Its often asked why plants have difficult to remember latin names when their common name is far easier to recall. Latin words for the genus or species of a plant are descriptive terms used to describe a specific type of plant and its characteristics. Names plants 4th edition botanical reference cambridge. Learning latin latin is the international language used by scientists all over the world to name plants and animals. Since latin became the standard language for plant naming in th. Callicarpa dichotoma campanula portenschlagiana campsis radicans canna phasion tropicanna carya ovata caryopteris x clandonensis celastrus spp. The plants database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the u. As the book explains using the book to look up the latin name will with most plants help you place the plant in the right spot in the garden and also help with its ongoing care. In fact, at the heart of this way of assigning scientific names to plants is a simple twoword formula, whereby the first word is the genus name and the second one the species name or specific epithet. List of latin and greek words commonly used in systematic names. I was surprised to learn that many botanical names are not of latin derivation, but are greek or simply named after a person.
Tpl has been static since 20, but was used as the starting point for the taxonomic backbone of the world flora online wfo, and updated information can be found at. Each genus name is followed by the suggested pronunciation, the family in which it is placed, and the derivation of the name latin, greek, or other. Rhs latin for gardeners is an informative, entertaining and beautifully illustrated unravelling of the mysteries of botanical latin. This systematic approach to naming plants and animals is still the universallyrecognized system used today. The latin is normally completely stripped out and you are left with a name that either describes the plants appearance in some way or something that it does. If you know latin, you know from the second half of its name that a rudbeckia hirta is going to have some hairy parts. Latin plant names why do we use latin names for plants. A generic name is a collective name for a group of plants. Latin was the language spoken in ancient rome and many parts of the roman empire. Aside from the long alphabetical listings this is a beautiful book filled with gorgeous victorian style illustrations. This name generator will generate 10 random latin names. Rhs guidance on plant names for artists this references the new exhibitor factsheet for all rhs. If you have ever been chastised for garbling a plants scientific name i certainly have. His latin names for plants often include an adjective that describes some.
Learning plants latin names helps gardeners make informed. Aided by this book the gardener can now answer the question whats in a name. Botanical latin for artists and useful reference books. In binomial latin, the genus is a noun and the species is a descriptive. Nightlocknightlock, the poison of the forest, doesnt actually exist, but its name is most likely derived from two living plants with similar toxicity. Caring, propagation, descriptions and other information for each species is provided. Latin is the international language used by scientists all over the world to name plants and animals. Aided by this book, every gardener, and their garden, will benefit from uncovering the wealth of information that lies within the remarkable world of latin binomials. A very ornamental plant1, though it can be invasive by means of its spreading root system200.
Common names, scientific names, latin, synonyms, etc. Often the name is stepped in custom and history which can make uncovering a plants common name fun. This was the name of a son of saint augustine and two. Botanical latin names of plants are used so that scientists can. At home i researched the name through all of my books to learn anything i could about the uses for that species.
Botanical latin is essentially a written language, but the scientific names of plants often occur. An encyclopedia of latin plant names with more than 5,000 entries ross bayton. This scent attracts bees, who obtain copious supplies of nectar from the plants50, 74, k, though unfortunately the plants do not always flower in. Types include foliage, flowering, succulents and cacti. Around 20% of names are unresolved indicating that the data sources included provided no evidence or view as to whether the name should be treated as accepted or not, or there were conflicting opinions that could. The binomial two name system of nomenclature was developed by swedish naturalist, carl linnaeus in the mid 1700s. The binomial two name system of nomenclature was developed by swedish naturalist, carl linnaeus in the mid. It indicates a grouping of organisms that all share a suite of similar characters. Plant naming or how plants get their names uk gardening. His book botanical latin is an internationally renowned handbook.
Lady grisel hamilton is delightful, recounts louise beebe wilder in her 1932 book, the fragrant garden. Over 3,000 latin names are listed alphabetically, showing how plant names can reveal where a plant originally comes from and thus its preferred growing conditions, along with such properties as its shape, form, colour, taste, and smell. Unlike its common name of which there may be several, the latin name for a plant is unique to each plant. Wonderfully useful and complete, this little book includes common name. This twotermed name is called a binomen, and it should always be written in italics. However, the common names of plants often vary from region to region, which is why most plant encyclopedias refer to plants using their scientific names, in other words using binomials or latin names. Welcome to the international plant names index ipni produced by a collaboration between the royal botanic gardens, kew, the harvard university herbaria, and the australian national herbarium, hosted by the royal botanic gardens, kew. Linnaeus was interested in plants and the naming of plants from the time he was a young boy. Its a a formal system of naming species of living things. While the former is reasonably melodious and innocuoussounding if you do not recognize the greek root, the latter would evoke rather disturbing images for someone who lives in the vicinity of the lyme disease capital of the world, lyme, connecticut united states. The first section gives a historical account of the significant changes in the ways by which plants have been known and named. The flowers diffuse a delicious scent into the garden. The binomial system of nomenclature is structured so that the scientific name of a plant consists of two names. There are rules to follow when writing a scientific name.
