Ternary name
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In botanical nomenclature, the ICBN prescribes a "three part name" (ternary name) for any taxon below the rank of species. The ranks below that of species explicitly allowed in the ICBN are
- subspecies (subspecies) - recommended abbreviation: subsp., but "ssp." is also in use
- varietas (variety) - recommended abbreviation: var.
- subvarietas (subvariety) - recommended abbreviation: subvar.
- forma (form) - recommended abbreviation: f.
- subforma (subforma) - recommended abbreviation: subf.
Such a taxon is called an infraspecific taxon. Its name consists of three parts:
- a genus name, a specific epithet and an infraspecific epithet.
A connecting term should be placed before the infraspecific epithet to indicate the rank. It is customary to italicize all three part of a ternary name. For example:
- Acanthocalycium klimpelianum var. macranthum
- Astrophytum myriostigma subvar. glabrum Backeb.
The publishing author(s) of the name may (or may not) be indicated after the infraspecific epithet (except in case of an autonym). In addition publishing author(s) may be indicated after the specific epithet. A full citation would also include details of where the name was published (and possible further details).

