official site to look up the scientific names of plants

 Is there an official site to look up the scientific names of plants?

I looked up oregano on the Internet and got as many different opinions as
sites I visited.

I wanted to establish the scientific name for the culinary variety (which I
believe might be the "Greek Oregano").

Got official sounding instructions but they do not agree with each other.


Thanks

 wrote:


http://www.ipni.org/index.html

might help

 
That's a database of names that have been used. It doesn't tell you what
is the current opinion on the bounds and name of a species.

I believe that you have the problem that there is more than one culinary
variety.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

 Active said:


May be the largest online plant database:
www.davesgarden.com

They also have a plant ID forum, if you've got a pic. As a non-member, I
believe you can make 3 posts per day, but don't quote me. =)

HTH
--

Eggs

Did Washington flash a quarter when asked for ID?

 On 8/22/2007 12:20 PM, Active wrote:

Also try the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's <http://plants.usda.gov/> .

One problem is that distinguishing species is not always easy.  Often,
the distinction relies on subtle differences in tiny flower parts.

Also, international botanical organizations tend to reclassify plants
quite often (moving a species to a different genus or even to a
different family), thus rendering even recent publications obsolete.
However, this never results in an existing botanical name being reused
for a different plant.  Lately, reclassification has become more intense
as the relationships between species are determined by DNA analysis
instead of physical structures.

--
David E. Ross
<http://www.rossde.com/>

Natural foods can be harmful:  Look at all the
people who die of natural causes.