A white pine discovered with seven needles per bundle is described as a variety using septa. What is the correct scientific name form?

A white pine discovered with seven needles per bundle is described as a variety using septa. What is the correct scientific name form?

• A. Pinus strobus var. septa
• B. Pinus strobus var septa
• C. Pinus strobus subsp. septa
• D. Pinus strobus f. septa

Answer: (A)

This tests proper infraspecific naming within a species. A distinctive but non-geographic, heritable trait—like seven needles in a bundle—fits the rank of variety, not a subspecies or form. The correct form is Pinus strobus var. septa because - Pinus strobus is the genus and species, written with the genus capitalized and the species lowercase (and both usually italicized). - var. indicates a named variety, and septa is the variety name (lowercase). - The abbreviation var. includes the period, which is standard. The other options misuse rank or punctuation: a subspecies would use subsp., a form would use f., and omitting the period after var is not standard.

This tests proper infraspecific naming within a species. A distinctive but non-geographic, heritable trait—like seven needles in a bundle—fits the rank of variety, not a subspecies or form.

The correct form is Pinus strobus var. septa because

• Pinus strobus is the genus and species, written with the genus capitalized and the species lowercase (and both usually italicized).

• var. indicates a named variety, and septa is the variety name (lowercase).

• The abbreviation var. includes the period, which is standard.

The other options misuse rank or punctuation: a subspecies would use subsp., a form would use f., and omitting the period after var is not standard.