Know Your Latin Names
How many times have you been stuck when people ask you how to pronounce a plant name, correctly using the latin or Greek pronunciation?
-Of course it doesn't really matter how you say it, as long as you can make yourself understood, but if you want that gasp of appreciation when you get it right, have a look down this list.
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More Latin Please
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You will find all these plants mentioned in our plant list.
Click on each item to see a picture
Actaea
ak-te-a
From greek aktaia (elder) because the leaves resemble
those of the elder tree.
Adenophera
ad-en-of-or-a
From greek aden,
a gland.
Agapanthus
ag-a-pan-thus
from the greek agape,-love, and anthos, a flower.
Ajuga
a-ju-ga
Corruption of Latin abiga, a plant used in medicine.
Alchemilla
al-kem-il-la
From Arabic alkemelych, reference to plant use in
Alchemy.
Allium
al-le-um
Latin term for garlic, now the name of the onion family.
Alstromeria
al-stro-meer-i-a
After Baron Alstromer, Swedish Botanist.
Amsonia
am-so-ne-a
After Charles Amson, American Scientific Explorer.
Anemone
an-em-o-ne
From the Greek anemos, wind and mone,habitation,
for places they grow. English common name: Windflower.
Anthemis
an-the-mis
Greek name for chamomile.Scented foliage.Some species used for
dyeing.
Anthyllis
an-thil-is
From the Greek anthos a flower and ioulos,
down.Some species having a downy calyx.
Aquilegia
ak-wil-e-je-a
Origin unknown but
perhaps from Latin aquila, an eagle. The flower spurs on many looking
like an eagle’s claw.
Artemisia
ar-tem-ees-e-a
After Artemis (Diana) one of the ancient greek divinities.
Arundo
ar-un-do
From the Latin arundo, a reed.
Asphodeline
as-fod-el-e-ne
Allied to the flower asphodel.
Aster
as-ter
From the Greek aster, a star.
Astilbe
as-til-be
From a, meaning no, and stilbe,- brightness. Many older
species had colourless flowers.
Astrantia
as-tran-te-a
Again, roots in Greek meaning star.Star shaped flower umbels
.
Baptisia
bap-tis-e-a
From the greek bapto, to dye.Some species used in dyeing.
Berberis
ber-ber-is
From the Arabic berberys,-shrubs.
Bergenia
ber-ge-nia
Origin unknown.
Brunnera
bru-nner-a
Origin unknown.
Buxus
buks-us
Ancient Latin name.Box Tree or Shrub.
Calamagrostis
cala-ma-gros-tis
Origin unknown but agrostis is Latin for grass.
Camassia
kam-as-se-a
From quamash-north American Indian name.
Campanula
kam-pan-u-la
From latin campanula-little bell.
Carex
kar-eks
Latin for some sedges, now applied to whole group.
Caryopteris
kar-e-op-ter-is
From Greek karnon-nut, and pteron-wing.The fruits
being winged.
Cephalaria
sef-(or kef-) al-ar-ea
From the Greek kephale-a head-flowers collectedinto
heads.
Ceratostigma
ser-at-o-stig-ma
From the Greek keras-a horn and stigma.-Alludingto
the horn-like branches of the stigma.
Chaenomeles
ky-nom-e-lees
Origin not known.
Chaerophyllum
ky-ro-fill-um
Origin not known.
Chasmanthium
kas-man-theum
Origin not known.
Chelone
ke-lo-ne
From Greek kelone, a tortoise.The flower resembling that
shape.
Chionodoxa
ky-on-o-doks-a
From Greek chion-snow and doxa-glory.Glory of the
snow.
Choisya choy-se-a
After Botanist M.Choisy.
Cirsium
sir-se-um
Origin not known.
Cistus
sis-tus
Ancient Greek name for the rock rose.
Codonopsis
ko-don-op-sis
From Greek kodon-a bell, and opsis-resemblance.
Convallaria
kon-val-lair-e-a
From Latin convallium-a valley.Hence Lily of the Valley.
Cordyline
kor-dil-y-ne
From Greek kordyle-a club.
Coreopsis
kor-e-op-sis
From Greek koris-a bug or tick and opsis-
resemblance.Hence the English common name of Tickweed.
Cornus
kor-nus
From Latin cornus, a horn, from the hard nature of the
wood.
Crocosmia
kro-cos-mia
Modern name for Montbretia mont-bre-she-a,
after M. Monbret A French Botanist.
