Scientific Name

Welcome to our scientific name website. Scientificname.net is here to help you learn more about scientific names and how they are used. Every recognized species on earth is given a two-part scientific name and you can use this site to understand more about the scientific names of animals, plants and humans. The scientific name for every organism is comprised of a combination of two terms, the genus name and the species or epithet. Both of these terms are italicized and the genus name is also capitalized.

Scientific names

As an example of a scientific name in action, the scientific name for humans is Homo sapiens. In this example of a scientific name, the genus name is Homo and the species is sapiens. These terms are unique and no other species can have this same name. Scientific names are designed to tell you something about an animal's relationships with other animals.

B

  • Baboon flower, Babiana
  • Baby Blanket rose, Rosa ‘KORfullwind’
  • Baby Faurax rose, Rosa ‘Pol m Lillie’
  • Baby’s breath, Gypsophila paniculata
  • Baby-blue-eyes, Nemophila menziesii
  • Bachelor’s button, Centaurea cyanus
  • Bacopa, Sutera corda
  • Bagdad water lily, Nymphaea ‘Bagdad’
  • Bald cypress, Taxodium distichum
  • Ball tree, Orange, Buddleia golbosa
  • Ballerina rose, Rosa ‘Ballerina’
  • Balloon flower, Platycodon grandiflorus
  • Balsam, Impatiens balsamina
  • Baltimore Belle rose, Rosa ‘Belle de Baltimore’
  • Banana shrub, Michelia figo
  • Banana shrub, Yunnan, Michelia yunnanensis
  • Baneberry; Doll’s eyes; Necklace weed, Actaea pachypoda
  • Barbara Bush rose, Rosa ‘JACbush’
  • Barbara’s button, Grass-leaf; Marshallia, Marshallia graminifolia
  • Barber’s diascia, Diascia barberae
  • Barberry, Chenault, Berberis x chenaultii
  • Barberry, Crimson pygmy Japanese, Berberis thunbergii ‘Crimson Pygmy’
  • Barberry, Japanese, Berberis thunbergii
  • Barberry, Korean, Berberis koreana
  • Barberry, Mentor, Berberis x mentorensis
  • Barberry, Paleleaf, Berberis candidula
  • Barberry, Red, Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea
  • Barberry, Threespine, Berberis triacanthophora
  • Barberry, Warty, Berberis verruculosa
  • Barberry, William Penn, Berberis x gladwynensis ‘William Penn’
  • Barberry, Wintergreen, Berberis julianae
  • Baroness Rothchild rose, Rosa ‘Baronne Adolph de Rothchild’
  • Baronne Prevost rose, Rosa ‘Baronne Prevost’
  • Barrenwort, Bicolor; Bicolor epimedium, Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’
  • Barrenwort, Red; Red epimedium, Epimedium x rubrum
  • Basil, Sweet, Ocimum basilicum
  • Basket-of-gold, Aurinia saxatilis
  • Basswood, Carolina, Tilia americana var. caroliniana
  • Bayberry, Northern, Myrica pensylvanica
  • Bayberry, Northern, Myrica pensylvanica
  • Bayberry, Swamp, Myrica heterophylla
  • Bazarre Triomphote rose, Rosa ‘Bazarre Triomphote’
  • Beach rose, Rosa
  • Bead fern; Sensitive fern, Onoclea sensibilis
  • Bear’s breeches, Acanthus spinosus
  • Bearberry, Arcrostaphy los uva-uisi
  • Beard-tongue; Penstemon, Penstemon canescens
  • Bearded tongue, Penstemon spp. 
  • Beardtongue, Cobaea, Penstemon cobaea
  • Beardtongue, Foxglove; White beardtongue, Penstemon digitalis
  • Beardtongue; Penstemon, Penstemon canescens
  • Beauty Secret rose, Rosa ‘Beauty Secret’
  • Beautyberry, American, Callicarpa americana
  • Beautyberry, American, Callicarpa americana
  • Beautyberry, Bodinier, Callicarpa bodinieri
  • Beautyberry, Japanese, Callicarpa japonica
  • Beautyberry, Purple, Callicarpa dichotoma
  • Beautybush, Kolkwitzia amabilis
  • Bedstraw; Cleavers, Galium aparine
  • Bee-balm, Crimson, Monarda didyma
  • Bee-balm; Oswego tea, Monarda spp.
