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Appendix: Latin Words Frequently Used in Species Names
Here are some Latin words frequently used in species' names. Once you
understand what the terms mean, it will be easier to remember the name.
For example, if you know rugosa means "wrinkled," you will have
no trouble distinguishing rugosa roses, with their wrinkled leaves, from
other roses. Remember that Latin words often end in -is, -us, -a, or -um,
so pay most attention to the root of the word; for example, rugos-.
A fun activity to do with students is to provide them with a list of
Latin words that are commonly used in species names and have them make
guesses about their meanings. This will not only provide the opportunity
for students to learn about the origin and roots of words, but also emphasize
just how many different kinds of plants there are!
These terms describe plant parts or characteristics:
aestiv- of summer (in other words, flowering in summer)
alatus having winged parts
alba or albus white
alternifolius with leaves arranged alternately
amabilis lovely (e.g., beautybush = Kolkwitzia amabilis)
angustifolius narrow-leaved
annuus annual
argent- silvery
aureo- golden or yellow
biennis biennial
caeruleus blue
candidus glossy, bright white
-arpus refers to the fruit of a plant
chrys- golden
coccineus scarlet red
compactus growing smaller than average for the genus
cordatus heart-shaped
dioicus having male and female flowers on separate plants
divaricatus straggly, sprawling
erectus upright
erythro- red
filamentosus having filaments or threads
floribundus, floribus having showy and/or abundant
flowers
-flora refers to the flowers of a plant
-folius refers to the leaves of a plant
fragrans fragrant or sweet-smelling
frutescens, fruticans, or fruticosus shrubby
or bushy
glaber, glabra smooth or hairless
glaucus covered with a waxy coating or "bloom"
gracilis graceful or slender
grandi- large
hirtus, hirta, hirsutus covered with stiff,
bristly hairs
humilis low-growing or dwarf
lact- milky-can describe color or sap
latifolius with broad leaves
leuc- white
lucens, lucidus bright, shining
lute- yellow
macro- very large
maculatus spotted
micro- very small
mollis soft or covered with soft hairs
montanus native to mountain habitats
nigr- black or very dark
niv- refers to snow or snow-white
odor- fragrant
officinalis refers to plants with medicinal properties
opacus dark or dull
pallidus pale
palmatus having palmate (hand-like) leaves
palustris native to swamps and marshes
patens, patulus spreading
pend- drooping
perennis perennial
-phyllus refers to the leaves of a plant
platy- broad
plicatus pleated
plum- feathery or fringed
pulch- pretty
pumilus small or dwarf
punctatus spotted
pungens sharp-pointed
purpureus purple
repens, reptans creeping
rhiz- refers to the roots of a plant
robustus stout or strong
roseus pink
rotund- rounded
rubr- red
rugosus wrinkled
sanguin- blood-colored
sativus cultivated (e.g., food crops or herbs)
sempervirens evergreen
speciosus, spectabilis showy
stolonifera spreading by stolons
strictus narrow, upright
sylv- native to woodlands
tenui- slender or thin
tomentosus densely covered with wooly hairs
tuberosus producing tubers
veris, vernalis flowering in early spring
verticillatus with leaves or flowers arranged in whorls
villosus covered with soft hairs
-virens, virid- green
viscosus sticky
vulgaris common
xanth- yellow
These terms usually indicate the origin of plant:
boralis northern
canadensis Canada
chinensis China
indicus India
japonicus Japan
koreanus Korea
nipponicus Japan
occidentalis native to Western hemisphere
orientalis native to the Far East
persicus Persia (Iran)
sinensis China
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