In
botany, a section (
Latin: sectio) is a
taxonomic rank below the
genus, but above the
species.[1] The
subgenus, if present, is higher than the section, and the rank of
series, if present, is below the section. Sections may in turn be divided into subsections.[2]
Sections are typically used to help organise very large genera, which may have hundreds of species.[1] A botanist wanting to distinguish groups of species may prefer to create a taxon at the rank of section or series to avoid making
new combinations, i.e. many new
binomial names for the species involved.[1]
Examples:
Lilium sectio Martagon Rchb. are the Turks' cap lilies