MediumBiologyHigh School (11–12)Diversity of Living Organisms › Biodiversity and NomenclatureConceptual
A student writes: "The onion, Allium cepa, garlic, Allium sativum, and garlic chives, Allium…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A student writes: "The onion, Allium cepa, garlic, Allium sativum, and garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, are close relatives." How can the names be shortened, and what must stay the same?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Binomial nomenclature (Linnaeus): two Latin words, the genus and the specific epithet. In print both are in italics; by hand each word is underlined separately. The genus starts with a capital letter, the epithet with a small one, and the author comes last in short form, for example Linn. Plants follow the ICN, and animals the ICZN.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Shorten. After the first full name, the genus can be written as its first letter: A. sativum and A. tuberosum.
Step 2. What stays. The epithet is always written in full, both parts stay in italics, and the first name in the text is written in full.
Answer: Allium cepa, A. sativum and A. tuberosum.
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