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Form (biology) - Definition and Overview |
| Related Words: Anatomy, Anthropology, Astrobiology, Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Biometrics, Biometry, Bionics, Bionomics, Biophysics, Botany, Conchology, Cryobiology, Cybernetics, Cytology, Ecology, Embryology, Entomology |
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In biology a form is a taxonomic subdivision of a species, below the level of a subspecies or variety. The trinomial nomenclature notation is: Genusname speciesname forma formname.
For example a cactus:
- Acanthocalycium spiniflorum forma klimpelianum (Weidlich & Werderm.) Donald
Forms are extensively used to describe subgroupings of plants; they are not used in the taxonomy of animals.
Some botanists believe that there is no need to name forms, since there are theoretically countless numbers of forms based on a single-gene difference.
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