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UNDERSTANDING LATIN NAMES FOR PLANTS PART
#1
BY GEORGE EDGAR
Many new
gardeners are frustrated by the use of Latin to identify the scientific
and botanical names of plants. The use of Latin was actually developed
to simplify the naming of plants.
Before the present classification system, flowers were known only
by their common names. This
was very confusing and can be even today
Carl von Linne developed the binomial system to classify plants
so that the same plant is known by the same name around the world. He
classified plants according to physical similarities and assigned each a
standard two part name, or binomial (bi=2 & nomial=name). He used Latin
to name the different plants because it is considered a “dead” language
and thus no new words or slang words are created.
“The first part of the binomial system is the
generic epithet or Genus
which is always capitalized. The second part is the specific
epithet which is always lowercase. Together, the genus and
specific epithet make up a species or name of a plant. This system is
similar to an individual's name. Our last name identifies us to a
particular group (family) like Edgar, or Jeurink or Osborne. The
Genera (plural for Genus) of Acer, Quercus, and
Salvia do the same for plants. Our first name identifies us
specifically as George, or Gladys, or Tom as do the specific epithets
rubrum, alba, or splendens for plants. Put these two words together and
you have the name of a specific individual (George Edgar, or Gladys
Jeurink, or Tom Osborne) or plant species (Acer rubrum,
Quercus alba, or Salvia splendens). The order of placement is
the only difference between the two naming systems.”
“Once you know a little Latin, plant names can tell you a great
deal about the plants themselves. The
genus name is usually
a noun. Acer is a maple, Mentha is a mint, etc. The
species name is
commonly an adjective describing that member of the genus. The species
name can tell you the color of the flower (rubra means red), or
where it originates (japonica means
“Plants then take the naming one step farther with the addition
of the cultivar, or cultivated variety. Garden Salvia or Salvia
splendens is available in many colors. 'Salsa Scarlet' is a red-flowered
cultivar while 'Salsa White' is a white-flowered cultivar. Cultivar
names are usually in single quotation marks and follow the specific
epithet (Salvia splendens 'Salsa White'). Cultivar names can be
spotted by this single quote marks that surround them. Cultivars are
often named for people or places, or colors, but a few plant breeders
follow a theme like songbirds or
You may ask, why should we bother learning the botanical names of
plants? The main reason is that common names are used for many plants,
and can be more confusing than using the scientific or botanical name.
For example, if your friend has a “Red Maple” tree and you go to a
garden center and just ask for a “Red Maple”, you may get a tree that is
quite different from the one you really want. Several cultivars of
Acer rubrum and Acer platanoides are commonly called “Red
Maple”. If you ask for Acer rubrum 'Red Sunset' you will be
selecting a truly superior Maple with brilliant red fall color. The only
way to get the tree you want is to refer to the scientific name.
I have “Bluebells” (Ruellia
squarrosa) in my pond. If I go to the garden center and just ask for
Blue Bells
they will probably sell me Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia
pulmonarioides) which will not work as a bog plant in my pond. My
wife likes the Virginia Bluebells in her garden and they are pretty. But
I had better be specific or I will get the wrong plant.
Sometimes, when you use the scientific or botanical name, others
may think you are trying to show off.
When I use them I am trying to be accurate.
In these articles we try to communicate so that you can go to the
garden center, the catalog, or the internet and get the exact plant you
want. We don’t do it to confuse you. In the same way, in these articles
I try to use the name of the active ingredient that is listed on the
label of a pesticide along with a brand name.
That way you can get what you want regardless of which brand you
choose or what store you go to.
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 a
garden center in
In Part #2 I will print the meaning of some common Latin words
that can help you know more about your plants, trees, and shrubs. This
list of Latin names, are actual quotes from the For
more information see:
Dictionary of Plant Names:
The pronunciation, derivation, and meaning of botanical names and their
common-name equivalents by
Gardener's Latin
by
How Plants Get Their Names
by
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