A list of UK Wildlife Flower Families

[Granddadscott]

Not sure how my excel data should be listed.
Common name, Scientific Name , Family

Example 1:
Bluebell, Hyancinthoides non scripta,

This is my problem should the family be Hyancinthoides

Example 2:
Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, Digitalis

Or am I barking up the wrong tree.
I have tried on the net but getting more confused????.
It's an age thing.

[Dorts]

Try this for an example.
Black Medic.
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Medicago
Species: lupulina
or-
Spear Thistle.
Family: Asteraceae.
Genus: Circium.
Species: vulgare.
or-
Heath Fragrant Orchid.
Family: Orchidaceae.
Genus: Gymnadenia.
Species: conopsea.
Subspecies: borealis.

Note. No capitals for species (except in a very few circumstances).
Dorts.

[King Edward]

Originally Posted by Granddadscott

Not sure how my excel data should be listed.
Common name, Scientific Name , Family

What's it for? Keeping records of plants you've seen/photographed?

If so, I'd have an individual row for each plant/record/photo, with separate columns for:
Family (e.g. Scrophulariaceae)
Genus (e.g. Digitalis)
Specific epithet (e.g. purpurea)
Common Name (e.g. Foxglove)

It can be handy to keep the genus and specific epithet (second part of the species name) separate for ease of handling the data, although you might prefer a simple column with the combined species name.

If it's for record keeping of any king, you'd presumably want additional columns for e.g.
Date
Location
Grid Reference
Additional Notes

[PeteTheBloke]

Granddad

Have a look at my website at

Plants at IrishBogs

I made the database from a flat file like you describe. If it's any use I can probably help you. My database is out-of-date because of Stace 3, but it's probably good for what you want.

Pete

[Granddadscott]

Pete
Thanks for your offer of assistance.
I am new to recording my sighting and its mainly to do with taking photos now I have retired.
My main problem is deciding what Family a species belongs to.
So if your excel database does that it would be most helpful.
Not sure how to download it though.

Cheers once again.

[Johnny81]

If you own a good flower guide (get Francis Roses) the family of each species will be noted at the beginning of each section or failing that in parentheses after the scientific naming. You can also find out on the right hand box on Wikipedia but bare in mind you should not really reference Wikipedia and can be full of mistakes.

Bare in mind in ten years a lot of plants may have changed families due to the usual art of taxonomic lumping and splitting!

All plant families end in the letters aceae example: BORAGINACEAE
Pronounced: bor-ige-ie-nay-see

[Granddadscott]

John
Thanks for that.
I have a wildflower guide and in it is a list of Families (Not seen before)which is indexed at the front.
The only problem is that list is a scientific name and in the book at each of the pages is a common family name.
eg: Rununculaceae / Buttercup Family
Should I use both or just one???

[Johnny81]

Use Ranunculaceae it is more scientific, although harder to remember at first, it is worth it for expanding your botanical knowledge and botanical nomenclature. Professional recorders would more or less expect this on records.

[Dorts]

There are a number of methods you can use to record your finds. It has to be what suits you, the amount of information you want for each species. If you are the only person to use the info then adapt it to your needs.
Family names need only be used as a section 'header', followed by Genus and Species.

Most flora follow the same Family order re. flowering plants, as in Stace. Starting with Buttercups (Ranunculus) and ending in Orchids. Some flora will have ferns at the beginning, others at the end. Grasses usually are at, or towards the end.

You could consider using a numbering system as in Stace, along with Common and Latin names.

I would always use both Latin And Common names in whatever system you use, because in so doing it will help you to learn both.
Dorts.

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Granddadscott

My main problem is deciding what Family a species belongs to.

Wikipedia is your friend for finding that information.