The Meaning of Botanical Names

THE MEANING OF BOTANICAL NAMES Botanical names provide clues about the plant itself. Below is a list of words that are frequently used in the naming of plants. For a more comprehensive list or dictionary, see Dictionary of Plant Names, published by Timber Press. Colors of Flowers or Foliage Alba, albus – white Ater – black Aureus – golden Azurea, azureus – azure, sky blue Caerula – deep blue Canus – ashy gray, hoary Citrinus – yellow Coccineus – scarlet Croceus – yellow Discolor – two or separate colors Glaucus – covered with gray bloom Incanus – gray, hoary Miniata – of a reddish color Purpurea, purpureus – purple Rubens, rubber – red, ruddy Rufus – ruddy Viridis - green Arg, argenteus – silvery Aurantiaca – orange Aure, aurea, aureum – gold Caesius – blue gray Candidus – pure white, shiny Carneus – flesh colored Coeruleus – dark blue Concolor – one color Cruentus – bloody Flava, flavum – yellow Griseum – gray Lutea, luteus – reddish yellow Nigra – black Rosea – rose-colored Rubra, rubrum – red Sanguinea – blood-red Plant or Flower Scents Arom – odor Dulce – sweet Fragrans – fragrant Fragrantissima – very fragrant Mosch – musk odor Odorata – scented Leaf Form Acerifolius – maple like leaves Angustifolius – narrow leaves Buxifolius – leaves like boxwood Lanceolata – lance-shaped Longifolia – long-leaved Microphylla – small-leaved Palmate, palmatum – hand-shaped leaves Rotundifolia – round-leaved Abr – delicate leaved Aquifolius – spiny leaves Ilicifolius – holly like leaves Lauriflolius – laurel-like leaves Macrophylla – large-leaved Parvifolia – small leaves Populifolius – poplar like leaves Salicifolius – willow like leaves Plant Peculiarities Acaulis – stemless Blanda – pleasant Contorta – contorted growth habit Crispa – finely waved, curled Gracilis – graceful Hybridus – hybrid Lacteal – milky Maculata – spotted Maxima – largest Minor, minus – smaller Minut, minutus – very small Mon – one (one leaf, one flower) Nitida, nitidum – shining Perenne, perennis – perennial Pulchella – pretty Amabile, amabilis – beautiful Communis – common Cordata – heart-shaped Florida, floridus – flowering Grandiflora – large-flowered Incana – gray-haired Laevis – smooth Majus – larger Millefolium – thousand-leaved Minim – very small Mollis – soft and /or hairy Multiflora – many-flowered Officinalis – used as Pictum – painted Punctata – spotted Format updated 2024 Semperflorens – ever blooming Spectablilis – spectacular Spinosus – spiny Tomentosa, tomentosum – hairy Variegate – variegated Vulgaris – common Sempervirens – evergreen Spinosissimus – spiniest Superbum – superb Umbellata – having flowers in umbels Villosa, villosum – softly hairy Plant Shape Arborescents – tree like Elegans – elegant, slender, willowy Fruticosa – shrub like Humilis – low-growing Pendula – drooping, pendulous Pumilia – low-growing, dwarf Scandens – climbing Elata – tall Recta, erecta – upright, erect Grand, grandi – big Nana – dwarf, miniature Prostrate, prostratum, procumbens – prostrate Repens, reptans – creeping Origin of Species Aethiopium – Africa Alpin – alpine regions Andi – Andes Antill – West Indies Australis – southern Barbadensis – native to Barbados Borealis – northern Campestris – of the field or plains Canadensis – from Canada or America Canariensis – from the Canary Islands Capensis – from the Cape of Good Hope Chilensis – from Chile Chinensis – from China Europa – from Europe Hortensis – of the garden Insularis – of the island Japonica, japonicum – from Japan Littoralis – of the seashore Maritime – from near the sea Montana, montanus – from the mountains Palustris – from marshes or wetlands Riparius – of riverbanks Rivalis, rivularis – of brooks Saxatilis – inhabiting rocks Virginiana – from Virginia Format updated 2024