Cryptotaenia
krip-to-tie-eenia
Origin not known.
Cynara
sin-ar-a
From Greek kyon-a dog. The spines on the involucres
resemble dogs’ teeth.
Cytisus
sy-tis-us (also sit-e-sus)
From Greek kytisos-trefoil, pertaining to the leaves of many
species found on the Aegean island
of Cythnos.
Dahlia
dah-le-a
After Swedish Botanist Andreas Dahl, a pupil of Linnaeus.
Deschampsia
de-shamp-s-e-a
Origin not known.
Deutzia
doyts-e-a
To commemorate J.Van der Deutz, patron of Thunberg.
Dianthus
di-an-thus
From Greek dios-a god or divine and anthos-flower.
Divine flower.
Diascia
di-as-ke-a
From two Greek words for Two and Pouch.
Dicentra
di-sen-tra
From two Greek words for Two and Spur, as the petals on the
flowers.
Dierama
di-er-a-ma
From Greek dierama-a funnel. As the shape of the flower.
Diervilla
di-er-vil-la
After Famous French Surgeon M. Dierville.
Digitalis
dij-it-a-lis
From Latin digitus-finger, the flower resembling the
finger of a glove.
Dracocephalum
drak-o-sef-a-lum
From Greek Drakon-a dragon, and kephale-a head.
Drimys
drim-mis
From Greek drimus, acid, referring to the pungent taste of bark and foliage
Echinacea
ek-in-a-se-a
From The Greek echinos-hedgehog, referring to the prickly
involucre on the flower
Echinops
ek-in-ops
From The Greek echinos-hedgehog,and opsis, spines around the flower
Eragrostis
er-a-gros-tis
Latin. From eros-love and agrostis-grass.
Beautiful Grass.
Erigeron
er-ij-er-on
From Greek eri-early, or Spring and geron-old (old
man) referring to hoary appearance of leaves in Spring.
Eryngium
e-ring-e-um (or er-in-je-um)
From Greek for thistle with spiny toothed leaves.
Eupatoreum
u-pat-or-e-um
After Mithridates Eupator, King of Pontus who found antidote to
poison in one species.
Euphorbia
u-for-be-a
After Euphorbus, Physician to Juba, King of Mauretania.
Exochordia
eks-o-kor-da
From the Greek exo-outside or external and chorde-a
cord or thong, referring to the structure of the fruits.
Festuca
fes-tu-ka
From Latin festuca- a stem or blade.
Foeniculum
fee-nik-u-lum
From Latin for Hay, because of its odour.
Francoa
fran-ko-a
After F.Franco, a Spaniard.
Galtonia
gawl-to-ne-a
Commemorating Francis Galton, Anthropologist.
Gentiana
jen-she-an-a
After Gentius, King of Illyria, who first used it in medicine.
Geranium
jer-a-ne-um
From Greek geranos-a crane.The fruit of the plant resembling
the head and beak of the bird.
Geum
je-um
Possibly from Greek geuo- to give an agreeable flavour.The
roots of some are aromatic.
Gladiolus
glad-e-o-lus or glad-i-o-lus
From Latin gladiolus-a little sword, the shape of the
leaf.
Hakonechloa
ha-kon-e-clo-a
Origin not known.
Halimium
hal-i-me-um
From halimus-sea coast. A seaside plant.
Hanabusaya
han-a-bus-ay-a
Modern name for symphyandra sim-fy-an-dra
from Greek symphyo-to unite, and andros-a
stamen, in reference to the united formation of the latter.
Helenium
hel-e-ne-um
Possibly after Helen of Troy.
Legend says these flowers sprang from her tears.
Helianthus
he-le-an-thus
From the Greek helios-the sun, and anthos-a
flower.
Helictotrichon
hel-ic-to-try-con
Origin unknown.
Helleborus
hel-le-bor-us
or hel-le-bore
Classical name. Origin unknown.
Hemerocallis
hem-er-okal-lis
From Greek hemeros-a day, and kallos-beauty. The
Day Lily.
Hermodactylus
her-mo-dak-til-lus
Origin Unknown.
Hesperis
hes-per-is
From the Greek hesperos-evening.The flower being more
fragrant at that time.
Heuchera
hoy-ker-a
After Professor J.H.Heucher, a German botanist.
Hosta
hos-ta
After Nicolous Thomas and
Joseph Host, Austrian botanists.
Houttuynia
howt-too-in-e-a
After Dr Martin Houttuyn of Amsterdam.
