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.

P

  • Pachysandra, Pachysandra terminalis
  • Pacific maidenhair; Maidenhair fern; Delta maidenhair, Adiantum raddianum
  • Painted Damask rose, Rosa ‘Painted Damask’
  • Painted tongue, Salpiglossis sinuata
  • Pallida rose, Rosa ‘Pallida’
  • Palm sedge, Carex muskingumensis
  • Palm, Cabbage, Sabal palmetto
  • Palm, Needle, Rhapidiophyllum hystrix
  • Palm, Windmill, Trachycarpus fortunei
  • Palmetto, Dwarf; Swamp palmetto, Sabal minor
  • Pam’s Pink rose, Rosa ‘Pam’s Pink’
  • Pamela water lily, Nymphaea ‘Pamela’
  • Pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana
  • Panache rose, Rosa ‘POULtop’
  • Panama Pacific water lily, Nymphaea ‘Panama Pacific’
  • Pandora vine, Pandorea pandorana
  • Pansy, Viola x wittrockiana
  • Paper flower, Bougainivillea spectabilis
  • Paprika, Rosa ‘TANprik’
  • Papyrus, Dwarf, Cyperus prolifer (Cyperus isocladus)
  • Papyrus, Giant, Cyperus papyrus
  • Paradise rose, Rosa ‘WEzip’; Rosa ‘WEzeip’
  • Paris Pink rose, Rosa ‘AROdousna’
  • Parrot feather, Myriophyllum aquaticum
  • Parsley, Petroselinum crispum
  • Parsnip, Meadow; Golden Alexander, Zizia trifoliate
  • Parson’s Pink rose, Rosa ‘Parson’s Pink’
  • Partridge berry; Twinberry, Mitchella repens
  • Partridge pea; Senna, Cassia fasciculata (Chamaecrista fasciculata)
  • Parvifolia rose, Rosa centifolia parvifolia; Rosa burgundica
  • Pascali rose, Rosa ‘LENip’
  • Pasque flower; Wind flower; Meadow anemone, Anemone pulsatilla
  • Passion flower; Maypops, Passiflora incarnata
  • Passion rose, Rosa ‘Passion’
  • Pasture rose, Rosa carolina
  • Paul Neyron rose, Rosa ‘Paul Neyron’
  • Pawpaw, Asimina triloba
  • Peace rose, Rosa ‘Peace’
  • Peach, Corinthian, Prunus persica Corinthian hybrids
  • Peach, Prunus persica
  • Peachglow water lily, Nymphaea ‘Peachglow’
  • Peacock flower, Moraea
  • Peacock moss, Selaginella uncinata
  • Pear, Callery, Pyrus calleryana
  • Pear, Chinese sand, Pyrus pyrifolia
  • Pearl Essence rose, Rosa ‘JACsiho’
  • Pearlbush, Common, Exochorda racemosa
  • Pearlbush, Redbud, Exochorda giraldii
  • Pearlbush, The Bride, Exochorda x macrantha ‘The Bride’
  • Pearly everlasting, Anaphalis spp.
  • Peashrub, Chinese, Caragana sinica
  • Peaudounce rose, Rosa ‘DICjana’
  • Pecan, Carya illinoinensis
  • Pekin willow, Salix matsudana ‘Scarlet Curles’
  • Pencil flower, Stylosanthes biflora
  • Penelope rose, Rosa ‘Penelope’
  • Pennants, Chasmanthe
  • Pennywort, Marsh, Hydrocotyle umbellate
  • Penstemon, Penstemon canascens
  • Pentas, Pentas lanceolata
  • Peony, Paeonia hybrids
  • Pepper vine, Ampelopsis arborea
  • Pepper, Ornamental, Capsicum annuum
  • Pepperbush, Mountain, Clethra acuminata
  • Pepperbush, Sweet, Clethra alnifolia
  • Peppermint, Mentha x piperita
  • Perdita rose, Rosa ‘AUSperd’
  • Perennial pea, Lathyrus latifolius
  • Perfect Moment rose, Rosa ‘KORwilma’
  • Perfume Delight rose, Rosa ‘Perfume Delight’
  • Perilla, Perilla frutescens
  • Periwinkle, Big leaf, Vinca major
  • Periwinkle, Madagascar, Catharanthus roseus
  • Periwinkle, Vinca minor
  • Periwinkle; Dwarf periwinkle, Vinca minor
  • Permanent Wave rose, Rosa ‘Permanent Wave’
  • Perry’s Baby Red water lily, Nymphaea ‘Perry’s Baby Red’
  • Perry’s Fire Opal water lily, Nymphaea ‘Perry’s Fire Opal’
  • Perry’s Red Wonder water lily, Nymphaea ‘Perry’s Red Wonder’
  • Persian buttercup, Ranunculus
  • Persian parrotia, Parrotia persica
  • Persian shield, Strobilanthes dyerianus
  • Persian violet, Cyclamen
  • Persimmon, Diospyros virginiana
  • Persimmon, Japanese, Diospyros khaki
  • Peter Slocum water lily, Nymphaea ‘Peter Slocum’
  • Petite Pink Scotch rose, Rosa ‘Petite Pink Scotch’
  • Petunia, Petunia x hybrida
  • Petunia, Trailing, Calibrachoa xhybrida
  • Phacelia, Purple; Loose-flowered phacelia, Phacelia bipinnatifida
  • Phlox, Blue, Phlox divaricata
  • Phlox, Carolina, Phlox carolina
  • Phlox, Creeping, Phlox stolonifera
  • Phlox, Fall, Phlox paniculata
  • Phlox, Phlox spp.
