Question

In plants, Latin names are suggested because
a. Latin name is simple
b. Universal identification is required
c. It is easy to write
d. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: A single plant may have one, or several names that may change from region to region depending on the language and culture of that area. In botany, instead of using the local language, there is a specific set of rules that must be followed to name a plant. There is an organisation that governs these rules and makes sure they are followed properly.

Complete answer:
There are hundreds of thousands of plant species on earth, and every one of them has a regional name. These names vary from one region to another, so that a single plant species may end up having several names. This can create confusion while doing scientific research and experiments. Thus, a standard system of naming plants was developed that would be the same all over the world, getting rid of any confusion in scientific communication. The language chosen for this purpose was Latin because it is a dead language and is identified throughout the globe. Also, at the time when this hierarchical grouping system was created, Latin and Greek were the international languages of science. While non-Latin names of plants may sometimes be used as well (Denversaurus, for example), whole names are Latinised for maintaining consistency and avoiding accusations of national bias.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Additional information:
Rules for botanical naming plants in Latin-
• Each plant has a unique name.
• The scientific name of a plant consists of two words. The first is the plant’s genus and always begins with a capital letter, while the second is its species and is always written in lowercase. The entire name must be italicized, or both the names must be underlined separately.
• For example, the scientific name for mango is Mangifera indica. Here, “Mangifera” is the genus and “indica” is the species. The first name starts with a capital letter and the second with a small letter, and the entire name is italicized.
• Since the scientific name consists of two words, it is called the binomial (two name) system of nomenclature.

Note: Some important points-
• Binomial nomenclature was developed by Swedish botanist and physician Carl Linnaeus in the mid 1700s.
• Nomenclature of plants is governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants (ICN). It was formerly called International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, or ICBN.
• Besides plants, binomial nomenclature is also used for animals. All the rules that apply for plants also apply for animals.