The first letter is capitalized. abyssinica = from Abysinnia (Ethiopia) (North Africa) name, such as ÃSorbaronia. Also note that, though the naming annua = annual A Friendly, Simple Way to Understand Latin Plant Names Plants are our friends, right? umbellata = unbellate, with flowers in an umbel and not italicized. You can even browse the International Plant Names Index (IPNI), which provides nomenclatural information for all known plants. It’s meant to indicate a plant with significant features that differ from their variety. majus = bigger microphylla = with small leaves Example: Astrophytum myriostigma subvar. incana = grey arctica = from the arctic use, but they have no rules. aurea = golden, yellow montana = from mountains campestris = of the field species had already been outlined by Aristotle. What Scientific Names of Plants Mean. (7 Easy Solutions). alpina = from the alps I’m here to share my experience and help you have more success and enjoyment growing plants. ochroleuca = cream rotundifolia = round-leaved This follows the genus and species as -flora = -flowered (e.g. III. phoenicea = purple You don't personally know anyone who speaks scientific or latin; those are not languages. Stearn's dictionary of plant names for gardeners. RHS Latin for Gardeners: Over 3,000 Plant Names Explained and Explored: More than 1,500 Essential Plant Names and the Secrets They Contain. They’re usually modern names. Only names that meet the specifications are accepted and considered validly published. This name is a derivation of the French word âcresteâ which means âpeak of a hillâ and refers ⦠The Romans and Greeks, created the basis for plant naming by describing a particular characteristic or use of a plant, for example erectus meaning upright, pendula meaning hanging, floribunda meaning abundance of flowers, sempervirens is Latin for always green, sinensis is Latin for Chinese, purpurea for purple, alba for white etc. taxonomy became unwieldy. in, and even disease and pest resistance. vitifolia = with leaves like a vine millefolia = with many (thousands of) leaves pauci- = few- (e.g. I just absorbed them by reading them in plant books or seed catalogues, where the Latin name and common name are side by side. parviflora = small flowered -antha = -flowered (e.g. 20:18 in Plants Evening gardeners! I am not an expert in Latin or Greek, and I make no firm guarantees as to the accuracy or legitimacy of these definitions. But take it from W.T. azurea = blue In this article, we’ll explain all about latin plant names and how these reduce confusion and help growers better understand their plants. Robert Brown (from 1830), which was redefined by Bob Makinson. This information, called armata = prickly Sativa (ending in -a) is the feminine form of the adjective, but masculine (-us) and neuter (-um) endings are also used to agree with the gender of the nouns they modify. This name derives from the plant after it has flowered and produced seeds, whereas cilantro refers to the first stages of growth. multiflora = many flowered Cress. And there is one more thing I want to discuss, and this is the family name. rivularis = from near rivers velutina = velvety saxatilis = of rocks polyphylla = with many leaves, leafy This classification differentiates the plant from other members of its genus. latest author and placing an “ex” before the prior author’s name. At the simplest level of scientific classification, each plant has a name made up of two parts, a generic (or genus) name and a specific name or epithet. for people in different areas to accurately communicate about their plants. pauciflora = few-flowered macrorhiza = large-rooted) Those are mistakes. Be aware that infraspecific notation is an This universally adopted system has rules that govern how these names are officially assigned and updated. specified, “sp.” can be used as an abbreviation; “spp.” is pulverulenta = dusty From the name of a type of tree, ultimately derived from Greek á¼ÎºÎ® (ake) meaning "thorn, point". The naming rules for cultivars are more compacta = compact Cultivar names are listed in title case, with each letter capitalised, and put in quotation marks. In Greek legend she was a nymph loved by Apollo. canariensis = from the Canary Isles longifolia = with long leaves Before Linnaeus, formal plant names used a polynomial structure that consisted of a generic name combined with a secondary descriptive phrase. attempt to further clarify a plant’s classification without a specific such as a plant’s color, geographical origin, or other characteristics. pyramidalis subsp. Example: Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum, Another former category that has been practically abandoned in the modern era, the subform was abbreviated “subf.” when in use. graminifolia = with grassy leaves Carl von Linne a.k.a. The Latin naming system is called binomial nomenclature because it uses two terms that together can identify every plant in existence. If the plant was originally In plant names, therefore, those that are deemed masculine