White Oak vs Red Oak: A Closer Look at Their Scientific Names

What do the scientific names Quercus alba and Quercus rubra tell us about the organisms?

a. White oaks are grouped in the genus Quercus.

b. Red oaks are grouped in the genus alba.

c. Red oaks are grouped in the species Quercus.

d. White oaks are grouped in the same species category as red oaks.

Answer:

Without a doubt, the answer is A. (White oaks are grouped in the genus Quercus.)

The scientific names for white oak (Quercus alba) and red oak (Quercus rubra) indicate that both types of oaks belong to the genus 'Quercus', while 'alba' and 'rubra' specify their distinct species.

The scientific names for white oak and red oak tell us about their taxonomical classification. Specifically, "Quercus" refers to the genus, which is a higher level of classification, and both types of oaks belong to the same genus. The second part of the name, "alba" or "rubra", refers to the species.

Therefore, option (a) 'White oaks are grouped in the genus Quercus' is true, as is the equivalent for red oaks. However, options (b), (c), and (d) are incorrect as they wrongly assign the genus and species classifications.