What is Taxonomy
In biology and its sub-sciences (such as botany), classifies organisms into a groups and sub groups that helps in identifying species that does not cause confusion.
This system is called taxonomy. From the greek word taxis, meaning arrangement; and the greek suffix -nomia, meaning method.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
In Taxonomy, organisms are classified into a group in each of the ranks of taxonomy; this is how we generate names that maintain an adequate degree of specificity.
The names for each group under each taxonomic rank often share a consistent naming convention, and it is illustrated in the table below.
Note: Italicized ranks are sub ranks.
| Rank | Suffix | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | ----- | Eukarya |
| Kingdom | ----- | Plantae |
| Phylum | -phyta | Magnoliophyta |
| Subphylum | -phytina | Magnoliophytina |
| Class | -opsida | Asteropsida |
| Sub class | -idea | Asteridea |
| Order | -ales | Asterales |
| Sub order | -ineae | Asterineae |
| Family | -acae | Asteraceae |
| Sub family | -oideae | Asteroidea |
| Tribe | -eae | Heliantheae |
| Genus | ----- | Helianthus |
| Sub genus | ----- | Helianthus subg. Helianthus |
| Series | ----- | Helianthus ser. Heliatnthus |
| Species | ----- | Helianthus annuus |