  • Beech, American, Fagus grandifolia
  • Beech, English, Fagus engleriana
  • Beech, European, Fagus sylvatica
  • Beech, Fernleaved, Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’
  • Beech, Japanese, Fagus crenata
  • Beech, Weeping European, Fagus sylvatica f. pendula
  • Beech-drops, Epifagus virginiana
  • Begger’s tick, Bidens laevis
  • Begonia, Angelwings, Begonia xargenteogutta
  • Begonia, Hardy, Begonia grandis
  • Begonia, Strawberry, Saxifraga stolonifera
  • Begonia, Wax, Begonia semperflorens
  • Begonias, Belgian, Begonia (Tuberous hybrids) 
  • Begonias, Tuberous, Begonia (Tuberous hybrids)
  • Belinda rose, Rosa ‘TANbeedee’
  • Belinda’s Dream rose, Rosa ‘Belinda’s Dream’
  • Bella Donna rose, Rosa ‘Bella Donna’
  • Belle Poitevine rose, Rosa ‘Belle Poitevine’
  • Belle Story rose, Rosa ‘AUSelle’
  • Bellflower, Campanula americana
  • Bellflower, Campanula spp.
  • Bellflower, Clustered, Campanula glomerata
  • Bellflower, Panicled; Southern harebell, Campanula divaricata
  • Bellflower; Tall bellflower; American bellflower, Campanula americana
  • Bells-of-Ireland, Molucella laevis
  • Bellwort, Large-flowered, Uvularia grandiflora
  • Bellwort, Sessile-leaf; Wild oats, Uvularia sessilifolia
  • Bellwort, Uvularia spp.
  • Bergamot, Purple, Monarda media
  • Bergenia, Bergenia cordifolia
  • Berlina rose, Rosa ‘Berlin’
  • Bermuda’s Kathleen rose, Rosa ‘Bermuda’s Kathleen’
  • Berries ‘n Cream rose, Rosa ‘POULclimb’
  • Betony, Wood; Lousewort, Pedicularis canadensis
  • Betty Boop rose, Rosa ‘WEKplapic’
  • Betty Prior rose, Rosa ‘Betty Prior’
  • Bewitched rose, Rosa ‘Bewitched’
  • Bienenweide rose, Rosa ‘Bienenweide’
  • Big bluestem; Turkey foot, Andropogon gerardii
  • Bigleaf snowbell, Styrax grandifolius
  • Bill Warriner rose, Rosa ‘JACsur’
  • Bindweed, Field; Small bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis
  • Bingo Meidiland rose, Rosa ‘MELpotal’
  • Birch, Asian white, Betula platyphylla
  • Birch, Asian white; Japanese white birch, Betula platyphylla var. japonica
  • Birch, Canoe, Betula papyrifera
  • Birch, European white, Betula pendula
  • Birch, Japanese cherry, Betula grossa
  • Birch, Monarch, Betula maximowicziona
  • Birch, Paper, Betula papyrifera
  • Birch, River, Betula nigra
  • Birch, Sweet, Betula lenta
  • Birch, Whitebarked Himalayan, Betula jacqemontii
  • Birch, Whitespire Japanese white, Betula platyphlla var. japonica ‘Whitespire’
  • Bird’s-eye; Birdeye speedwell, Veronica persica
  • Bishop’s cap; Miterwort; Two-leaf miterwort, Mitella diphylla
  • Bishop’s hat, Epimedium sempervirens
  • Bishops weed, Variegated, Aegopodium podograria ‘Variegatum’
  • Bishops’ weed, Aegopodium podograria
  • Bitter melon, Momordica balsamina
  • Bittersweet, American, Celastrus scandens
  • Bittersweet, American; Climbing bittersweet, Celastrus scandens
  • Bittersweet, Chinese, Celastrus orbiculatus
  • Bittersweet, Oriental, Celastrus orbiculatus
  • Black cohosh, Cimicifuga racemosa
  • Black gum, Nyssa sylvatica
  • Black haw, Viburnum prunifolium
  • Black Jade rose, Rosa ‘BENblack’
  • Black lady fern, Athyrium japonicum
  • Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia
  • Black-eyed Susan vine, Thunbergia alata
  • Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia fulgida
  • Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta
  • Blackberry lily, Belamcanda chinensis
  • Bladder vine, Araujia sericifera
  • Bladdernut, American, Staphylea trifolia
  • Bladdernut, American, Staphylea trifolia
  • Bladdernut, Chinese, Staphylea holocarpa
  • Bladdernut, Colchis, Staphylea colchica
  • Bladdernut, Elegans, Staphylea x ‘Elegans’
  • Bladdernut, European, Staphylea pinnate
  • Bladderwort, Utricularia
  • Bladderwort, Utricularia spp.
  • Blanc Double de Courbert rose, Rosa ‘Blanc Double de Courbert’
  • Blanche Neige rose, Rosa ‘Koster Blanc’
  • Blanket flower, Gaillardia x grandiflora
  • Blanket flower; Gaillardia, Gaillardia pulchella
  • Blast Off rose, Rosa ‘MORflash’
  • Blaze rose, Rosa ‘Blaze’
  • Blazing star, Liatris, Gayfeather, Liatris spp.