will end in -us, those that are feminine will end in -a, and those that are neuter will end in -um (plus some odd ones with other endings). How Plants Get Their Names by L.H. Latin and Greek names like Taxodium (bald cypress). glutinosa = sticky wulfenii, Plants with a naturally occurring variation can be noted by using ‘var.’ before the identifying name. infraspecific notation, is for plant differences that fall below the rank of sibirica = from Siberia publishing an original plant’s description will generally be noted as the These are some of the Latin specific epithets often applied to plants we grow in our gardens. magellanica = from the south of South America English indicates the function of words in a sentence by word order. cultivation rather than being natural variations: the name is short for chrysantha = yellow They are neither scientific nor latin. plant belongs to. Cultivars are new plants that were bred in viridis = green classical. Introduction. hyemalis = of winter If this article has piqued your interest in Latin plant names, try these books. Wikimedia Commons. This site is incredibly helpful for delving into the meanings of botanical names: Iâm sure even Latin scholars visit it! Example: Philodendron hederaceum var. If a new species is created by coccinea = red and subsp. California Plant Names: Latin and Greek Meanings and Derivations By Michael L. Charters . palustris = from marshes america = from America acaulis = stemless autumnalis = of autumn Together, these two names are referred to as a binomial. chilensis = from Chile These terms may include information such as a plantâs color, geographical origin, or other characteristics. additional term can added to the binomen. Aster is the name of the delicate flower meaning âstarâ. arenaria = from sandy places rediviva = perennial Broadleaved Trees Latin Name Common Name Acer campestre Field maple Acer platanoides Norway maple Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore Aesculus hippocatanum Horse chestnut Alnus cordata Italian alder Alnus glutinosa Common alder Alnus incana Grey alder Betula pendula Silver birch Betula pubescens Downy birch Carpinus betulus Hornbeam Castanea sativa Sweet chestnut Fagus sylvatica ⦠graeca = from Greece rosea = rose pink These connecting terms have special odorata = perfumed helvetica = from Switzerland confirmation is required. integrifolia = entire, undivided (leaves) somnifera = inducing sleep It came into the spotlight by the little ⦠bulgarica = from Bulgaria Marks the accented syllable for each name. Like many other languages, Latin assigns genders to all its nouns, and adjectives have to agree with the gender of the noun they describe. -folia = -leaved (e.g. villosa = hairy record is preserved. The person(s) accepted as originally For over 200 years we have used the classification model of Knowing the genus offers basic information pallida = cream The feminine adjectival form is foliata and the neuter is foliatum. chinensis = from China Whereas the genus, species, var. Common names can be colorful and easy to All plants are assigned two names: the genus and the species. Just think about learning the Latin names as though you are learning the name of a new friend. The specific epithet may describe some This notation is for smaller distinctions than those which define a subspecies. As it turned out, binomial nomenclature represented a rare event when an academic advance actually simplified a subject. florida = floriferous Enjoy your stay at Smart Garden Guide. soil, nutrition, and moisture levels, the temperature and humidity they thrive glabrum, Plants with a very minor difference from its variety are noted with an “f.” designation. vulgaris = common, (With grateful thanks to whoever writes the Chiltern Seeds catalogue, who taught me all the botanical Latin I know! If you want to know the meaning of an obscure botanical name, let me direct you to the site Botanary. maritima = maritime, near the sea hybridization, the epithet may be written with an “x” before its pauciflora =few-flowered) It is not subject to change, and it isn’t Common Names Index - the common names of plants mentioned in these pages, with their Latin name borealis = from the north Binomial nomenclature looks (and sounds) paucifolia = with few leaves campanulata = campanulate, like a bell alba = white either placed after the abbreviation “cv.” or within single quotation texensis = from Texas nocturna = nocturnal Sativa, sativus, and sativum are Latin botanical adjectives meaning cultivated.It is often associated botanically with plants that promote good health and used to designate certain seed-grown domestic crops. Some generic names are descriptive, but often take some decoding; Galanthus, for example, is Greek for milk-flower, Aquilegia is from aquila, Latin for eagle (the spurred petals are supposed to resemble an eagleâs talons), and Gypsophila is from the Greek for chalk-lover, from a preference for chalky soils. The Latin naming system is called binomial gigantea = giant Using “cf.” before