Every object on Earth has a unique name, but these names vary across countries and regions. For example, what we call a pine tree is "pine tree" in English, "マツ" in Japanese, and "sōngshù" in Chinese. However, since each name for the same tree is different, it's impossible to communicate with each other. Therefore, scientific names are unique worldwide. You probably learned the classification of plants and animals in biology class in school: kingdom > phylum > class > order > family > genus > species. Within this classification, scientific names typically use only the genus and species epithet (a binary system). For example, Homo sapiens, as you're familiar with, is the scientific name for humans. The genus name is Homo (human) and the species epithet sapiens (thinking), meaning "thinking person." The same applies to plants. For example, the pine tree has the scientific name Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. The genus and species names are Pinus (genus name), densiflora (specific epithet), and Siebold & Zucc (nominators).

The problem is that the genus and species names are Latin or Latinized. While they are somewhat familiar to Westerners, we find them incomprehensible and, in fact, more difficult to approach. I was no exception.

Then, one day, I stumbled upon an online explanation of Japanese plant scientific names by the renowned Japanese botanist Dr. Makino. This sparked my interest in plant scientific names. Recently, I've been able to conveniently(?) gather information using AI (chatGPT, DeepSeek, etc.). This collection led me to create this app.

I hope that users of this app will also become interested in plant scientific names.

The program is very simple to use. This app has three tabs: Plant Name, Genus Name, and Species Name. Enter the name of the plant you're interested in in the Plant Name tab to instantly find out its scientific name and etymology. If you're curious about the genus name, enter it in the Genus Name tab, and if you're curious about the species epithet, enter it in the Species Name tab.

[Note]
The basic structure of a scientific name is (genus name) (species epithet) (nominator). The interpretation is "(species epithet) (genus name)". In other words, the species epithet serves as a modifier of the genus name.

This app attempts to explain the genus and species names of Korean plants listed in the National Standard Plant List (National Arboretum) as of February 2025, excluding cultivated plants, and native and exotic plants.

As an amateur plant expert, I take no responsibility for search results. Please use this information for reference only. For more detailed information, please search the internet.

(References)
1. "Mukno Shin Nihon Botanical Atlas" (https://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/gln/15/1502.htm) published by the Kitakyushukan (https://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/gln/15/1502.htm)
2. Appendix to Lee Chang-bok's Korean Plant Encyclopedia
3. ChatGPT and DeepSeek Search

[Explanation of symbols appearing in scientific plant names]

★ Basic notation: 'Genus, Species, and Author'
Example) Rhododendron mucronulatum Turcz.
Rhododendron → Genus
mucronulatum → Species
Turcz. → Author

★ Abbreviation of author: 'Frequently appearing (famous) botanists are abbreviated.'
Example)
L. = Carl Linnaeus, (Linnaeus)
"L. f." = Linnaeus' son,
DC. = Augustin Pyramus de Candolle,
A. DC. = Alphonse Louis Pierre Pyramus de Candolle (1806-1893)

★ Varieties: 'var.'
Example) Hallasan azalea Rhododendron mucronulatum Turcz. var. taquetii Nakai
A variant of Rhododendron mucronulatum Turcz., the variant name is taquetii, named by Nakai.

★ Subspecies: 'subsp.' or 'ssp.'
Example) Vicia sativa L. subsp. nigra Ehrh.
A subspecies of Vicia sativa L., the subspecies name is nigra, named by Ehrh.
[Reference] Difference between a variant and a subspecies
Variety: New species
Subspecies: Not sufficient to be called a variant

★ Cultivar: 'f.' or 'for'
Example}
White-flowered Butterflywort Vicia unijuga A.Braun f. albiflora Nakai
A cultivar of Butterflywort (Vicia unijuga A.Braun), cultivar name albiflora, named by Nakai.

★ If there are two authors: '&' or 'et'
Example) Fallopia koreana B.U.Oh & J.G.Kim
Named by B.U.Oh and J.G.Kim through joint research.
[Note] If there are three or more authors, use 'Representative Researcher et al.'

★ If the genus name changes due to reclassification: 'The original author's name is in parentheses.'
Example) Aster carolinianus Walt. → Lasallia caroliniana (Walt.) Semple
Originally classified as Aster carolinianus by Walt., but later reclassified as Lasallia caroliniana by Semple.

★ If the original nominee (A) failed to publish the scientific name and another person (B) did: 'A ex B'
Example: Luzula rufescens Fisch. ex E. Mey.
Fisch. failed to publish the scientific name and E. Mey. later published it.

★ Hybrid: '×'
Example: Quercus × urticifolia Blume
A hybrid between Quercus urticifolia and Quercus serrata