Species

Purdue Arboretum Learning System

This glossary definition is part of the Purdue Arboretum learning resource database, providing educational information on campus flora, morphology, and botanical terminology.

Synonyms: Specieses
Categories: Taxonomy / naming

Species
The most basic rank in plant classification, identifying a specific kind of plant whose members share the same characteristics and can naturally reproduce with one another. A species is named by two words—the genus followed by the species epithet; for example, Quercus rubra is the species commonly known as red oak. While a genus groups related plants together, the species pinpoints one particular kind within that group.

Taxonomic rank denotes the level that a group of organisms—either taxon or clade—occupies in a hierarchical system of classification, which is based on evolutionary relationships. The major ranks: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.

The Purdue Arboretum is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Administrative Operations

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