Variety (botany) facts for kids
In botany, a variety is a special group of plants within a species. Think of it like a smaller family inside a bigger family. These plants are a bit different from others in their species, but not different enough to be called a completely new species or even a subspecies.
A variety gets a three-part name, which helps scientists know exactly what plant they are talking about. This name includes the species name and then the variety's specific name. You'll often see "variety" shortened to "var."
Here are some examples of how variety names look:
- Acer palmatum var. atropupureum (This is a Purple Japanese maple)
- Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica (This is a Corkbark fir)
- Hosta undulata var. undulata (This is a Plantain lily)
What Makes a Plant a Variety?
A plant becomes a variety when it shows a consistent difference from other plants in its species. This difference is usually bigger than what you'd see in a "form" of a plant. A "form" might just have one or two small differences, like flowers of a different color, no thorns, or leaves with different patterns.
These natural differences happen because plants are always changing and adapting over time, a process called evolution. However, it's up to plant scientists (called taxonomists) to decide if a plant's differences are big enough to call it a variety. What one scientist calls a variety, another might just call a form, or might not even see it as a distinct group.
How Varieties Reproduce
Different varieties of the same species can easily breed with each other if they get the chance. This is similar to how different subspecies or forms can breed, and even how many different species can sometimes breed together.
Variety vs. Cultivar: What's the Difference?
It's important not to confuse a natural variety with a cultivar. A cultivar is something completely different! A cultivar is a plant that people have created or chosen because it has special traits, and they keep these traits by growing the plant in specific ways (like taking cuttings).
You can spot the name of a cultivar because its special name (called an epithet) starts with a capital letter, is often in a different font, and is always put inside single quote marks.
Here are some examples of cultivar names:
- Helleborus foetidus 'Wester Flisk'
- Fuchsia magellanica 'Riccartoni'
- Dryopteris affinis 'Crispa Congesta'
