Correct way to write a plant scientific name

[David]

By piceslim, 22 August 2007


- The scientific name must be written in italics.
- If can't write in italics, then the scientific name needs to be underlined.
- Only the first letter of the generic name need to be capitalized.

For example:
The correct way to write a scientific name for Primrose Butterwort is

Pinguicula primuliflora or Pinguicula primuliflora .

NOT Pinguicula Primuliflora or PINGUICULA PRIMULIFLORA .

You can short form the scientific name by writing only the first letter of generic name. Likes P.primuliflora or P.primuliflora.

But NOT Ping. primuliflora.

Check the website below to get more info about the scientific name.
www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/quickref/general/scientific_names.html


If the CPs is a hybrid. Then the "x" is not in italics and got space between the epithet.

For example, the hybrid name for N.rafflesiana x ampullaria is N. x hookeriana.


More info on hybrid name.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_name