The Meanings of Latin Names
April 5th, 2001
Agriculture Nursery Stock and Landscaping Plant Selection
See also: Agriculture Nursery Stock and Landscaping Plant Diseases
http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/meanings.htm
Kevin's note: I got this recently from Jimmy Slater over in the Carroll County Office Building. If you go to the above Internet address and click on any of the Plants' names, a wonderful description and picture will come up. Or even better yet - Bring this document up and then go on line and click on any of the plants' names and the description will come up…Whatever. What fun! Please enjoy. Green side up! 04/05/2001 Kevin Dayhoff
Please note - in many cases these are best guesses. This is not meant to be definitive, but should be used as a learning aid. This list has been compiled from a number of sources, which are listed at the bottom. Clicking on the linked name will open the fact sheet for that species in a new window.
Abelia x grandiflora - glossy abelia After Dr. Clark Abel who introduced Abelia chinensis / large-flowered
Abies amabilis - Pacific silver fir Classical name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / Latin "amare" (beautiful or lovely, to love)
Abies balsamea - balsam fir Classical name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / balsam-producing
Abies concolor - white fir Classical name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / one color (both needle surfaces)
Abies fraseri - Fraser fir Classical name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / after John Fraser
Abies grandis - grand fir Classical name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / large
Abies lasiocarpa - subalpine fir Classical name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / rough fruit (cones)
Abies magnifica - California red fir Classical name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / magnificent
Abies procera - noble fir Classical name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / tall
Acer barbatum - Florida maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / barbed or bearded
Acer buergeranum - trident maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / unknown
Acer campestre - hedge maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / of fields
Acer circinatum - vine maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / rounded leaves
Acer ginnala - Amur maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / native name
Acer glabrum - Rocky Mountain maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / lacking hair
Acer griseum - paperbark maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / gray lower leaf surface
Acer macrophyllum - bigleaf maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / large leaves
Acer negundo - boxelder Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / Latinized form of Malayan name - leaves resemble genus Negundo (Sapindaceae)
Acer nigrum - black maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / black
Acer palmatum - Japanese maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / hand-like
Acer pensylvanicum - striped maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / of Pennsylvania
Acer platanoides - Norway maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / like Platanus
Acer pseudoplatanus - sycamore maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / false Platanus
Acer rubrum - red maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / red
Acer saccharinum - silver maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / sugary sap - Greek "sakcharon" (sweet or sugar)
Acer saccharum - sugar maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / name for sugar cane - Greek "sakcharon" (sweet or sugar)
Acer spicatum - mountain maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / Latin "spica" (a spike) - a spike of flowers
Aesculus californica - California buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / of California
Aesculus glabra - Ohio buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / glabrous (lacking hair)
Aesculus hippocastanum - horsechestnut Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / Latin name from Greek "hippos" (horse) and "kastanon" chestnut
Aesculus octandra - yellow buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / eight-stamened
Aesculus parviflora - bottlebrush buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / small flowered
Aesculus pavia - red buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / After Peter Paaw (Petrus Pavius), Dutch botanist
Aesculus sylvatica - painted buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / of the woods - Latin "silva" (forest)
Ailanthus altissima - tree of Heaven Indonesian-Mollucan name "ailanto" for Ailanthus moluccana - reaching to Heaven / tallest Latin "altus" (high)
Albizia julibrissin - mimosa After del Albizzi / the native name
Alnus glutinosa - European black alder Latin name for alder / sticky (buds)
Alnus rhombifolia - white alder Latin name for alder / leaves shaped like a rhombus
Alnus rubra - red alder Latin name for alder / red
Alnus rugosa - speckled alder Latin name for alder / rough
Alnus serrulata - hazel alder Latin name for alder / finely serrate
Alnus sinuata - Sitka alder Latin name for alder / wavy
Amelanchier alnifolia - Pacific serviceberry French name for Amelanchier ovalis / alder-like leaves
Amelanchier arborea - downy serviceberry French name for Amelanchier ovalis / tree-like
Annona glabra - pond apple native Indian name / glabrous (lacking hair)
Aralia spinosa - Devil's walking stick French Canadian "aralei" / bearing spines
Arbutus menziesii - Pacific madrone The Latin name / after naturalist Archibald Menzies
Arctostaphylos columbiana - hairy manzanita Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / of the Columbia region
Arctostaphylos patula - green manzanita Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / Latin wide-spreading (reference to form or leaves)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - kinnikinick Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / bear's grape
Arctostaphylos viscida - whiteleaf manzanita Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / Latin "viscum" (thick, syrupy or sticky - flowers have sticky stems)
Aristolochia durior - Dutchman's pipe Greek "aristos" (best) and "lochia" (childbirth) - medicinal / tough or lasting
Aronia arbutifolia - chokeberry Greek "aria" (Sorbus aria) / arbutus-leaved
Artemisia tridentata - big sagebrush After the Greek goddess Artemis / leaves with three teeth
Asimina parviflora - dwarf pawpaw native Indian name (assimin) / small flower
Asimina triloba - pawpaw native Indian name (assimin) / 3-lobed calyx
Avicennia germinans - black mangrove perhaps from Latin "avi" (bird) and Greek "cen" (common) / Latin "germinare" (to sprout forth)
Berberis aquifolium - tall Oregon-grape Arabic name / holly-like leaf
Berberis nervosa - dwarf Oregon-grape Arabic name / veined or nerved (leaves)
Berberis thunbergii - Japanese barberry Arabic name / after Thunberg
Berchemia scandens - supplejack perhaps from Greek "Bero" (an ocean nymph) and "chem" (juice or pour) / climbing
Betula alleghaniensis - yellow birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / of the Alleghany region
Betula lenta - sweet birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / tough but pliable (twigs or ability to grow in rocky areas)
Betula nigra - river birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / black (bark)
Betula papyrifera - paper birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / paper bearing - Egyptian for reed - Greek "papyros" (paper) and Latin "ferre" (to bear)
Betula pendula - European white birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / pendulous
Betula populifolia - gray birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / poplar-leaved
Betula uber - roundleaf birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / fertile or rich, probably in reference to site requirements
Broussonetia papyrifera - paper mulberry After Broussonet, French naturalist / paper-bearing (bark) - