29/03/2017 How to Write a Scientific Name Correctly On­line Guide to the positive identification of Members of the Cactus Family

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Acanthocalycium
Acanthocereus
Acharagma Cacti in Depth
Ancistrocactus
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Ariocarpus
Armatocereus
Arrojadoa If you would like to submit information to this page, please send an e­mail to
Arthrocereus daiv@CactiGuide.com.
Astrophytum
Austrocactus How to Write a Scientific Name Correctly
Austrocylindropuntia
Aztekium There are precise conventions to follow when writing a scientific name.
Bergerocactus Genus Name
Blossfeldia 1. The genus name is written first.
Brachycereus 2. The genus name is always underlined or italicised.
Brasilicereus 3. The first letter of the genus name is always capitalized
Brasiliopuntia Example: Astrophytum or Astrophytum
Browningia
Calymmanthium Specific Name
Carnegiea 1. The specific epithet is written second.
Cephalocereus 2. The specific epithet is always underlined or italicised.
Cereus 3. The first letter of the specific epithet name is never capitalized.
Cintia Example: myriostigma or myriostigma
Cipocereus Scientific Name ­ The scientific name of this plant would appear as follows:
Cleistocactus Astrophytum myriostigma or Astrophytum myriostigma
Cochemiea
Coleocephalocereus Mutations? Frequently a particular individual of a species will mutate to a diverse colour,
Consolea size, or growth habit. These characteristics are passed on to its descendants (offspring’s).
Copiapoa When this happens, a population of plants exists with the same scientific name, but a sub­
Corryocactus group displays different characteristics. If the mutated group is significantly different from
Corynopuntia the parents and is stable (the traits are passed on from generation to generation), then this
Coryphantha new group of plants is often assigned a variety name.
Cumulopuntia
Cylindropuntia Variety Names
Dendrocereus A. Variety names are given when the mutation occurs in nature. (E.g. a mutation occurs in
Denmoza a wild arid land)
Discocactus B. The abbreviation var. is used to signify that the mutation is a variety. var. is placed after
Disocactus the specific epithet and is not underlined or italicised.
Echinocactus Example: Astrophytum myriostigma var.
Echinocereus 1. The variety name is written after var.
Echinomastus 2. Capitalize the first letter of the variety name only if it is a proper noun. (e.g. Pediocactus
Echinopsis peeblesianus var. Menzelii)
Epiphyllum 3. Underline or italicise the variety name.
Epithelantha Example: Astrophytum myriostigma var. strongylogonum or Astrophytum myriostigma var.
Eriosyce strongylogonum
Escobaria
Escontria Form (forma) Names
Espostoa A. Form names are given for sporadic or minor variations occurring among individuals of
Espostoopsis any population, mainly in horticultural applications (e.g. a mutation in spine length or flower
Eulychnia colour)
Facheiroa B. The abbreviation f. is used to signify that the mutation is a form. forma (f.) is placed
Ferocactus after the specific epithet and is not underlined or italicised.
Frailea Example: Astrophytum myriostigma f.
Geohintonia 1. The form name is written after forma (f.)
Grusonia 2. Do not capitalize the first letter (e.g. Astrophytum myriostigma f. quadricostata)
Gymnocalycium 3. Underline or italicise the variety name.
Haageocereus Example: Astrophytum myriostigma forma quadricostata or Astrophytum myriostigma f.
Harrisia quadricostata
Hatiora
Hylocereus Mutations can also take place because of human involvement such as breeding, applying
Isolatocereus mutagens, propagation, or by cultural practices. In these cases, the new group of mutated
Jasminocereus
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29/03/2017 How to Write a Scientific Name Correctly On­line Guide to the positive identification of Members of the Cactus Family
Lasiocereus plants is called a cultivar. "Cultivar" is an abbreviated form of cultivated variety. The
Leocereus mutated plants are assigned a cultivar name.
Lepismium
Leptocereus Cultivar Names
Leuchtenbergia A. Cultivar names are given when the mutation occurs due to human influence.
Lophophora Examples: a mutation occurs in a green house.
Maihuenia B. The abreviation cv. is used to signify that the mutation is a cultivar. cv. is placed after
Maihueniopsis the specific epithet and is not underlined or italicised.
Mammillaria Example: Astrophytum myriostigma cv. Onzuka.
Mammilloydia or single quotes are used instead of cv.
Matucana Example: Astrophytum myriostigma 'Onzuka'
Melocactus The cultivar name is written after cv. or within the single quotes.
Micranthocereus Capitalize the cultivar name.
Micropuntia Never underline or italicise the cultivar name.
Mila Example: Astrophytum myriostigma cv. Onzuka. or Astrophytum myriostigma ‘Onzuka'
Miqueliopuntia
Myrtillocactus Author: John Chippindale, Leeds, England
Neobuxbaumia
Neolloydia
Neoraimondia Index of Articles
Neowerdermannia
Obregonia
Opuntia Introductory and Naming
Oreocereus Wherefore Art Thou Cactaceae?
Oroya How to Write a Scientific Name Correctly
Ortegocactus Cacti & Succulent Identification
Pachycereus Cereus Peruvianus ­The Least and Best Known Cactus
Parodia More About Cereus Peruvianus
Pediocactus
Pelecyphora Cultivation and How­To
Peniocereus The Sun Burned Cacti
Pereskia Grafting on Pereskiopsis
Pereskiopsis Making Your Own Cactus Soil
Pierrebraunia Growing NON­Hardy Cacti in Cold Climates
Pilosocereus Tools of the Trade
Polaskia Growing Cactus with Artificial Light
Praecereus Making a Hypertufa Planter
Pseudoacanthocereus Cactus Flowers ­ Fake or Real?
Pseudorhipsalis How­To­NOT Build a Cactus Terrarium
Pterocactus Raising Cactus From Seed
Pygmaeocereus Growing Cacti in Terracotta
Quiabentia
Rauhocereus Conservation
Rebutia Is Cultivation Conservation?
Rhipsalis Interview: Cactus Conservation in Paraguay with Alex Arzberger
Samaipaticereus The Fate of the Minnesota Ball Cactus
Schlumbergera
Sclerocactus Variety
Selenicereus A Cactus Odyssey in Arizona
Stenocactus Mangrove Cactus
Stenocereus Have a Cup of Cactus
Stephanocereus Opuntia as an Invasive Species in Australia
Stetsonia The Creating of "Springtime Succulence"
Strombocactus Making Botanical Illustrations
Sulcorebutia Adapt or Perish
Tacinga Chasing the Wild Epis
Tephrocactus
Thelocactus
Tunilla
Turbinicarpus
Uebelmannia
Weberbauerocereus
Weberocereus
xPacherocactus
Yavia
Yungasocereus

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29/03/2017 How to Write a Scientific Name Correctly On­line Guide to the positive identification of Members of the Cactus Family

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