Horticultural Dictionary - Genus

Species which share a number of significant features are grouped together to form a genus (plural genera). The characteristics of a genus are often quite easy to recognise, making this perhaps the most generally useful level at which plants can be identified for practical purposes. It is common for a plant to be referred to as, for instance, Malva sp., the sp. being an abbreviation of species and indicating an unidentified species of a particular genus. Genera can vary in size from a single species to over a thousand, depending on their distinctive characteristics. CompareRhodochiton with Rhododendron for example.