  • Phlox, Smooth; Appalachian smooth phlox, Marsh phlox, Phlox glaberrima
  • Photinia, Chinese, Photinia davidiana
  • Photinia, Chinese, Photinia serrulata
  • Photinia, Fraser, Photinia x fraseri
  • Photinia, Japanese, Photinia glabra
  • Photinia, Oriental, Photinia serrulata
  • Photinia, Oriental, Photinia villosa
  • Pickerel weed, Pontederia cordata
  • Pickerel weed, Pontederia cordata
  • Pickerel weed, White, Pontederia cordata alba
  • Pieris, Bent Chandler, Pieris x ‘Bent Chandler’
  • Pieris, Brouwer’s Beauty, Pieris x ‘Brouwer’s Beauty’
  • Pieris, Himalayan, Pieris formosa
  • Pieris, Himalayan, Pieris formosa var. forrestii
  • Pieris, Japanese, Pieris japonica
  • Pieris, Mountain, Pieris floribunda
  • Pigon berry, Duranta erecta
  • Pilgrim rose, Rosa ‘Pilgrim’
  • Pincushion flower, Scabiosa caucasica
  • Pine, Albyns Scotch, Pinus sylvestris ‘Albyns’
  • Pine, Arolla, Pinus cembra
  • Pine, Austrian, Pinus nigra
  • Pine, Balen, Pinus peucea
  • Pine, Bosian, Pinus korariensis
  • Pine, Bosnian, Pinus heldreichii
  • Pine, Bristlecone, Pinus aristata
  • Pine, Butan, Pinus wallichiana
  • Pine, Cluster, Pinus piaster
  • Pine, David’s, Pinus armandii
  • Pine, Dragon’s-eye, Pinus densiflora ‘Oculusdraconis’
  • Pine, Dwarf blue Scotch, Pinus sylvestris ‘Glauca Nana’
  • Pine, Dwarf eastern white, Pinus strobus ‘Nana’
  • Pine, Dwarf loblolly, Pinus taeda ‘Dixie’, ‘Nana’
  • Pine, Dwarf Scotch, Pinus sylvestris ‘Nana’
  • Pine, Dwarf Swiss mountain; Little mugo pine, Pinus mugo var. pumilio
  • Pine, Eastern white, Pinus strobus
  • Pine, Heldreich, Pinus heldreichii var. leucodermis
  • Pine, Hillside Creeper, Pinus sylvestris ‘Hillside Creeper’
  • Pine, Himalayan, Pinus wallichiana
  • Pine, Jack, Pinus banksiana
  • Pine, Japanese black, Pinus thunbergiana
  • Pine, Japanese red, Pinus densifolia
  • Pine, Japanese umbrella, Sciadopitys verticillata
  • Pine, Japanese white, Pinus parviflora
  • Pine, Korean, Pinus korariensis
  • Pine, Lacebark, Pinus bungeana
  • Pine, Limber, Pinus flexilis
  • Pine, Loblolly, Pinus taeda
  • Pine, Longleaf, Pinus palustris
  • Pine, Macedonian, Pinus peucea
  • Pine, Maritime, Pinus piaster
  • Pine, Mops mugo, Pinus mugo ‘Mops’
  • Pine, Mugo, Pinus mugo
  • Pine, Ontario white, Pinus strobus ‘Ontario’
  • Pine, Pitch, Pinus rigida
  • Pine, Pond, Pinus serotina
  • Pine, Ponderosa, Pinus ponderosa
  • Pine, Ponderosa, Pinus ponderosa (var. scopulorum)
  • Pine, Radiata white, Pinus strobus ‘Raidata’
  • Pine, Scotch, Pinus sylvestris
  • Pine, Shortleaf, Pinus echinata
  • Pine, Slash, Pinus elliottii
  • Pine, Spruce, Pinus glabra
  • Pine, Swiss mountain, Pinus mugo
  • Pine, Swiss stone, Pinus cembra
  • Pine, Thunderhead, Pinus thunbergiana ‘Thunderhead’
  • Pine, Umbrella, Sciadopitys verticillata
  • Pine, Virginia, Pinus virginiana
  • Pine, Walter’s, Pinus glabra
  • Pine, Walter’s, Pinus sylvestris ‘Watereri’
  • Pine, Weeping Japanese red, Pinus densiflora ‘Pendula’
  • Pine, Weeping white, Pinus strobus ‘Pendula’
  • Pine, Western white, Pinus monticola
  • Pine, Western yellow, Pinus ponderosa
  • Pine, Yunnan, Pinus yunnanensis
  • Pinesap, Monotropa spp.
