To illustrate binomials, let’s look at a few examples

•

Rosa californica

(aka California wild rose) means rose from 

California

•

Quercus lobata

(aka valley oak) means oak with lobed leaves

•

Lithocarpus densiflorus

(tanbark oak) means stone fruit (hard 

acorn shell) with dense clusters of flowers

•

Calycanthus occidentalis

(western spice bush) means flowers 

with a multiple calyx from the west

•

Physocarpus capitatus

(ninebark) means inflated fruits and 

flowers in headlike clusters

•

Helianthus annuus

(sunflower) means sunflower that is an 

annual