In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:
In message .com,
" writes
Strange question I know but is there a system for plants similar to the
ISBN system for books whereby each plant type is given a unique ID
code?

There is not a numeric system. There are two codes; the ICBN
(International Code for Botanical Nomenclature) for wild(ish) plants;
and the ICNCP (International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants)
for cultivated plants.

A plant type can have more than one name, if the taxonomy is disputed.

Which is as nothing to the names that taxonomists will call one another
during a dispute :-)

To clarify for the original poster, you have names like:

Prunus spinosa
Prunus = plum/cherry genus, P. spinosa = sloe

Vinca major "oxyloba"
Vinca = periwinkle, V. major = greater P., "oxyloba" a
particular variety (probably a geographic variant)

Lonicera x brownii "Dropmore scarlet"
Lonicera = honeysuckle, x brownii = a particular cross,
"Dropmore scarlet" = a particular variety of that cross

There are a lot of variations in the names, but the first two are
always genus and species, and then subspecies, variety, tribe and
other arcane distinctions. Some plants don't form nice, neat groups
and their classification is almost entirely a matter of taste
(brambles are an extreme example).


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.