbopogon flexuosus | Tea, jetlag, digestion, Asian cuisine, essential oil |
Lemon Balm | Melissa officinalis | |
Lentils | Lens culinaris | |
Lobelia Inflata | Lobelia Inflata | Immunity, Inflammation |
Lomatium | Lomatium dissectum | Immunity |
Ma Huang | Ephedra sinensis | Stimulant, bronchial dilator |
Marshmallow | Althaea officinalis | Immunity, Tea, Demulcent |
Mint, Korean | Agastache rugosa | |
Mint, Licorice | Agastache foeniculum | |
Mint, Mayan | Lippia dulcis | |
Mint, Mountain | Pycnanthemum virginicum | |
Motherwort | Leonurus cardiac | |
Peppermint | Mentha piperita | Tea, Mouse Deterrent |
Pleurisy | Asclepias tuberosa | Butterflies |
Purple Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea | Immunity |
Purslane | Portulaca oleracea | Omega 3, Vitamins A & C |
Rhodiola | Sedum rhodiola | Bees |
Rosemary | Rosmarinus officinalis | Bird seva, essential oils, cuisine |
Sage, Black | Salvia mellifera | |
Sage, Blue | Salvia azurea | |
Sage, Clary | Salvia sclarea | |
Sage, Dan-shen miltiorrhiza | Salvia miltiorrhiza | |
Sage, Dominican | Salvia dominica | |
Sage, Garden | Salvia officinalis | |
Sage, Jerusalem | Salvia hierosolymitana | |
Sage, Middle-Eastern | Salvia libanotica | |
Sage, Pitcher | Salvia spathacea | |
Sage, Purple | Salvia leucophylla | |
Sage, White | Salvia apiana | |
Savory, Winter | Satureja montana | Vegetable, raw or cooked, essential oils |
Sea Buckthorn | Hippophae rhamnoides | Radiation, antioxidants |
Sea Kale | Crambe maritima | Eat as a cooked vegetable substitute for asparagus |
Shatavari | Asparagus racemosus | Female Reproductive System, Galactogogue |
She-chuang-zi | Cnidium monnieri | Parasiticide, used to prevent osteoporosis |
Shungiku, chrysanthemum | Chrysanthemum coronarium | Salads, Alkalizing |
Solomon's Seal | Polygonatum biflorum | |
Sorrel, Sheep Sorrel | Rumex acetosella | Butterflies, Birds, Soil Remediation |
Spearmint | Mentha spicata | Tea, Salad |
Spilanthes | Acmella alba | Toothache, Lyme disease |
Stinging Nettles | Urtica dioica | |
Sunflower | Helianthus annuus | Birds, Soil Remediation |
Thyme, Creeping | Thymus serphyllum | |
Thyme, English Broadleaf | Thymus vulgaris | |
Thyme, German Winter | Thymus vulgaris | |
Thyme, Mastic | Thymus mastichina | |
Thyme, Spanish | Thymus zygis | |
Tulsi | Ocimum sanctum | Nervine, Anti-estrogenic, Digestion, Parasites |
Turkey Rhubarb | Rheum palmatum tanguticum | Laxative |
Valerian | Valeriana officinalis | |
Wild Yam | Dioscorea batatas | IBS, Nerve Pain, Male & Female Reproductive System |
Wormwood | Artemisia absinthium | Parasites |
Wormwood, Redstem | Artemisia scoparia | Immunity, Staphylococcus & Steptococcus |
Yarrow | Achillea millefolium | Soil Remediation |
Vetch, Kidney | Anthyllis vulneraria | Skin ointments, nitrogen fixer |
Violet | Viola odorata | Mouth Sores, Oral Cancer |
Yerba Mansa | Anemopsis californica | Soil Remediation |
Zaatar | Origanum syriacum | Culinary herb used to make a dipping sauce |
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