The botanical name is a unique name that identifies an individual timber species, irrespective of multiple common or trade names it may be known by.   The only true name for a timber species is its botanical or species name.

Botanical (or species) names are in 2 parts, the genus and species, in italics, for example Eucalyptus grandis.

Botanical names and their synonyms (earlier names) used in QTimber reflect current names (Australian Plant Name Index & International Plant Names Index, 2016) and standard 'preferred' names (AS/NZS 1148-2001, Standards Australia, 2001).

For commercial mixtures of multiple species with similar properties or those not readily separated in the market, only a genus is used. Botanical names are not provided for commercial mixtures of many genera, such as unidentified rainforest timbers and imported softwoods.