  • Blazing stars, Eastern, Liatris scariosa
  • Blazing stars, Large; Large button-snakeroot, Liatris scariosa
  • Blazing stars, Liatris
  • Blazing Stars, Liatris spicata
  • Blazing stars, Prairie, Liatris pycnostachya
  • Bleeding heart, Dicentra spectabilis
  • Bleeding heart, Fringed, Dicentra eximia
  • Bleeding heart, Wild; Plumy bleeding heart, Dicentra exima
  • Bleeding-heart, Dutchman’s breeches, Dicentra spp.
  • Blood flower, Asclepias curassavica
  • Blood grass, Japanese, Imperarata cylindrica ruba
  • Blood on the Snow, Hydrangea serrata
  • Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis
  • Bloomfield Courage rose, Rosa ‘Bloomfield Courage’
  • Blossom Time rose, Rosa ‘Blossom Time’
  • Blue Beauty water lily; Pennsylvania water lily, Nymphaea ‘Blue Beauty’
  • Blue butterfly bush, Clerondendron ugandens
  • Blue curls, Trichostema dichotomum
  • Blue daze, Evolvulus glomeratus
  • Blue false indigo, Baptisia australis
  • Blue fescue, Festuca glauca (Festuca ovina var. glauca)
  • Blue haw; Witherod viburnum, Viburnum cassinoides
  • Blue lyme grass, Elymus arenarius (Leymus arenarius)
  • Blue oats grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens
  • Blue oats grass, Helictotrichor sempervirens (Avena sempervirens)
  • Blue poppy, Meconopsis betonicifolia
  • Blue star; Blue dogbane, Amsonia tabernaemontana
  • Blue trumpet vine, Thunbergia grandiflora
  • Blue wild indigo, Baptisia australis
  • Blue-eyed grass, Sisyrinchium angustifolium
  • Blue-green moor grass, Sesleria heufleriana
  • Bluebeard, Caryopteris spp.
  • Bluebeard; Blue mist shrub, Caryopteris x clandonensis
  • Blueberry Hill rose, Rosa ‘WEKcryplag’
  • Blueberry, Creeping, Vaccinium crassifolium
  • Blueberry, Creeping, Vaccinium crassifolium
  • Blueberry, Highbush, Vaccinium corymbosum
  • Bluets, Common, Houstonia caerulea
  • Bluets, Houstonia, Houstonia spp.
  • Bluets, Woodland; Large houstonia, Houstonia purpurea
  • Blueweed; Viper’s bugloss, Echium vulgare
  • Blunt lobed wood fern; Cliff fern, Woodsia obtusa
  • Bob Trickett water lily, Nymphaea ‘Bob Trickett’
  • Bobbie James rose, Rosa ‘Hmult’
  • Bog Cabbage of Holland rose, Rosa ‘Gross Choux d’Holland’
  • Bonica rose, Rosa ‘Meldomonac’
  • Bonset, Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • Bonset, Hyssop-leaved; Hyssop-leaved thoroughwort, Eupatorium hyssopifolium
  • Borage, Borago officinalis
  • Bottlebrush, Lemon, Callistemon citrinus
  • Bougainvillea goldenrain tree, Koelreuteria bipinnata
  • Bougainvillea, Bougainivillea spectabilis
  • Boulder fern; Hay-scented fern, Dennstaedtia punctiloba
  • Bouncing-bet; Soapwort, Saponaria officinalis
  • Bouncing-bet; Soapwort, Saponaria officinalis
  • Bowman’s root; Indian physic, Gillenia trifoliata = Porteranthus trifoliatus
  • Bowman’s root; Mountain Indian physic, Porteranthus trifoliatus (Gillenia trifoliate)
  • Boxelder, Acer negundo
  • Boxleaf hebe, Hebe buxifolia
  • Boxwood, Common, Buxus sempervirens
  • Boxwood, Elegans, Buxus sempervirens ‘Elegantissima’
  • Boxwood, Elegans; Variegated boxwood, Buxus sempervirens ‘Elegantissima’
  • Boxwood, English, Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’
  • Boxwood, Green Gem, Buxus ‘Green Gem’
  • Boxwood, Green Mountain, Buxus ‘Green Mountain’
  • Boxwood, Green Velvet, Buxus ‘Green Velvet’
  • Boxwood, Harland, Buxus harlandii
  • Boxwood, Japanese, Buxus sinica var. japonica
  • Boxwood, Little leaf, Buxus sinica (B. microphylla)
  • Boxwood, Tree, Buxus sempervirens ‘Arborescens’
  • Boxwood, Vardar Valley, Buxus sempervirens ‘Vardar Valley’
  • Boxwood, Variegated, Buxus sempervirens ‘Aureovariegata’
  • Boxwood, Variegated, Buxus sempervirens ‘Elegantissima’
