I have a question about what plant names to capitalize. I am
identifying weeds and pests in lawns and i am using plant names in the
subject header. I already know that the genus name is capitalized, but
the species name is not. And the two are usually italicized.I f for
example i am using the name of a grass such as tall fescue, would it be
capitalized if not used at the beginning of the subject header since it
is just a common name? Hope i made sense.

schreef
I have a question about what plant names to capitalize. I am
identifying weeds and pests in lawns and i am using plant names in the
subject header. I already know that the genus name is capitalized, but
the species name is not. And the two are usually italicized.I f for
example i am using the name of a grass such as tall fescue, would it be
capitalized if not used at the beginning of the subject header since it
is just a common name? Hope i made sense.

***
There is no agreement on that. The advantage of capitalising common names is
clearest when the first part of the name is a common adjective (red, blue,
little, tall, common): in such cases capitalizing, e.g. Tall Fescue makes it
clear that the entire phrase is a name. This as opposed to tall fescue which
could be a tall specimen of fescue.

There are geographical and cultural differences in usage (capitalize
yes/no). I would suggest: if in doubt do capitalize.
PvR

In article , P van Rijckevorsel
wrote:
The advantage of capitalising common names is
clearest when the first part of the name is a common adjective (red, blue,
little, tall, common): in such cases capitalizing, e.g. Tall Fescue makes it
clear that the entire phrase is a name. This as opposed to tall fescue which
could be a tall specimen of fescue.

I agree. A nature reserve I help out on produced a booklet on trees last year.
In that, we capitalised common names but only where they referred to the plant
itself. Thus, for example, "Common Oak" but "an oak bench".

Hope that helps.

Roger