The National Plant Germplasm System of the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture maintains a computer database, the Germplasm Resources Information Network, GRIN-Global, for the management of and as a source of information on its 143,238 germplasm accessions. The taxonomic portion of GRIN-Global provides the classification and nomenclature for these genetic resources and many other economic plants on a worldwide basis. Included in GRIN-Global Taxonomy are scientific names for 27,555 genera (14,437 accepted), 1,422 infragenera (1,360 accepted), and 120,300 species or infraspecies (66,646 accepted) with common names, geographical distributions, literature references, and economic importance. Generally recognized standards for abbreviating authors' names and botanical literature have been adopted in GRIN-Global. The scientific names are verified, in accordance with the international rules of botanical nomenclature, by taxonomists of the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory using available taxonomic literature and consultations with taxonomic specialists. Included in GRIN-Global Taxonomy are federal- and state-regulated noxious weeds and federally and internationally listed threatened and endangered plants. Since 1994, GRIN-Global taxonomic data have been searchable on the Internet.