Variety

Variety is a concept in biology that refers to a taxonomic rank below that of species and subspecies. It is often used to classify plants according to differences that are only observed in the wild. Varieties are typically designated by the abbreviation "var." in written taxonomy.

Definition

A variety is a taxonomic rank in biology below species and subspecies, but above form. It is used in botany more than in zoology, where the term morph is more commonly used. Varieties are often recognized in the nomenclature of horticulture and agriculture, but are not always recognized by taxonomists in other disciplines.

Use in Botany

In botany, a variety is a rank below that of species and subspecies, but above that of form. The abbreviation "var." is used to denote a variety. Varieties are often recognized in the nomenclature of horticulture and agriculture, but are not always recognized by taxonomists in other disciplines.

Use in Zoology

In zoology, the term "variety" is less commonly used. Instead, the term "morph" is more commonly used to denote differences within a species that are not significant enough to warrant a separate subspecies classification.

See Also

• Taxonomy (biology)
• Species
• Subspecies
• Morph (biology)

References

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