If you garden and want to communicate with other gardeners, common names just don’t cut the mustard. The same plant can have so many of them and they change all over the world, in fact even within the same language. I mean, if Americans and Brits can’t even agree on what plant the word daisy refers to (it’s Leucanthemum vulgaris or oxeye daisy for Americans and Bellis perennis or English daisy in Great Britain), how useful can a common name be?
Fortunately botanical names, also called Latin names, are universal. Although they may seem complicated at first, they aren’t as daunting as you may think, especially when you have picked up a bit of botanical Latin.
Each botanical name is composed of two parts, the genus name, which is shared among related plants and is a bit like a surname, and the epithet, which makes it clear exactly which plant is being mentioned. For example, there are many related plants in the genus Helianthus, but the epithet annuum indicates a specific species, Helinathus annuum, the common annual sunflower.
List of Botanical Epithets
Here are some of the more common botanical epithets. Note that the ending changes depending on the gender of the genus name, which is why the same stem can end in –is, -e, –us, -a, -um, etc.
How many of these do you already know or have you already figured out? You’ll be surprised!
- acaulis, e = without a stem
- acer, acris = acrid
- acutifolius, a, um = with sharp leaves
- affinis, e = related
- alatus, a, um = winged
- albus, a, um = white
- alpestris, e = alpine
- alpinus, a, um = alpine
- amabilis, e = beautiful
- amoenus, a, um = attractive
- angustifolius, a, um = with narrow leaves
- annuus, a, um = annual
- arborescens = tree-like
- arboreus, a, um = tree-like
- argenteus, a, um = silvery
- arvensis, e = found on cultivated land
- atropurpureus, a, um = dark purple
- atrosanguineus, a, um = dark red
- aurantiacus, a, um = orange-red
- aureus, a, um = golden
- autumnalis, e = flowering in autumn
- azureus, a, um = sky-blue
- barbatus, a, um = bearded
- bicolor = of two colours
- biennis = biennial
- bipinnatus, a, um = twice-pinnate
- borealis, e = from the North
- bracteatus, a, um = bearing bracts
- bulbosus, a, um = bulbous
- caeruleus, a, um = sky-blue
- caespitosus, a, um = tufted
- campanulatus, a, um = bell-shaped
- candidus, a, um = white
- capillaris, e = hair-like
- capitatus, a, um = having a head
- carneus, a, um = flesh-colorured
- caudatus, a, um = with a tail
- caulescens = with a stem
- chrysanthus, a, um = with golden flowers
- ciliatus, a, um = fringed with hairs
- cinereus, a, um = ash-coloured
- citrinus, a, um = citron-yellow
- coccineus, a, um = scarlet
- coeruleus, a, um = sky-blue
- columnaris, e = columnar
- communis, e = common
- compactus, a, um = compact
- cordatus, a, um = heart-shaped
- cordifolius, a, um = with heart-shaped leaves
- cornutus, a, um = horned
- coronarius, a, um = used for making garlands
- corymbosus, a, um = corymbose
- crispus, a, um = with curled or wavy margins
- cristatus, a, um = crested
- cuspidatus, a, um = ending in a sharp, stiff point
- cyaneus, a, um = dark blue
- decumbens = with prostrate stems, the tips ascending
- densiflorus, a, um = with dense flowers
- dentatus, a, um = toothed
- diffusus, a, um = loosely spreading
- discolor = of different colours
- divaricatus, a, um = widely spreading
- diversifolium, a, um = with variable leaves
- elatior, ius = taller
- elatus, a, um = tall
- elegans = elegant
- erectus, a, um = erect
- esculentus, a, um = edible
- excelsior, ius = noble
- excelsus, a, um = tall
- falcatus, a, um = shaped like a sickle
- farinosus, a, um = mealy