the epithet indicates that names are Latin, cultivar names are usually in a modern language. Paperback. digitata = (leaves) like a hand, with five lobes Latin Plant Names Explained: Guide To Botanical Plant Names, Why Is My Lavender Plant Dying? In such cases, an Does anyone know of a good website that has a long list stating the meanings of Latin plant name meanings, I.e macrohpylla - large foliage. What is the purpose of latin plant names? author(s). prostrata = prostrate The structured Latin naming system isn’t just for scientists – it’s for whenever you want to know exactly what you’re talking about. maxima = biggest For example, American plants may be descriptively named americanum. spicata = spiked Common names are friendly, easy to use and don’t sound pretentious. lanceolata = lance-shaped (leaves) foetida = with an unpleasant smell It indicates pendula = hanging It can Each name is unique within the Plantea kingdom. in existence. A plant that is a distinct variation of its species can be noted using “subsp.” or “ssp.” followed by its subspecies name. indicates that Alan Cunningham updated the description published in a work by caerulea = blue Aster. Neighbors are more likely to understand what you mean. -phylla = -leaved (e.g. lutea = yellow notations do exist. hirsuta = hairy There are simply too many variations, Meaning: Joy. Plants can have multiple common names, and a case of mistaken identity may lead to incorrect advice and unwanted purchases. from Davis. lanata = woolly mexicana = from Mexico about the individual needs of a plant. In his cataloging work, Species Plantarum, Linnaeus condensed plant names to a single term of classification followed by a one-word “trivial name.” He used Latin forms that were commonly understood by the scientific community of his time. open to bias toward a certain region or language. ex R.Br.) about a plant clearly and concisely. While many gardeners struggle with "Latin names" of plants, knowing a plant's botanical name allows you to converse with gardeners all over the world. macrophylla = with large leaves arboricola = living on trees This is often based on a geographical difference. Non-Latin terms can be used, but they are Latinized for consistency. conventions below cover the majority of plant names, other less common A genericname is a âcollective nameâ for a group of plants. parivflora = small-flowered) Compare the dog bites the boy with the boy bites the dog. magenta = magenta perennis = perennial Click a letter of the alphabet to see a list of plants with botanic / latin names beginning with that letter. Often, this is the name of the person who bred or discovered the plant, or they might be named after another significant figure. The cultivar’s name can be sativa = cultivated with examples: Belonging to the same species doesn’t fully As confusing as Latin plant names may seem, they can actually be less confusing than their commonplace counterparts. future-proof. I tend to use a lot of common plant names when I write on this website, but always include the scientific name to avoid confusion. The basic Latin word for leaf is folium.Since folium is a neuter noun, the plural ends in "a" (folia).Botanically, folius is used as an adjective, as well.Foliatus, the masculine adjectival form of the Latin word for leaf, means "leaved." magna = big trifoliata = trifoliate, with three-lobed leaves 1994. The common names may vary according to the language and region, while the scientific names of flower are accepted throughout the world. The archaic nature of latin has reduced that former language, through disuse and misuse, to mere notation. The gender of the specific epithet must be the the same as that of the species name. poly- = many (e.g polyantha = many-flowered) As a Spanish-language surname, it was sometimes bestowed by missionaries in honour of the saint as they evangelized in Spanish colonies. Hardcover. pumila = small aspect of the plant’s color, form, habitat, or the area it comes from. London: Cassell. When the actual species is not known or Note that botanical Latin is not strictly hispida = bristly Allegra. Cypress: This Greek name refers to a group of coniferous trees and shrubs, but it also has roots in mythology. Latin indicates the function of words in a sentence by word endings. For example, davisii is derived a standard abbreviation of the full citation. clivora = from the hills Plant Families - an introduction to Plant Families, California Plant Names - detailed explanation of the origins of Latin and Greek plant names and the people they're named after. barbata = bearded, hairy minima = small Take for example, Acer is the Latin plant name (genus) for maple. australis = from the south (not necessarily Australia) As more species were discovered, polynomial argentea = silvery The current binomial naming convention was started by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707â1778). stellata = starry macrorrhiza = with large roots To put in simple words, each of the different flower types has two names â common name and scientific name (or Latin name). Here are common types of specific epithets Subsequent revisions may add the newest author’s name so that an attribution semperviva = perennial Plants by botanic name. Makinson. These terms may include information scandens = climbing scaber = climbing “cultivated variety.”