  • Bramble fern, Hypolepis repens
  • Bramble, Creeping; Taiwanese creeping rubus, Rubus calcyinoiden
  • Brandy rose, Rosa ‘AROcad’
  • Brass Band rose, Rosa ‘JACcofl’
  • Braum’s holly fern, Polystichum braunii
  • Bridal Sunblaze rose, Rosa ‘Mellmera’
  • Bride’s Dream rose, Rosa ‘KORoyness’
  • Brigadoon rose, Rosa ‘JACpal’
  • Brilliant Pink Iceberg rose, Rosa ‘PRObril’
  • Bristle fern; Tassel fern; Japanese tassel fern, Polystichum polylepharum
  • Bristly locust, Robinia hispida
  • Brittle bladder fern; Fragile fern, Cystopteris fragilis
  • Broad beech fern; Southern beech fern, Thelypteris hexagonopter; Phegopteris hexagonoptera
  • Broad wood fern, Dryopteris dilatata
  • Broad-leaf whitetop sedge; Star sedge, Rhychospora latifolia
  • Broad-leaved cotton grass, Eriophorum latifolia
  • Broadway rose, Rosa ‘BURway’
  • Brodiaea, Brodiaea laxa (Triteleia) 
  • Broom, Lydia, Genista lydia
  • Broom, Lydia, Genista lydia
  • Broom, Scotch, Cytisus scoparius
  • Broom, Spanish, Spartium junceum
  • Broomsedge; Beard grass; Broomstraw, Andropogon virginicus
  • Browallia, Browallia speciosa
  • Browallia, Browallia viscosa
  • Buckeye, Bottlebrush, Aesculus parviflora
  • Buckeye, Bottlebrush, Aesculus parviflora
  • Buckeye, California, Aesculus california
  • Buckeye, Ohio, Aesculus glabra
  • Buckeye, Painted, Aesculus sylvatica = Aesculus georgiana
  • Buckeye, Red, Aesculus pavi
  • Buckeye, Scarlet, Aesculus pavi
  • Buckeye, Yellow, Aesculus octandra (Aesculus flava)
  • Buckthorn bumelia, Bumelia lycioides
  • Buckthorn, Glossy, Rhamnus fragula
  • Buckwheat tree, Cliftonia monophylla
  • Buckwheat tree, Cliftonia monophylla
  • Buckwheat, Fagopyrum sagittatum
  • Buffalo Bill rose, Rosa ‘MACyoumis’
  • Buffaloberry, Silver, Shepherdia argentea
  • Bugbane, American; Black snakeroot, Cimicifuga americana
  • Bugloss, Anchusa capensis
  • Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis
  • Bur marigold, Tickseed, Bidens aristosa
  • Burdock, Common, Arctium minus
  • Burdock, Great, Arctium lappa
  • Burgundian rose, Rosa centifolia ‘Parvifolia’
  • Burnet, Canada, Sanguisorba canadensis
  • Burnet, Salad, Poterium sanguisorba
  • Burning Sky rose, Rosa ‘Wezeip’
  • Bush beard grass, Andropogon glomeratus (Andropogon virginus var. abbreviatus)
  • Bush honeysuckle, Diervilla sessilifolia
  • Bush ivy, x Fatshedera lizei
  • Bush pea; False lupine; Thermopsis, Thermopsis villosa
  • Bush violet, Browallia speciosa
  • Bushclover, Shrub, Lespedeza bicolor
  • Butcher’s broom, Ruscus aculeatus
  • Butter and eggs; Yellow toadflax, Linaria vulgaris
  • Buttercup, Carolina, Ranunculus carolinianus
  • Buttercup, Persian, Ranunculus hybrids
  • Buttercup, Ranunculus spp.
  • Butterfly bush, Alternateleaf, Buddleia alternifolia
  • Butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii
  • Butterfly bush, Cassia bicapsularis
  • Butterfly bush, Harlequin, Buddleia davidii ‘Harlequin’
  • Butterfly bush, Lindley, Buddleia lindleyana
  • Butterfly bush, Lochinch, Buddleia ‘Lochinch’
  • Butterfly bush, Orange, Buddleia golbosa
  • Butterfly bush, Weyer hybrid, Buddleia x weyeriana
  • Butterfly bush, Weyeriana, Buddleia x weyeriana
  • Butterfly bush, Winter cassia, Cassia bicapsularis
  • Butterfly flower, Schizanthus pinnatus
  • Butterfly pea, Clitoria mariana
  • Butterfly rose, Rosa chindensis mutabilis
  • Butterfly tulip, Calochortus
  • Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa
  • Butterwort, Pinguicula spp.
  • Butterwort, Violet, Pinguicula caerulea
  • Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis
  • Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis
  • Buttonbush, Chinese, Adina rubella
  • Buttonweed, Diodia virginiana