Explanations of Classifications

(beginning with "Class")

I. Class
Class divides plants into the two large groups, Dicots and
Monocots.

A. Dicotyledons (Dicots are plants with two seed leaves. This

huge group, with approximately 2/3 of all flowering plants,
includes most all wildflowers. Dicots have "net-veined" leaves,
which means they have the familiar leaves with center vein
plus branching veins running from it.
B. Monocotyledons (Monocots, plants with one seed leaf, are
the grasses and other simpler plants, and make up about 1/3
of all flowering plants. Monocots have parallel-veined leaves.)
II. Subclass (Not used with all species.)
A group of related plant families classified in the order in which
they are believed to have developed their differences from a
common ancestor. There are six "superorders" with each one’s
name ending in "idae."
III. Order (Not used with all species.)
The classes are further sub-divided into "orders" whose names
end in "ales."

IV. Family
Each order is divided into families. Each member of a plant
family shares many botanical features. This is the highest
classification group normally referred to. Modern classification
assigns a type of plant to each family as an example of that
family’s characteristics as distinguishable from other families.
The names of families end in "aceae."
Click here for a list of Wildflower Families
V. Sub-Family (Not used with all species.)
 A sub-division of a family in which plants are grouped
according to botanical differences within the same family. Sub-
families end in "oideae."
VI. Tribe (Not used with all species.)
A further family division based on less significant botanical
differences. Tribes end in "eae."
VII. Sub-Tribe (Not used with all species.)
A further division based on even smaller botanical differences,
usually only recognizable by professional botanists.

VIII. Genus
This is the part of plant nomenclature that is the most familiar.
For example, Papaver is the genus for Poppy. Plants in a genus
are easily recognizable as belonging to the same group. The
name of the genus should always be capitalized. Example: Red
Poppy is Papaver rhoeas.
IX. Species
This is the level of classification that defines the individual
plant. Here some aspects of the plant are more specifically
defined — color, leaf shape, or place where or by whom it was
discovered. The use of the genus and species names together
always refer to only one plant. The species name is written
after the genus and is never capitalized. Example: Rudbeckia
hirta
X. Variety (Not used with all species.)
To receive this added piece of nomenclature, a plant must be
only slightly different from a certain species, but not different
enough to be granted its own species name. When used, the
Variety name follows the Genus and Species names with the
abbreviation, "var," followed by the full variety name in small
letters. The wildflower Scarlet Flax is a good example: Linum
grandiflorum var rubrum. In Latin, this tells you that this is a
Flax (linum) with large flowers (grandiflorum) that happen be
red (rubrum). (Most of the family is not red-flowered.)
Most wildflowers do not have this extra little added-on name,
(for example, Rudbeckia hirta does not.) but it’s important
when needed.