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NEIGHBORHOOD
GARDEN
FOR
JANUARY 31, 2009
*************************************************************
UNDERSTANDING LATIN NAMES FOR PLANTS PART
#2
BY GEORGE EDGAR
Many of you, like me, have not taken
a class in Latin. With frequent use and repetition, however, the names do
eventually sink in. If you keep the tag that comes with your new plant, or
tree, or shrub, or the package of seeds, you can learn the scientific name
and be able to get exactly the same plant or seed next year, even if you
are in
Vermont
, or
Texas
, or
Oregon
, or
Nebraska
. Also, if you order by catalog or the internet, using the scientific name
you will be assured of getting the seeds or plant you really want.
Last week in part #1, I shared the history of the use of Latin
names for plants. Today I want to share the meaning of some common Latin
words that can help you know more about your plants, trees, and shrubs.
This list was prepared by
Dr.
Cindy
Haynes
, Department of Horticulture,
Iowa
State
University
and reprinted by permission
from “Horticulture and Home Pest News”,
Iowa
State
University
,
July 23, 1999
.
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Colors
|
|
alba
|
White
|
|
ater
|
Black
|
|
aurea
|
Chartreuse
|
|
azur
|
Blue
|
|
caeruleus
|
Blue
|
|
chrysus
|
Yellow
|
|
coccineus
|
Scarlet
|
|
ebenus
|
Ebony
|
|
eburneus
|
Ivory
|
|
erythro
|
Red
|
|
ferrugineus
|
Rusty
|
|
flava
|
Yellow
|
|
gala
|
Milky
|
|
haema
|
Blood
red
|
|
lacteus
|
Milky
|
|
leuc
|
White
|
|
lividus
|
Blue-gray
|
|
luridus
|
Pale
yellow
|
|
luteus
|
Yellow
|
|
nigra
|
Black/dark
|
|
puniceus
|
Red-purple
|
|
purpureus
|
Purple
|
|
rosea
|
Rose
|
|
rubra
|
Red
|
|
sulphureus
|
Yellow
|
|
virens
|
Green
|
|
Origins
or Habitat
|
|
|
alpinus
|
Alpine
|
|
amur
|
Amur
River -
Asia
|
|
canadensis
|
Canada
|
|
chinensis
|
China
|
|
japonica
|
Japan
|
|
maritima
|
Sea
side
|
|
montana
|
Mountains
|
|
occidentalis
|
West
-
North America
|
|
orientalis
|
East
-
Asia
|
|
sibirica
|
Siberia
|
|
sylvestris
|
Woodland
|
|
virginiana
|
Virginia
|
|
Form
or Habit
|
|
|
contorta
|
Twisted
|
|
globosa
|
Rounded
|
|
gracilis
|
Graceful
|
|
maculata
|
Spotted
|
|
magnus
|
Large
|
|
nana
|
Dwarf
|
|
pendula
|
Weeping
|
|
prostrata
|
Creeping
|
|
reptans
|
Creeping
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|
Common
Root Words
|
|
|
anthos
|
Flower
|
|
brevi
|
Short
|
|
fili
|
Threadlike
|
|
flora
|
Flower
|
|
folius
|
Foliage
|
|
grandi
|
Large
|
|
hetero
|
Diverse
|
|
laevis
|
Smooth
|
|
lepto
|
Slender
|
|
macro
|
Large
|
|
medio
|
Intermediate
|
|
mega
|
Big
|
|
micro
|
Small
|
|
mono
|
Single
|
|
multi
|
Many
|
|
phyllos
|
Leaf/Foliage
|
|
platy
|
Flat/Broad
|
|
poly
|
Many
|
|
For
more information see:
Dictionary of Plant
Names: The pronunciation, derivation,
and meaning of botanical names and their common-name
equivalents by Allen J. Coombes, Timber Press, Inc.
Gardener's Latin
by
Bill
Neal
, Algonquin Books.
How Plants Get
Their Names by
L.H.
Bailey
,
Dover
Publications.
Copyright
2009
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