4.24 Biological terms

Capitalize the scientific name of a phylum, order, class, family or genus, but not common names or the epithets referring to a species or subspecies, even if they are derived from proper names:

• the phylum Arthropoda
• the order Rosales
• the genus Sporotrichum
• the species Sporotrichum schenkii (second word denotes species)
• The jaguar and the lion are members of the family Felidae.

See 6.11 Mathematical, statistical and scientific material for rules governing the italicization of biological classifications.

Capitalize proper nouns modifying a common name, except where usage has established the lower case:

• Grayson lily
• Cupid’s-delight
• Queen Anne’s lace
• Judas tree
• Canada goose
• Dutch elm

but

• malpeque oyster
• timothy grass

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