Hydrangea
hy-dran-je-a
From Greek hydor-water and aggeion-vessel, in
reference to the shape of the seed capsule.
Hypericum
hi-per-ik-um
Greek name with obscure meaning.
Imperata
im-per-ata
Origin unknown.
Indigofera
in-dig-of-er-a
From indigo the blue dye, and fera,produce.
Iris
i-ris
From Greek iris-rainbow.
Jasminum
jas-min-um
From Arabic ysmyn-Jasmine.
Knautia
knaw-te-a
Origin not known.
Kniphofia nif-of-e-a
After Johan Hieronymous Kniphof, a German Professor of medicine
Lavandula
lav-an-du-la
From Latin lavo-to wash.Greeks & Romans used Lavender
in Baths.
Leucanthemum
lew-can-the-mum
From Greek leukos-white and anthos-flower.
Leycesteria
lay-ses-teer-e-a
Commemorating W.Leycester, Chief
Justice of Bengal.
Liatris
li-a-tris
Origin unknown.
Ligularia
lig-yu-lar-i-a
Origin unknown.
Lilium
lil-e-um
Latin Name for lily.
Limonium
lim-on-e-um
From Greek limne-a marsh.
Liriope
lir-e-o-pe
Origin unknown.
Lobelia
lo-be-le-a
After M.Matthias de Lobel,Plant collector and physician to James
1st.
Lonicera
lon-is-er-a
After Adam Lonicer, A German naturalist.
Lotus
lo-tus
Old Greek name for trefoil-like plants.
Lupinus
lu-pe-nus
From Latin lupus-a wolf (destroyer) because it over-took
and devastated land.
Luzulu
loo-zoo-loo
Origin unknown.
Lychnis
lyk-nis
From Greek lychnos-a lamp, referring to the brightness of
the flower.
Lysimachia
lis-e-mak-e-a
From Greek luo-to loose, and mache-strife.Hence
Loosestrife.
Lythrum
lith-rum
From Greek lythron-blood. An
allusion to colour of the flower.
Meconopsis
mek-on-op-sis
From Greek mekon-poppy, and opsis-like.
Miscanthus
mis-kan-thus
From Greek miscos-stem, and anthos-a flower.
Monarda
mon-ar-da
After N.Monardez. A
physician and botanist from Seville.
Morina
mor-e-na
After L. Morin A French plant collector.
Muscari
mus-kar-e
From Greek moschos-musk.
Some flowers have this smell.
Narcissus
nar-sis-sus
Classic Latin name
possibly alluding to narcotic qualities.
Nemesia
nem-e-ze-a
Old name for snap-dragon used by dioscorides.
Nepeta
nep-e-ta
Possibly from nepete an Etrurian city.
Oenothera
ee-noth-e-ra
From Greek oinos-wine, and thera-imbibing. The
roots of some species encourage drinking.
Omphalodes
om-fa-lo-des
From Greek omphalos-a navel, and eidos-like. The
seeds giving a resemblance to navels.
Ophiopogan
of-e-op-o-gon
From the Greek ophis-serpent, and pogon-a beard.
Origanum
or-ig-a-num
From Greek aros-mountain and ganos-beauty. The
usual habitat and attractiveness of the plant.
Oryzopsis
or-is-ops-sis
From Greek oryz-rice, and opsis-like.Hence the
common name Rice-grass.
Osmanthus
oz-man-thus
From Greek osme-perfume, and anthus-a flower.
Panicum
pa-nik-um
From Latin for a form of Millet, used for bread-making.
Papaver
pap-a-ver
Latin name for Poppy.
Parahebe
pa-ra-hee-bee
Greek para-similar
to. Hebe-like.
Pennisetum
pen-nis-e-tum
From Latin penna-feather, and seta-a bristle.
Penstemon
Corruption of: Pentstemon pent-ste-mon from
Greek pente-five, and stemon-a
stamen. Five stamens.
Persicaria
per-sik-a-re-a
Latin. From persica-Persia.
Philadelphus
fil-a-del-fus
After King Ptolemy Philadelphus
Phlomis
flo-mis
From Greek phlomos-a mullein or other woolly plant.
Phlox
floks
From Greek phlego-to burn, or phlox-a flame,
alluding to the brightly coloured flowers.
Phormium
for-me-um
From Greek phormos-a basket. The leaf fibres being used in
basket-making.
Physostegia
fy-sos-te-ja
From Greek physa-a bladder, and stege-a covering.
