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Genus ( lat. Genus , plural genera , from other Greek. Γένος ) is one of the main ranks of the hierarchical classification in biological systematics .
In the hierarchy of systematic categories, the genus stands below the family and tribe and above the species .
For example, the genus of butterflies Garden whites ( Pieris ) is one of many genera of the family whites ( Pieridae ). In turn, the genus Garden whitewash ( Pieris ) consists of many species, one of which is Cabbage, or Cabbage ( Pieris brassicae ).
By the number of species that enter it, the genus may be:
- polytypic - containing a large number of species,
- oligotypic - containing a small number of species,
- monotypic - containing one species .
Scientific name of the genus
The scientific name of the genus is uninomial, that is, consists of one word. Codes of biological nomenclature require that this word be Latin in form, that is, it should be written in the letters of the Latin alphabet and obey the rules of Latin grammar. The gender name is considered as a singular noun and is capitalized. There are no other restrictions, therefore the name of the genus can be either a word borrowed from classical Latin (for example, the name of the genus of foxes - Vulpes ), or a Latinized word from any language (most often from ancient Greek ). Often the name of the genus is a word formed from a surname or name (for example, the name of the genus of flowering plants Linnaea - from one of the variants of the surname Karl Linnaeus , Linnaeus ).
From the basis of the generic name, the names of the taxa of the family group ( tribes , families and their ranks) are formed.
The rules for the formation and use of generic names are established by the rules enshrined in the international codes of the botanical and zoological nomenclature and similar codes of nomenclature of bacteria and viruses.
The limits of action of codes have developed historically and do not reflect modern concepts of classification. For example, the names of mushrooms and lichens are regulated by the code of the botanical nomenclature , although mushrooms and lichens are not now included in the taxon of the plant .
Hybrid Genus
Hybrid genus - a conditional name denoting a set of hybrids belonging to two genera (sometimes to a greater number of genera).
The names of hybrid genera must begin with the sign × (sign of multiplication, sign of hybrid origin). These names can be formed in two ways:
- in the form of a concise formula; e.g. × Amarine [= Amaryllis × Nerine ]
- from Latinized surnames or names by adding -ara to them; e.g. × Vuylstekeara [= Cochlioda × Miltonia × Odontoglossum ]
Homonymy
Within the jurisdiction of each of the biological nomenclature codes, generic names should not be repeated (be homonyms ). This means that the names of two different genera of plants cannot be the same as the names of two different genera of animals (but the name of the genus of the plant and the name of the genus of the animal may coincide - and there are several dozen such matches).
When taxonomic homonyms are discovered, measures are taken to eliminate them, the essence of which is that only the senior homonym (that is, the homonym that was published earlier) is recognized as a valid name, and the younger homonyms are replaced.
Literature
- Jeffrey, Charles . Biological nomenclature: Per. from English - M.: Mir, 1980 .-- S. 16, 17, 25.
- Markov A.V. The return of the Black Queen, or the law of growth of the average duration of the existence of childbirth in the process of evolution // Journal of General Biology, 2000, 61/4: 357-370.
- Sytin A.K. On the category of the genus in 18th century botany: Linnaeus and his opponents // Transactions of Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Appendix No. 1. - 2009. - S. 79-86 .
Links
- International codes of Botanical Nomenclature: Saint-Louis Code, 2000 , Vienna Code, 2006. Retrieved August 18, 2008
- International Code of the Zoological Nomenclature (4th Edition, 2000) ( Retrieved August 18, 2008)
- International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (1990) ; Retrieved August 18, 2008
- The International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature (2002 ) Retrieved August 18, 2008
See also
- Binominal Nomenclature
- Designations used in taxon names
- Ranks between genus and species
- Births of plants named after people