  • Pinesap; Indian-pipe, Monotropa spp.
  • Pink Cherokee rose, Rosa laevigata ‘Anemone’
  • Pink Cover and Aquatine rose, Rosa ‘POULnoz’
  • Pink Grootendoorst rose, Rosa ‘Pink Grootendoorst’
  • Pink Meidiland rose, Rosa ‘MELpoque’
  • Pink Opal water lily, Nymphaea ‘Pink Opal’
  • Pink Peace rose, Rosa ‘MELbil’
  • Pink Platter water lily, Nymphaea ‘Pink Platter’
  • Pink Prosperity rose, Rosa ‘Pink Prosperity’
  • Pink Sensation water lily, Nymphaea ‘Pink Sensation’
  • Pink, Deptford, Dianthus armeria
  • Pink, Fire; Indian pink, Silene virginica
  • Pink, Grass, Calopogon pulchellus
  • Pink, Grass; Calopogon, Arethusa bulbosa
  • Pink, Indian, Spigelia marilandica
  • Pink, Maiden, Dianthus deltoides
  • Pink, Moss; Thrift, Phlox subulata
  • Pink, Sea; Common thrift; Maritime thrift, Armeria martima
  • Pinks, Dianthus chinensis
  • Pinks, Dianthus spp.
  • Pinks; Dianthus, Dianthus plumarius
  • Pinocchio rose, Rosa ‘SUNpino’
  • Pinxter flower, Rhododendron canescens
  • Pipewort; Hatpins, Eriocaulon compressum
  • Pistache, Chinese, Pistacia chinensis
  • Pitcher plant, Sarracenia spp.
  • Pitcher plant, Sarracenia spp. jonesi
  • Pitcher plant, Crimson, Sarracenia drummondii = S. leucophyla
  • Pitcher plant, Hooded, Sarracenia minor
  • Pitcher plant, Parrot, Sarracenia psittacina
  • Pitcher plant, Purple, Sarracenia purpurea
  • Pitcher plant, Red; Miniature huntsman horn, Sarracenia rubra
  • Pitcher plant, Sweet; Yellow trumpets, Sarracenia alata
  • Pitcher plant, Yellow, Sarracenia flava
  • Pittosporum, Japanese, Pittosporum tobira
  • Planetree, London, Platnus x acerifolia
  • Planetree, Oriental, Platanus orientalis (var. digitata)
  • Plantain, Pale Indian, Cacalia atriplicifolia
  • Plantain, Rattlesnake; Downy rattlesnake plantain, Goodyera pubescens
  • Playboy rose, Rosa ‘Playboy’
  • Playgirl rose, Rosa ‘MORplag’
  • Pleasure rose, Rosa ‘JACpif’
  • Pleated leaves, Curtonus
  • Plectranthus, Silver, Plectranthus argentatus
  • Plum, American; Wild plum, Prunus americana
  • Plum, Blireiana, Prunus x bilireana
  • Plum, Chickasaw, Prunus angustifolia
  • Plum, Purple leaf, Prunus cerasifera
  • Plum, Wild, Prunus americana
  • Plumbago, Dwarf; Leadwort, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
  • Pocketbook plant, Calceolaria crenatiflora
  • Podocarpus, Shrubby, Podocarpus macrophyllus var. maki
  • Poesie rose, Rosa ‘LENobit’
  • Pogonia, Large whorled, Isotria verticillata
  • Pogonia, Rose; Rose crested orchid, Pogonia ophioglossoides
  • Poinsettia tree, Pinckneya braceata
  • Poke; Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana
  • Polar Star rose, Rosa ‘Polar Star’
  • Polarstern rose, Rosa ‘TANlarpost’
  • Polastern rose, Rosa ‘Polar Star’
  • Poliothyrsis, Poliothyrsis sinensis
  • Polka dot plant, Hypoestes phyllostachya
  • Polyatha Grandiflora rose, Rosa polyatha ‘Grandiflora’
  • Polygala; Curtiss’ Milkwort, Polygala curtissii
  • Pomegranate, Punica granatum
  • Pompom des Princess rose, Rosa ‘Pompom des Princess’
  • Pompon rose, Rosa ‘Pompom des Princess’
  • Poplar, Eastern, Populus deltoides
  • Poplar, Lombardy, Populus nigra
  • Poplar, Tulip, Liriodendron tulipifer
  • Poplar, White, Populus alba
  • Poplar, Yellow, Liriodendron tulipifer
  • Poppy, Celandine; Yellow wood poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum
  • Poppy, Opium, Papaver somniferum
  • Poppy, Papaver spp.
