In botany, a variety is a naturally occurring subdivision within a species that differs from the typical form in consistent traits such as leaf shape, flower color, growth habit, or habitat adaptation. Varieties develop in nature without human breeding or selection. In scientific naming, the abbreviation “var.” appears before the variety name, such as Acer rubrum var. drummondii.
A botanical variety is more genetically and geographically distinct than ordinary variation within a species, but not different enough to be classified as a separate species. Varieties may occur in isolated regions or under specific environmental conditions that favor certain traits.
In horticulture, “variety” is sometimes used informally to describe cultivated plants, but the technically correct term for a human-selected plant form is cultivar. The two terms are often confused, though they represent different types of classification.
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