Referring to the formation of the calyx.
Pittosporum
pit-tos-por-um
From Greek pitte-tar, and sporos-seed. Seeds are
covered in a resinous substance.
Polemonium
pol-e-mo-ne-um
Dioscorides is thought to have named it after King Polemon Of
Pontus.
Polygonatum
pol-ig-on-a-tum
From Greek polys-many, and gonua- joint. Reference
to the many joints and knots in the roots.
Potentilla
po-ten-til-la
From Latin potens-powerful/potent.Some species have
active medicinal properties.
Primula
prim-u-la
From Latin primus-first. Referring to the early flowering
of many species.
Pulmonaria
pul-mon-air-e-a
From Latin pulmo-pertaining to the lungs. One species
thought to have lung-healing properties. Hence Lungwort.
Rhamnus
ram-nus
Greek.possibly from rhamnos-a thorny shrub.
Rheum
re-um
From rha-the Russian name for the river Volga
near which Rhubarb was first found.
Ribes
ry-bees
Possibly from the Arabic ribas-an acid plant used by
Arabian physicians.
Rodgersia
rod-jer-se-a
After its’ Discoverer Admiral Rodgers (USA).
Romneya
rom-ne-a
After T. Romney Robinson, an Irish Astronomer.
Rubus
roo-bus
Old Roman name possibly after ruber, the red colour of
some fruits.
Rudbeckia
rood-bek-e-a
After Olaf Rudbeck, a Swedish botanist.
Salix
sa-liks
Latin name for Willow.
Possibly from celtic: sal-near, and lis-water.
Salvia
sal-ve-a
Latin name used by Pliny meaning safe, referring to
its’medicinal qualities.
Sanguisorba
san-gwis-orb-a
Latin. Sanguis-blood. Flowers are dark blood-red.
Santolina
san-tol-e-na
Origin unknown.
Sarcococca
sar-ko-kok-ka
From Greek sarx-flesh, and kokkos-a berry. Fleshy
Berries.
Saxifraga
sax-e-fra-ga or
saks-if-ra-ga
From Latin saxum-a rock, and frango-to break. Origin
unknown, but perhaps they were seen to grow in cracks In rocks and therefore
assumed to have broken them.
Scabiosa
ska-be-o-sa
From Latin scabies-an itch. Plants believed to cure skin
diseases.
Schizostylis
skiz-os-til-is
From Greek schizo-to cut, and stylos-a style. The
latter is deeply cut on the plant.
Sidalcea
sid-al-se-a
Compound of Sida and Alcea, related genera.
Silene
si-le-ne
Probably from Greek sialon-saliva, the gummy exudations
on the stems that ward off insects.
Sisyrinchium
sis-e-rink-e-um
Classical greek name.
Stachys
stak-is
From Greek stachus-a spike, referring to the pointedness
of the flowers.
Stipa
sty-pa
From Latin stuppa-tow (hemp fibres), alluding to the
silkiness of the flowers spike.
Telekia
tel-leek-e-a
Origin not known.
Teucrium
tew-kre-um
After Trojan Prince Teucher who used one species in medicine.
Thalictrum
thal-ik-trum
Old Greek name possibly from thallo-to flourish or to
obound. referring to the abundance of flowers.
Thymus
ty-mus
Old Greek name used by theophrastus for this and/or other
culinary herbs.
Tiarella
te-ar-el-la
From the Greek tiara-a turban, referring to the
turban-like appearance of the seed pod.
Tradescantia
trad-es-kan-te-a
After John Tradescant,Gardener to Charles 1st.
Tricyrtis
trik-er-tis
From Greek treis-three, and kyrtos-convex,
referring to three outer sepals which have swollen bases.
Tulbaghia
tull-bar-gee-a
After Tulbagh, a town in South Africa.
Uncinia
un-kin-e-a
Origin unknown.
Verbascum
ver-bas-cum
Classical Latin name, possible corruption of barbascum-a
hairy plant.
Verbena
ver-be-na
Ancient Latin name of the European vervain.
Veronica
ver-on-ik-a
Origin unknown.
Viburnum
vi-bur-num
Alternative name for
ancient lantana. (The wayfaring tree).
Vinca
vin-ka
From Latin possibly from vincio-to bind. Referring to the
long tough runners of the plant.
Viola
vi-o-la
Ancient Latin name for a violet.
Yucca
yuk-ka
Modification of an aboriginal name applied to another plant.