Species

A similar group of individuals, for example plants which interbreed with each other and produce offspring. Species can only, generally, interbreed with their own species. In limited cases where closely related species interbreed the resultant offspring are called hybrids. The species is, however, the standard unit of classification for identifying plants, or other organisms.

For plants to be included within a species individual plants have to possess many characteristics which are the same. However, it is the discontinuity of similarities which distinguish species from each other. Essentially a demarcating line is drawn to classify a plant into one species rather than another.

The term is abbreviated to spp, where two or more species are being referred to, or just sp, where a single species is being referred to.