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Assignment # :
01
Subject:
Plant Systematics (2)
Department:
Biological Science (2)
Submitted to Respected:

Dr. Alamdar

Submitted by:

Konain Zahra Maqbool

Registration No.:

2019-UoBS-492
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Topic: Why nomenclature is important?

Introduction:
Nomenclature’’ is a Latin word which can be further dissected in to two Latin words
namely ‘nomen’ which mean ‘name’ and ‘Calare’ which mean ‘to call’. So, the
nomenclature might be defined only as the arrangement of naming of plants. Once
determination of a new taxon based on a number of important uniqueness, it becomes
elementary to present a valid name.

IMPORTANCE OF BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE

Before Linnaeus came along and simplified things, plants usually had many long
descriptive Latin names, making learning and memorizing them very difficult. The
names were also changed based on the will of the botanist describing the plant.
There weren’t universal names for each plant, so people around the world
couldn’t be certain that they were talking about the same plants.

Once the plants had been given specific names, many benefits were seen.

 Clarification
With the help of nomenclature each plant had a unique name that was specific to that
plant. Confusion would result if same the same species is designated different names.
Common names can also be awkward at times. Binomial nomenclature provides a same
podium to the organism and gets rid of the uncertainty that can arise if same organism
is studied in different countries.

 Indubitably Better than the Polynomials

Binomials are far easier to remember and understand in contrast to the previous used
polynomials.
Polynomials were tongue-tied and they could be won over very easily by different
taxonomists around the globe.
 Universal
Everyone used the same name to identify the specific plant because of nomenclature.
 Education
Nomenclature of Plant names were easier to remember and to learn.

 Help in Communication
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The most vital advantage of binomial nomenclature is ability to communicate. These

binomials simply help in communication as these are internationally accepted and used
all over the globe.

 Descriptive
Beside the binomials are easy to understand and remember they are descriptive as well.
For example Thiomargarita meaning ‘Sulfur pearl’ contain microscopic granular sulfur
that scatter the incident light and thus providing a glow pearl and like appearance to the
cell and gives a picture of its specific epithet. Thus binomial name also provide a
descriptive nature.

 Grouping and Classification

It is through binomial nomenclature we can relate different organism. By knowing the
genetic name one can access the family tree of particular organisms. Plants were more
easily categorized and the grouping easier to understand.

 Stability
The names are keep hold of even if the species are shifted to another genera based on
new knowledge.

Literature review:
Botanical nomenclature is divided in to three partly overlapping periods: the schismatic
period (1840-1930) the dark ages (1915-1950), and the IAPT Renaissance (1950-date).
The schism begun with the 1843 British association for the advancement of science
approval of zoological rules and became manifest with the 1867 Paris congress approval
of Alphonse de Candolle’s botanical laws.

Reunification efforts, such as those by Dall (1877.12), failed. The contemporary rise of
“Darwinism” added to the divisiveness. By the late 1800s, various botanical center had or
were involving modified or different codes from Condollian, not to mention fully formed
codes from “outsiders” like Saint-lager (1880.03?, 1881.04) and Kountze (1891.10). The
1905 Vienna congress illuminated all but the Britonain schemes, which continued until
the 1930 Cambridge congress compromises.

A nomenclatural “dark age” descended when the 1915 London congress was cancelled
because of a subsequent engagement, World War 1. The next congresses (Ithaca, 1926)
declare it incompetent and due to insufficient inter international representation. The
1930 Cambridge Congress revised the 1912 Brussels Code but, largely because of death of
Briqeut in 1931, its code appeared only a few months before the 1935 Amsterdam
congress that amended it. Again a world war stroked and no official Amsterdam code was
ever produced. the 1950 Stockholm congress saw the establishment of international
association from Plant Taxonomy ,it’s journal, Taxon, in which all code amendment
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proposals now appear ,an its serial publication , Regnum Vagetabilei , in which all
subsequent codes appear at the merciless six year pace of the congresses.

Information slowly accumulated amongst early botanists but as in every major plant
group, this process was much accelerated by the development in 1753 by the Swedish
botanist Carl Linne (Linnaeus) of the binomial system of distinguishing species that bears
his name and is in universal use today.

Methodology:
I have taken these data from the site of biological discussion, Google scholar,
encyclopedia, bioencyclopedia, Wikipedia, Christianherbal, byjus, spinger.link etc. And
also from article named The History of Nomenclature.

Results:
Nomenclature means dealing with plants by unique names. It is very important because it
clarified each species; it is used worldwide, easier to learn for everyone and categorized
plants.

Botanical nomenclature is divided into three period’s schismatic period, dark ages and
IAPT renaissance. Darwinism is also added in it and many other scientists like Condollian,
Kuntz, Brequet and Amsterdam play very important role in in nomenclature. But Carl
Linnaeus played vital role in it.

References:
 https://www.biologydiscussion.com/plants/flowering-
plants/nomenclature-plants-history-common-names-and-advantages-
botany/19282

 https://biocyclopedia.com/index/icbn.php

 https://christianherbal.org/binomial-nomenclature/

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomenclature
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 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_nomenclature

 https://byjus.com/biology/binomial-nomenclature/

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/search?qs=importance%20of
%20nomenclature

 https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-011-3704-1_5