- fastuosus, a, um = proud
- ferox = very thorny
- ferrugineus, a, um = rust-coloured
- filifolius, a, um = with thread-like leaves
- fistulosus, a, um = tubular
- flaccidus, a, um = weak
- flavus, a, um = yellow
- flexuosus, a, um = tortuous, winding
- flore-pleno = with double flowers
- floribundus, a, um = free-flowering
- foetidissimus, a, um = very foetid
- formosus, a, um = beautiful
- fragilis, e = brittle
- fragrans = sweet-scented
- frutescens = shrubby
- fulvus, a, um = reddish-yellow
- germanicus, a, um = from Germany
- giganteus, a, um = huge
- glaber, bra, brum = smooth
- glandulosus, a, um = glandular
- glaucus, a, um = covered with a greyish bloom; blue-grey
- globosus, a, um = spherical
- glomeratus, a, um = clustered in a round mass
- glutinosus, a, um = sticky
- gracilis, e = graceful
- gramineus, a, um = grass-like
- grandiflorus, a, um = with large flowers
- grandis, e = large
- guttatus, a, um = spotted
- hastatus, a, um = spear-shaped
- hederaceus, a, um = ivy-like
- helianthus, a, um = sun-flower
- herbaceus, a, um = herbaceous, not woody
- heterophyllus, a, um = with leaves of different kinds
- hirsutus, a, um = hairy
- hispidus, a, um = bristly
- hortensis, e = of the garden
- humilis, e = low-growing
- hybridus, a, um = hybrid
- imperialis, e = imperial
- inermis, e = unarmed, without spines
- inodorus, a, um = scentless
- integrifolius, a, um = with entire leaves
- laciniatus, a, um = divided into narrow lobes as though torn
- lactiflorus, a, um = with milk-coloured flowers
- laevigatus, a um = smooth
- laevis, e = smooth
- lanatus, a, um = woolly
- lanceolatus, a, um = lance-shaped
- lanuginosus, a, um = woolly
- latifolius, a, um = with broad leaves
- linearis, e = linear
- littoralis, e = from the sea-shore
- lobatus, a, um = lobed
- longiflorus, a, um = with long flowers
- longifolius, a, um = with long leaves
- luteus, a, um = yellow
- lyratus, a, um = lyrate
- macranthus, a, um = with large flowers
- macrocarpus, a, um = with large fruit
- macrophyllus, a, um = with large leaves
- maculatus, a, um = spotted
- magnificus, a, um = magnificent
- major, us = great
- marginatus, a, um = margined
- maritimus, a, um = found growing on the coast
- marmoratus, a, um = mottled
- matronalis, e = belonging to a married woman
- maximus, a, um = largest
- medius, a, um = intermediate
- melliferus, a, um = bearing honey
- meridionalis, e = found towards the South
- micranthus, a, um = with small flowers
- microcarpus, a, um = with small fruit
- minimus, a, um = smallest
- minor, us = small
- mirabilis, e = wonderful
- mollis, e = soft
- monstrosus, a, um = monstrous
- montanus, a, um = found in mountainous places
- moschatus, a um = musk-scented
- multiflorus, a, um = with many flowers
- multipunctatus, a, um = marked with numerous dots
- muralis, e = found growing on walls
- mutabilis, e = variable
- nanus, a, um = dwarf
- nervosus, a, um = nerved
- niger, ra rum = black
- nitidus, a, um = shining
- nivalis, e = found growing in or near snow
- niveus, a, um = snow-white
- nutans = nodding
- oblongatus, a, um = oblong
- occidentalis, e = western
- odoratus, a, um = fragrant
- officinalis, e = used medicinally
- officinarum = of the apothecaries
- oleraceus, a, um = eaten as a vegetable
- oppositifolius, a, um = with opposite leaves
- orbicularis, e = round
- orientalis, e = eastern
- ornatus, a, um = adorned
- ovatus, a, um = ovate
- pallidus, a, um = pale
- palmatus, a, um = lobed like a hand
- palustris, e = found growing in swampy places
- paniculatus, a, um = paniculate
- parviflorus, a, um = with small flowers
- pauciflorus, a, um = few-flowered
- peltatus, a, um = target-shaped
