Which is a correct example of a genus–species binomial name?

Which is a correct example of a genus–species binomial name?

• A. Pinus strobus
• B. Pinus Strobus
• C. pinus strobus
• D. Pinus strobus var. septa

Answer: (A)

In binomial nomenclature, the two-part name combines the genus and the species epithet, with the genus capitalized and the species epithet lowercase, and both usually written in italics. Pinus strobus fits this rule exactly: Pinus is capitalized and strobus is lowercase, forming a proper genus–species name that uniquely identifies the species. The other formats miss one of those rules or add extra rank. Pinus Strobus has the species epithet capitalized, which isn’t correct. pinus strobus uses a lowercase genus, which also isn’t correct. Pinus strobus var. septa adds a variety designation, which goes beyond the two-part binomial name and refers to a specific variety rather than the basic genus–species form.

In binomial nomenclature, the two-part name combines the genus and the species epithet, with the genus capitalized and the species epithet lowercase, and both usually written in italics. Pinus strobus fits this rule exactly: Pinus is capitalized and strobus is lowercase, forming a proper genus–species name that uniquely identifies the species.

The other formats miss one of those rules or add extra rank. Pinus Strobus has the species epithet capitalized, which isn’t correct. pinus strobus uses a lowercase genus, which also isn’t correct. Pinus strobus var. septa adds a variety designation, which goes beyond the two-part binomial name and refers to a specific variety rather than the basic genus–species form.