Variety (botany)

Variety (botany) is a taxonomic rank in botany, which is below that of species and subspecies, but above that of form. This rank is often used to distinguish plants that have minor differences from the typical species, but which are significant enough to warrant their own unique classification.

Definition

In botanical nomenclature, a variety is a taxonomic rank used in the classification of plants and fungi, below species. A variety is a plant that is slightly different in natural, stable ways from others of the same species. Varieties are often recognized in the wild, but they can also be selected in cultivation.

Recognition and naming

The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) recognizes the rank of variety. The code specifies that the Latin word "varietas" is to be used and abbreviated as "var." when citing a botanical name.

The naming of a variety follows the rules of botanical nomenclature, with the variety name following the species name, and preceded by "var.". For example, Acer saccharum var. nigrum is a variety of sugar maple with black leaves.

Use in horticulture

In horticulture, the term "variety" often refers to cultivars – plants that have been selected and propagated for desirable characteristics. However, this usage is not consistent with the botanical definition of a variety, as cultivars are not necessarily naturally occurring.

See also

• Cultivar
• Form
• Subspecies
• Taxonomy