- pendulus, a, um = pendulous
- peregrinus, a, um = foreign
- perennis, e = perennial
- perfoliatus, a, um = with the leaf surrounding the stem
- petiolaris, e = with stalked leaves
- pictus, a, um = painted
- pilosus, a, um = soft-hairy
- pinnatus, a, um = with leaflets arranged on each side of a common petiole
- plicatus, a, um = folded
- plumosus, a, um = feathery
- pluvialis, e = produced by rain
- polyanthus, a, um = with many flowers
- praecox, ocis = early flowering
- procumbens = lying along the ground
- prostratus, a, um = prostrate
- pubescens = covered with downy hairs
- pudicus, a, um = retiring
- pulcherrimus, a, um = very beautiful
- pulcher, chra, chrum = beautiful
- pulverulentus, a, um = dusty
- pumilus, a, um = dwarf
- punctatus, a, um = marked with dots
- pungens = sharp-pointed, pricking
- purpuratus, a, um = purple
- purpureus, a, um = purple
- pusillus, a, um = insignificant
- pygmaeus, a, um = dwarf
- pyramidalis, e = pyramidal
- quinquefolius, a, um = with five leaves
- racemosus, a, um = with flowers borne in racemes
- ramosissimus, a, um = much branched
- ramosus, a, um = branched
- reticulatus,m a, um = covered with a network of veins
- rivularis, e = found growing beside brooks
- robustus, a, um = robust
- roseus, a, um = rose-coloured
- rotundifolius, a, um = with round leaves
- ruber, ra, rum = red
- rubiginosus, a, um = rusty-red
- rugosus, a, um = wrinkled
- rupicola = found growing on rocks or cliffs
- sagitatus, a, um = arrow-shaped
- sanguineus, a, um = blood-red
- sativus, a, um = cultivated
- saxatilis, e = found growing among rocks
- scandens = climbing
- scoparius, a, um = like a twig broom
- semperflorens = ever-flowering
- sempervirens = evergreen
- septentrionalis, e = from the North
- serotinus, a, um = produced late in the season
- serratus, a, um = saw-toothed
- setosus, a, um = bristly
- simplex = unbranched
- simplicifolius, a, um = with simple leaves
- somniferus, a, um = sleep-bringing
- speciosus, a, um = showy
- spectabilis, e = spectacular
- spicatus, a, um = bearing spikes
- spinosus, a, um = spiny
- splendens = splendid
- stellaris, e = star-like
- stellatus, a, um = with spreading, star-like rays
- sterilis, e = sterile
- striatus, a, um = striped or fluted
- strictus, a, um = erect
- suaveolens = sweet-scented
- succulentus, a, um = fleshy
- suffruticosus, a, um = somewhat shrubby
- sulphureus, a, um = sulphur-yellow
- superbus, a, um = superb
- sylvaticus, a, um = found growing in woods
- sylvestris, e = found wild
- tenuiflorus, a, um = with slender flowers
- tenuifolius, a, um = with slender leaves
- tigrinus, a, um = striped like a tiger
- tinctorius, a, um = used in dyeing
- tomentosus, a, um = covered with fine, matted hairs
- tricolor = in three colours
- tripartitus, a, um = three-parted
- tristis, e = dull
- truncatus, a, um = cut off square at the end
- tuberosus, a, um = tuberous
- umbellatus, a, um = with umbels
- umbrosus, a, um = found growing in shady places
- undulatus, a, um = wavy
- urens = stinging
- variabilis, e = variable
- variegatus, a, um = variegated
- venustus, a, um = charming
- vernalis, e = flowering in spring
- vernus, a, um = flowering in spring
- versicolor = changing color
- verticillatus, a, um = whorled
- villosus, a, um = covered with soft hairs
- violaceus, a, um = violet
- virens = green
- viscosus, a, um = sticky
- vulgaris, e = common
- zebrinus, a, um = zebra-striped
Looking for A Definition?
Not all botanical names appear on the list above, but here is a great place to find the meaning of even the most obscure names: Botanary. I visit the site all the time!
0 comments on “Understanding Botanical Names”