  • Porcelain vine, Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
  • Porcupine grass, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’
  • Portulaca, Portulaca grandiflora
  • Possumhaw, Ilex decidua
  • Pot marigold, Calendula officinilalis
  • Potato vine, Solanum jasminoides
  • Potato vine, Wild, Ipomoea pandurata
  • Potentilla, Shrubby, Potentilla fruticosa
  • Potentilla, Shrubby; Shrubby cinquefoil, Potentilla fruticosa
  • Pouch nemseia, Nemesia strumosa
  • Pourpre rose, Rosa ‘Gallica Officinalis’
  • Prairie cord grass, Spartina pectinata
  • Prairie droopseed, Sporobolus heterolepisis
  • President JF Kennedy rose, Rosa ‘John F. Kennedy’
  • Pretty face, Brodiaea = Triteleia
  • Pretty Face, Brodiaea laxa (Triteleia)
  • Prickly water lily; Gorgon plant, Euryale ferox
  • Prima Donna rose, Rosa ‘Prima Donna’
  • Prima rose, Rosa ‘HARwanted’
  • Primrose willow, Ludwigia longifolia
  • Primrose, Cowslip, Primula veris
  • Primrose, Evening, Oenothera biennis
  • Primrose, Primula x polyantha
  • Primrose, Showy evening, Oenothera speciosa
  • Princesse de Monaco rose, Rosa ‘MELmagarmic’
  • Pristine rose, Rosa ‘JACpico’
  • Privet, Chinese, Ligustrum sinense
  • Privet, Glossy, Ligustrum lucidum
  • Privet, Golden, Ligustrum x vicaryi
  • Privet, Japanese, Ligustrum japonicum
  • Privet, Vicary golden, Ligustrum x vicaryi
  • Privet, Waxleaf, Ligustrum lucidum
  • Probuzini rose, Rosa ‘Probuzini’
  • Prosperity rose, Rosa ‘Prosperity’
  • Proud Land rose, Rosa ‘Proud Land’
  • Psyche rose, Rosa ‘Psyche’
  • Pteracanth rose, Rosa ‘Pteracanth’
  • Purple bell vine, Rhodochiton atrosanguineus
  • Purple cone-flower, Echinacea purpurea
  • Purple dead-nettle, Lamium purpureum
  • Purple fountain grass; Dwarf red fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum; P. macrostachynum
  • Purple heart; Wandering Jew, Setcreasea pallida ‘Purple Heart’
  • Purple love grass; Tumble grass, Eragrostrum spectablis
  • Purple moor grass, Molina caerulea
  • Purple Pavement rose, Rosa ‘Purple Pavement’
  • Purple Puff rose, Rosa ‘Purple Puff’
  • Purple Simplicity rose, Rosa ‘JACpursh’
  • Purpleflowering raspberry, Rubus odoratus
  • Purpleosier; Basket willow, Salix purpurea
  • Pussy willow, Salix caprea
  • Pussy-toes, Antennaria solitaria
  • Pussytoes, Antennaria dioica
  • Pussywillow, European, Salix caprea
  • Pussywillow, Japanese, Salix chaenomeloides
  • Pussywillow, Salix discolor
  • Puttyroot, Aplectrum hyemale
  • Pyracantha, Formosa, Pyracantha koidzumii
  • Pyracantha, Mohave, Pyracantha ‘Mohave’
  • Pyrethrum, Pyrethrum roseum = C. coccineum
  • Pyrola, Round-leafed, Pyrola rotundifolia