Form (botany)

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In botanical nomenclature, a form (forma) is a taxon at a rank below that of variety; it is an infraspecific taxon. Its name consists of three parts: a genus name, a specific epithet, and an infraspecific epithet. The abbreviation "f." or the full "forma" should be put before the infraspecific epithet to indicate the rank.

For example, a cactus:

Acanthocalycium spiniflorum f. klimpelianum or
Acanthocalycium spiniflorum forma klimpelianum (Weidlich & Werderm.) Donald

A form usually designates a group with a noticeable but minor deviation. For instance, white-flowered forms of species that usually have coloured flowers can be named a "f. alba". 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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