Getting to the Root of Scientific Nomenclature

Have you ever pointed out a plant and said, “Ooh so pretty! What is that?” Then, your botanist friend says, “Oh, that’s ashiksudfadys!” Yes? Me too. If plant names sound like they are of a different language, it’s because they are. Scientific names of plants, and other organisms, have Latin roots. This is because at the time when scholars created scientific names, they used Latin as the academic standard. Additionally, Latin is considered a dead language because it is no longer spoken, which gives scientific names more staying power as they are less prone to change. 

Why even bother knowing or caring about a scientific name? The name helps its identity be recognized, and it also reveals more of an organism’s story. The scientific name is also the most universal, which leads to better communication and information sharing with others. It is also incredibly fun to walk through a garden or along a trail and point out, “Wow, Alchemilla saxatilis! There’s Campanula carpatica! I see some Geum triflorum, too.” Yes, these are real names. No, they are not magic spells. 

To make scientific names feel more accessible and memorable, try breaking the name into pieces. First, start with the genus. This is the first, more general part of a scientific name. A genus is a group of similar species. The species name further describes a plant’s characteristics. It is the most specific name attached to an organism's identity. Written out, this looks like Genus species. For example, Armenian grape hyacinth in formal name is Muscari armeniacum.