Hawksbeard flowers The flowering weed hawksbeard (Crepis species) harbors microbes with the longest binomial name. The microbe is an oomycete of the genus Bremia. (more) What Are the Shortest and Longest Binomial Names? Written by Manjishtha Bhattacharyya Manjishtha Bhattacharyya is an editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. She holds a PhD in zoology from Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, and has more than seven years of experience in science communication... Manjishtha Bhattacharyya Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated May 8, 2026 •History First, a quick refresher on binomial names. All organisms, living or extinct, are given a name by biologists to make identification easier across different languages and regions. These are called scientific, or binomial, names. A binomial name has two parts. The first part is the name of the genus, shared by closely related organisms. The second part is the name of the species, which identifies the exact organism. For example, humans are called Homo sapiens....

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