Plant Names Simplified 3rd Edition

A.P. Stockdale, A.T. Johnson, H.A. Smith

• Publisher: 5m Books
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781912178810
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Horticulture
• Index: Biological Sciences

First published in 1931 by renowned horticulturalist Arthur Johnson, Plant Names Simplified has become an established classic. Presented in a glossary format, this pocket-sized reference book gives the name, pronunciation and classification of common plants and the meaning behind the Latin origins of the name. This enables the reader to learn how the terms should be spelled and pronounced correctly and provides an explanation of why plants like Helianthus hirsutus is so called - because it is hairy! Plant Names Simplified 3rd Edition is a reliable resource for gardeners of all abilities, park managers, botanists, ecologists, garden designers and horticultural practitioners and students.

Plant Names Simplified

Abelia, a-BEEL-e-a; after Dr. Clarke Abel (1780–1826), physician, and author on China, who discovered A. chinensis, 1816–1817. Flowering shrubs. Caprifoliaceae.

• chinensis, tshi-NEN-sis, of China.
• floribunda, see Vaselea floribunda.
• grandiflora, gran-dif-LO-ra, large flowered.
• triflora, tri-FLOR-a, three flowered, i.e. flowers in three.
• uniflora, uni-FLOR-a, one flowered, that is blooms solitary.

Abelmoschus, a-BEL-mos-kus; from Arabic, Abu-l-misk, father of musk, in allusion to the smell of the seeds of A. moschatus. Annual and perennial herbs. Malvaceae.

• manihot, MAN-e-hot, palmate resembling the Manihot.

Abies, a-BE-es (commonly A-beez); an ancient Latin name, possibly from L. abeo, depart, that is, from the ground, referring to great height attained by some species. Conifers. Pinaceae.

• alba, AL-ba, from the L. alba, white.
• amabilis, am-A-bil-is, lovely.
• balsamea, bal-SA-me-a, aromatic (Balm of Gilead fir).
• brachyphylla, see A. homolepis.
• bracteata, brak-te-A-ta, having bracts, or modified leaves, at bases of leaf stalks.
• cephalonica, sef-a-LON-ik-a, of Cephalonia.
• concolor, kon-KOL-or, one-coloured, that is, a uniform tint.
• grandis, GRAN-dis, of great size.
• homolepis, hom-o-LEP-is, having structurally similar scales.
• magnifica, mag-NIF-ik-a, magnificent, beautiful.
• nobilis, see A. alba.
• pectinata, see Picea abies.

Abobra, a-BOB-ra; native Brazilian name. Scarlet fruited climber of the cucumber family. Cucurbitaceae.

• tenuifolia, ten-u-e-FO-le-a, slender leaved.
• viridiflora, see A. tenuifolia.

Abronia, A-BRO-ne-a; from Gr. abros, delicate, alluding to the leafy involucre enclosing unopened blossoms. Trailing plants. Nyctaginaceae.

• latifolia, lat-if-O-le-a, broad-leaved.
• umbellata, um-bel-LA-ta, having blossoms in umbels.

Abrus, A-brus; from Gr. abros, delicate with reference to the soft leaves. Warm house climber. Leguminosae.

• precatorius, prek-a-TOR-e-us, entreating. The reference being to the black and red seeds of which rosaries are made.

Abutilon, a-BU-til-on; the Arabic name for a mallow-like plant. Greenhouse shrubs. Malvaceae.

• darwinii, DAR-win-e-i, after Charles Darwin (1809–1882), english naturalist and botanist.
• insigne, in-SIG-ne, handsome.
• megapotamicum, meg-ap-o-TAM-ik-um, meaning big river – the Rio Grande.
• pictum, pic-TUM, painted; brightly coloured.
• sellowianum, see Bakeridesia sellowiana.
• thompsonii, see A. pictum.
• vexillarium, see A. megapotamicum.
• vitifolium, see Corynabutilon vitifolium.

Acacia, a-KA-she-a; Gr. akis, needle, referring to the thorn. Tender trees and shrubs. Leguminosae.

• armata, see A. paradoxa.
• baileyana, ba-le-A-na, after Frederich Manson Bailey (1827–1915), colonial botanist of Queensland. The Golden Mimosa.
• dealbata, de-al-BA-ta, whitened – the foliage. The mimosa of florists’ shops.
• drummondii, drum-MON-de-i, in honour of James Drummond (1784–1863), curator of Cork botanic gardens 1809–1829, who collected in Western Australia.
• paradoxa, pa-ra-DOKS-a, paradoxical, contrary to exception.
• riceana, rice-A-na, after Thomas Spring Rice, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
• verticillata, ver-tis-il-LA-ta, whorl-leaved.

Acaena, ak-E-na (or ass-E-na); from Gr. akanthos, a thorn, referring to the spiny calyx. Creeping rock plants. Rosaceae.

• buchananii, bu-kan-A-nei, after John Buchanan (1819–1898), Scottish botanist who collected in New Zealand.
• microphylla, mi-krof-IL-la, small leaved.
• novae-zelandiae, NOV-e-zeel-AND-e-e, of New Zealand.

Acalypha, a-KAL-y-fa; Gr. akalepe, Hippocrates name for nettle. Warm-house shrubby plants with variegated foliage. Euphorbiaceae.

• australis, aws-TRA-lis, Southern.
• godseffiana, see A. wilkesiana.
• hispida, HIS-pid-a, bristly.
• macrostachya, mak-ro-STAK-e-a, large flower spike.
• musaica, see A. wilkesiana.
• sanderi, see A. hispida.
• wilkesiana, wilk-see-A-na, after Charles Wilkes (1798–1877), American naval officer, leader of the United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842 in the Pacific Ocean.

Acanthocereus, a-KAN-tho-SE-re-us; from Gr. acanthos, a thorn and cereus, a well known genus of cacti. Greenhouse cactus. Cactaceae.

• pentagonus, see A. tetragonus.
• tetragonus, te-tra-GO-nus, from Gr. tessara four and gonus angle.

Acantholimon, ak-an-THOL-e-mon; derivation obscure, but Gr. akanthos, a prickle, alludes to spiny foliage; limon, Limonium, a related genus. Rock plants. Plumbaginaceae.

• glumaceum, glu-MA-se-um, with chaffy bracts.
• venustum, ven-US-tum, pleasing, lovely.

Acanthus, Ak-AN-thus; Gr. akanthos, a prickle, some species being spiny. A conventional form of the leaf is used in architecture. Herbaceous plants. Acanthaceae.

• mollis, MOL-lis, soft or tender, usually means velvety.
• spinosus, spi-NO-sus, spines.

Acer, A-ser; Classical Latin name, possibly from L. acer, hard or sharp, the wood once been used for writing tablets. Also pronounced AK-er. Trees. Sapindaceae.

• campestre, kam-PES-tre, growing in fi...