Variety (botany)

LifeDomainKingdomPhylumClassOrderFamilyGenusSpecies
The hierarchy of biological classification's eight major taxonomic ranks. Intermediate minor rankings are not shown.

In botanical nomenclature, variety (abbreviated var.; in Latin: varietas) is a taxonomic rank below that of species and subspecies, but above that of form.[1] As such, it gets a three-part infraspecific name. It is sometimes recommended that the subspecies rank should be used to recognize geographic distinctiveness, whereas the variety rank is appropriate if the taxon is seen throughout the geographic range of the species.[2]

  1. ^ "Article 4". International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. 2012. 4.1. If a greater number of ranks of taxa is desired, [...a]n organism may thus be assigned to taxa of the following ranks (in descending sequence): [... genus, ... species, subspecies,] variety (varietas), subvariety (subvarietas), form (forma), and [*subform|subforms*{8.21.06<sub-conformable, sub-conformer>}{6.4.18<sub-conform, sub-conforms><sub-conformal, sub-conformally, sub-conformable, sub-conformably, sub-conformant, sub-conformation, sub-conforming, sub-conformed, sub-conformer>}]. ... 4.3. Further ranks may also be intercalated or added, provided that confusion or error is not thereby introduced.
  2. ^ "Varieties and forms", HORTAX: Cultivated Plant Taxonomy Group, archived from the original on 17 August 2016, retrieved 19 July 2016