Plant Names and Botanical Nomenclature: Why the Scientific Name Matters
Why the scientific name of an herb matters, how plant names work and change, and which common names cause mix-ups, with checked examples such as ginseng, chamomile and skullcap.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read herb safety and interactions before you use anything on this page.
A scientific name points to one kind of plant. A common name often does not. Two different plants can share one common name, and one plant can have many. If a study, a label or a safety warning names a plant, the scientific name (and the plant part) tells you which plant it is about. A result for one species or plant part does not automatically apply to another.
How scientific names work
Scientific names are governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, a set of rules and recommendations for the scientific naming of these organisms. [1] A plant species name has two parts, the genus and the specific epithet, for example Camellia sinensis. Canada's Natural Health Products Regulations use the same idea: the "proper name" of a plant ingredient is the Latin nomenclature of its genus and, if any, its specific epithet. [2]GBIF, the database we used to check names, also shows the person or people who first named the plant (the authority) after the name, for example Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze. [3] Authorities are shortened and are not needed on most labels. In this library we print scientific names in italics and give the plant part used on each herb guide.
Names change
Botanists revise plant names as they learn more. Older studies, books and product labels may use an older name. The names below were checked against GBIF on 2026-10-22.| You may see | GBIF status | Name to use now (per GBIF) |
|---|---|---|
| Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) | Synonym [3] | Salvia rosmarinus [3] |
| Matricaria recutita (German chamomile) | Synonym [3] | Matricaria chamomilla [3] |
| Curcuma domestica (turmeric) | Synonym [3] | Curcuma longa [3] |
| Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) | Synonym [3] | Actaea racemosa [3] |
| Sabal serrulata (saw palmetto) | Synonym [3] | Serenoa repens [3] |
| Coleus forskohlii | Synonym [3] | Coleus hadiensis [3] |
| Plectranthus barbatus | Synonym [3] | Coleus barbatus [3] |
NCCIH lists some of the same synonyms for its herb fact sheets: Curcuma longa with synonym Curcuma domestica for turmeric, [4] and Actaea racemosa with Cimicifuga racemosa for black cohosh. [5] The coleus pair shows that databases do not always agree on one name, so "check which name the product or study used" is the safe habit.
Common-name traps
| Common name | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Chamomile | NCCIH says there are two types, German chamomile and Roman chamomile. [6] GBIF lists German chamomile as Matricaria chamomilla and Roman chamomile as Chamaemelum nobile, both in the daisy family (Asteraceae). [3] A guide or study about one is not automatically about the other. |
| Ginseng | The word is used collectively for several plant species, mainly in two genera of the family Araliaceae, Panax and Eleutherococcus. [7] The main commercial species in herbal medicine are Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius and Panax notoginseng. [7] NCCIH says Asian ginseng is one of several types of ginseng. [8] Siberian ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, is in a different genus. [3] Price differences between species are a driver for adulteration. [7] Adaptogens such as ginseng are covered in Adaptogens. |
| Cinnamon | NCCIH says cinnamon comes from the dried bark of various Cinnamomum species. [9] Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) is known as "true" cinnamon, and cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum) is the most common type sold in North America. [9] GBIF did not match Cinnamomum cassia to a species, so check which name a source uses. [3] See Ceylon vs cassia cinnamon. |
| Echinacea | NCCIH lists three species, Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia and E. pallida. [10] A result for one species or plant part does not automatically apply to another. |
| Skullcap | Scutellaria lateriflora is called skullcap and is used in many herbal products. [11] It has occasionally been adulterated or contaminated with Teucrium canadense or Teucrium chamaedrys, called germander, because the plants look alike. Germander contains hepatotoxic diterpenes. [11] Both skullcap and these germanders are in the mint family (Lamiaceae) per GBIF. [3] A skullcap product's name does not guarantee that skullcap is what is inside. See skullcap. |
| Wild yam | The wild yam guide in this library covers Dioscorea villosa, an accepted GBIF species in the yam family (Dioscoreaceae). [3] Whether other Dioscorea species are sold as "wild yam" was not described in the sources we read. See wild yam. |
What to check on a label
Look for the scientific name, the plant part and the form (for example leaf, root, extract). Canada's rules define the proper name of a plant ingredient in Latin. [2] NCCIH notes that what is on the label of a supplement may not be what is in the product. [12] It also notes that "standardized", "verified" or "certified" do not necessarily guarantee quality or consistency. [13] The FDA has found prescription drugs in products sold as dietary supplements. [13] See reading an herbal supplement label, botanical names and plant parts on labels and quality testing and certifications.Frequently asked questions
Why does the scientific name matter?
Common names can refer to different plants. NCCIH notes there are two types of chamomile, German and Roman. [6] The scientific name tells you which plant a study or warning is about.
What is the difference between ginseng and Siberian ginseng?
They are different genera. Ginseng is used collectively for several plants, mainly in Panax and Eleutherococcus. [7] Siberian ginseng is Eleutherococcus senticosus, per GBIF. [3]
Why do plant names change?
Botanists revise classifications. GBIF lists Rosmarinus officinalis as a synonym of Salvia rosmarinus, for example. [3] The older name may still appear on labels and in older research.
Is a product named skullcap always skullcap?
Not necessarily. Scutellaria lateriflora products have occasionally been adulterated or contaminated with germander, which contains hepatotoxic diterpenes. [11] See adulteration and substitution of herbs.
Do I need to know the Latin name to buy or use an herb?
Not to use it, but it helps you ask the right question and read a study or label correctly. Canada's regulations define a plant ingredient's proper name in Latin. [2]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Limits and uncertainty
- A correct scientific name does not tell you the quality, the amount of any compound or the safety of a product.
- Plant identity is not something to work out yourself from a photo or a walk outdoors. Look-alike plants can be harmful. If you are worried about a plant someone ate, call Poison Help (US 1-800-222-1222) or see Poison Help by Country. For identification questions, ask an expert botanist or a local extension service.
- Names used in this library were checked against GBIF. GBIF is one database; other databases may treat some names differently, as the coleus example shows.
Safety and who should ask a clinician
References
- International Association for Plant Taxonomy. International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. Read 2026-10-22.
- Government of Canada. Natural Health Products Regulations (SOR/2003-196). Page dated 2026-10-15.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Names checked 2026-10-22 through the GBIF species match service (api.gbif.org).
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Turmeric: Usefulness and Safety. Page last updated April 2025.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Black Cohosh. Page last updated November 2024.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Chamomile: Usefulness and Safety. Page last updated November 2024.
- Ichim MC, de Boer HJ. A Review of Authenticity and Authentication of Commercial Ginseng Herbal Medicines and Food Supplements. Front Pharmacol. 2020.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Asian Ginseng. Page last updated February 2025.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Cinnamon. Page last updated November 2024.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Echinacea. Page last updated November 2024.
- Sun J, Chen P. A flow-injection mass spectrometry fingerprinting method for authentication and quality assessment of Scutellaria lateriflora-based dietary supplements. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2011;401(5):1577-84.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Dietary and Herbal Supplements. Page last updated February 2020.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Page last updated January 2019.