\documentclass[10pt,letterpaper,twoside,openany,titlepage]{article}

\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}

\usepackage{makeidx}
\usepackage{graphicx}
%\usepackage{lmodern}
\usepackage{fourier}

\usepackage[
	left=2cm,right=2cm,top=2cm,bottom=2cm
]{geometry}

\usepackage{multicol}


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%% Macros for uniform typesetting %%%

% Genus
\newcommand\genus[1]{\vspace{2mm}\noindent{}\textsc{\textbf{{\Large #1}}}\\}
\newcommand\species[1]{\textbf{—#1}\\}
\newcommand\family[2]{\textsc{#1}{. #2}\\}

\title{On the Uses of Plants}
\author{Kenneth John Odle}
\abstractname{Abstract}



\begin{document}

\maketitle

Introductory text

\begin{multicols}{2}

\genus{Acacia}
\family{Fabaceae}{Some 1,200 warm-region species of great ecological and evolutionary interest.}
\species{complanata}

\genus{Amsonia}
\family{Apocynaceae}{Hardy perennials valued in the border or among shrubbery for their blue star-like flowers.}
\species{hubrichtii}

\columnbreak

\end{multicols}


\end{document}