Question
Dear Jim,

I would like to aske why there is sometimes (L.) after a plant species name? What is it for? Does it need to be typed in "italic" as the species name?

Also, apart from (L.), is there any similar abbreviation?

Thanks!

Your sincerely,
raymond

Answer
The "L" comes from a Botantist called Carolus (Carl) Linnaeus. He developed the system for naming any plant or animal using a Genera and species name called the binomial system of nomenclature. Here is a web link discribing Linnaeus in more detail. It is usually not typed in italic.  http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/linnaeus.html