Plant species are are named according to a set of rules, the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants.
Scientific species names are generally in two parts: the first part is the genus name and the second part is the species epithet. Species are named by referring to the combination of their genus and species names, e.g. Eucalyptus pilularis (a gum tree commonly know as 'Blackbutt'). Often the scientific name is followed by the abbreviated names of the author or authors who first described it, e.g. Eucalyptus pilularis Sm. (abbreviation for J.E.Smith).
The species name usually appears on the specimen label. If a specimen is renamed or reidentified after the label has been attached, the new name is placed on a special determination slip.
The Australian Plant Name Index (APNI) and the associate database Australian Plant Census (APC) are comprehensive lists of Australian scientific plant names. The International Plant Name Index contains a list of the world's vascular plant names.
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