Non latin terms can be used, but they are latinized for consistency. Jun 15, 2010 it is always a good idea, if you are shopping for a particular plant, to know both the latin name and common name of it. While different regions of the country may use a plethora of common names for a plant, the plant has only one latin name, so if you use that when making a purchase, you are sure to get the plant you want. Other times the latin may remain but in a condensed or simpler form. To my delight and i am sure of anyone who picks up this book, i discovered it contains nug. The scientific names of plants hsu digital commons humboldt. This is a list of names in which the origin is classical latin. Scientific latin plant names help describe both the genus and species of plants in order to better categorize them. Mar 06, 2008 with explanations of the international codes for both botanical nomenclature 2000 and nomenclature for cultivated plants 1995, this edition contains a greatly expanded glossary, which includes the greek, latin, or other source of each plant name. You can gradually learn botanical names by reading them in plant books or seed catalogs, where the latin name and common name are side by side. They keyed out the plant and gave me the latin name for it. All of the columbines are aquilegias, but aquilegia caerulea is named for its. Try to interchange one for the other at times, especially at nurseries or in public gardens where the plants are labeled. At the time when biologist carl linnaeus 17071778 published the books.
Ancient romans used the nighshades berries and leaves as a poison, and hemlock was famously used in the death of. The specific name, allows us to distinguish between different organisms within a genus. The common name of the plant, coreopsis is tickseed. Binomial nomenclature twoterm naming system, also called binominal nomenclature two name naming system or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages. The plant list provides the accepted latin name for most species, with links to all synonyms by which that species has been known.
Even the term latin name isnt strictly correct as many plant names are derived from other languages, including greek and native ancient languages. However, you will not be able to find a scientific paper or a book. Asclepias syriaca common milkweed, silkweed, milkweed pfaf. This list of latin and greek words commonly used in systematic names is intended to help those unfamiliar with classical languages to understand and remember the scientific names of organisms. Latin is one of the oldest and noblest languages of all, dating as far back as 75 bc. Therefore common names are not as reliable as botanical names for identi. An illustrated, scientific and medicinal approach appears to be a medical compendium of plants intended as a guide and reference resource for professionals in the field. Az list of house plants common and scientific names. Generic and specific names are listed in alphabetical order, and for each name the author, a noted botanical expert, identifies the root words in greek and latin, gives the accepted definition derived from them, and indicates the preferred english pronunciation. Browse plants by family latin name wildflowers of the. Each of the two parts of the name used latin grammatical forms. For example, american plants may be descriptively named americanum. I have several books dedicated to latin plant names but none fall into the category of lorraine harrisons book which is not only informative but entertaining and.
Later he attended a grammar school until age 15 and then moved on to high school. If you have ever been chastised for garbling a plant s scientific name i certainly have. There are certainly many books on the subject, and i highly recommend william stearns botanical latin 4th ed. Each word of a cultivar epithet must start with an initial capital letter unless it is a word after a hyphen or a conjunction or preposition which is not the first word of the epithet. Individual plants are also profiled throughout, showing how their names can illuminate their hidden histories. As for the terminology, binomial nomenclature, binomial literally means using or having two names, and nomenclature is from the latin for the assigning of names. Pronouncing botanical latin the arboretum foundation. It is in flower from june to november, and the seeds ripen from august to november.
New book records virginias plants the washington post. Origin of the plants botanical name, the meaning of its name, where the plant originally came from, its family all information that helps the gardener understand the plant and remember its botanical name. Each indoor plant is given its main common name used and botanicalscientific name. How do you pronounce the name of that plant, anyway. The plant list tpl was a working list of all known plant species produced by the botanical community in response to target 1 of the 20022010 global strategy for plant conservation gspc. Latin originated in latium and ancient rome, but it was still heavily used for many centuries after the fall of the roman empire. Not that we do not occasionally encounter a role reversal. The full name of a cultivar is the accepted botanical name in latin form, followed by the cultivar name. This book explains using simple language the meaning of those long latin names on plant labels at nurseries. Jan 16, 20 the authors had many emblematic virginia plants to choose from.
Even today latin is still important for the creation of new words, usually those related to science. Its important to be exact when using plants in the kitchen and knowing the meanings of the descriptive latin binomial names is helpful for both herbalist and naturalist. Using latin plant names helps to avert confusion caused by the often contradictory and multiple common names an individual may have. The second section comprises a glossary of generic and specific plant names, and components of. Ipni provides nomenclatural information spelling, author, types and first place and date of publication for the scientific names of vascular plants from family. Linnaeus came up with a system for naming in 1753 where each species of plant has a name which has two parts. In this way i learned most of significant plants of southwest montana before i was out of high school, or so i thought. As you read plant catalogs and garden books, youll notice several. While many gardeners struggle with latin names of plants, knowing a plants botanical name allows you to.
Archaic or old latin, classical latin, vulgar latin, medieval latin, renaissance latin, early modern latin, and modern latin. There are precise convention to follow when writing a scientific name. Rhs latin for gardeners, over 3,000 plant names explained and. Oct 30, 2018 those looking for an excuse to break off from weeding or deadheading by a sudden desire to know why the latin name for the foxglove is digitalis, or what delphiniums have to do with dolphins, will find themselves still reading an hour later, unable to break away from the fascinating mixture of history, literary allusion, anecdote. The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived. Linnaeus and the world of taxonomy ask a biologist. This is a list of plants organized by their common names. During his early years, his father taught him at home, and linnaeus learned the names of many plants.
Thats because when linnaeus devised his system for classifying plants, he wanted to use a language that would be understandable to the largest number of people, and latin was a language that most educated people knew in the 18th century. Introduction centaurea montana amethyst dream cerastium tomentosum chamaecyparis obtusa gracilis chamaecyparis pisifera gold mops chaenomeles speciosa. As an ancient italic language, spoken by italic latins, and official language of ancient rome, it went through several stages. Ideally these should all have evolved from one common ancestor. It also helps with the pronunciation of the word as well. Then the main garden use of the plants in the genus, e.