. procumbens = creeping marks. Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. viridiflora = green-flowered) parvifolia = with small leaves Their naming process All these rules may seem to be overthinking the process, so let’s look at some pros and cons to using scientific names: The great thing is, you don’t have to choose. :-) Makes it more fun! ovalifolia = with oval leaves This Simply type the name in the box provided, and 99 times out of 100, it will give you the origin or definition. These names are capitalized in title case aurantiaca = orange Find more Latin words at wordhippo.com! violacea = violet nana = small Only the word order is different, but the sentences have different meanings. spinosa = spiny rupicola = of hills Each two-termed name, or binomen, has formal rules governing its publication and subsequent alterations. Alternative Spellings & Variations: Famous Namesakes: Allegra Versace ⦠common ancestor. For example: Magnolia x loebneri. leucadendron (A.Cunn. esculenta = edible It may seem strange to use a dead farinosa = floury, powdery To simplify things, only the feminine endings have been used here, but if you come across a plant with much the same name, but ending in -us or -um, it means the same. The species name is commonly an adjective describing that member of the genus. macrophylla = large-leaved) glacialis = from cold areas The genus may be abbreviated to only this letter if it is understood by the reader. 37 offers from £1.00. Example: Saxifraga aizoon subf. This two-termed name is called a binomen, and it should always be written in italics. complicated than those for standard binomial nomenclature. sylvestris = of woods RHS Latin for Gardeners is an informative, entertaining and beautifully illustrated unravelling of the mysteries of botanical Latin. micrantha = small-flowered) tenuifolia = narrow-leaved) Getting used to the Latin names seems to strike a lot of people as needing a huge effort. This is a collaboration between The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, The Harvard University Herbaria, and The Australian National Herbarium. angustifolia = narrow-leaved Royal Horticultural Society . definition on where the lines are drawn. densiflora = dense-flowered aestivalis = flowering in spring - some popular plants with their common and Latin names For example, the popular Monstera deliciosa is known in different locales as a Hurricane Plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Ceriman, Swiss Cheese Plant, Fruit Salad Tree, Window leaf, or Penglai Banana. more complicated than it actually is. Part of Scientific Latin Translations. concept of evolution hadn’t been introduced at that time, the terms genus and arvensis = of the field Acantha f Greek Mythology (Latinized) Latinized form of Greek á¼ÎºÎ±Î½Î¸Î± (Akantha), which meant "thorn, prickle". The second word of the binomen is the specific epithet, or species. Common Names and the Latin names of some popular garden plants praecox = early, of spring longiflora = with long flowers language, but Latin has advantages. alpestris = from mountains muralis = growing on walls flore plena = with double flowers Acer is a maple, Mentha is a mint, etc. the plural form. The generic epithet describes the genus a Bailey, Dover Publications. descriptions and have them officially published. macro- = large- (e.g. Hopefully we’ve taken the mystery out of those odd italicized plant appellations. Today, the internationally accepted rules for naming plants are governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. If the hybrid is the result of two species, both may be included. smartgardenguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other Amazon stores worldwide. foliosa = leafy Each two-termed name, or binomen, has formal rules governing its Ranked lower than variety (or subvariety) distinctions, differences in form may mean some small feature like fewer thorns or a unique leaf or flower color, etc. Linnaeus came up with a system for naming in 1753 where each species of plant has a name which has two parts. tenuifolia = with thin, narrow leaves Each of the two parts of the name used Latin grammatical forms. Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. This is notated by listing the sanguinea = blood-red nomenclature because it uses two terms that together can identify every plant sinense = from China bellidifolia = with leaves like those of a daisy pratensis = field which means the naming process does entail some subjective evaluation. Latinized names offer information about a plant’s classification, origins, and characteristics. Example: Euphorbia characias subsp. A formal naming system was developed to uniquely and meaningfully identify every plant.