What Are Scientific Names? Meaning, Uses, And Examples

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

Common Name	Botanical Name	Primary Uses
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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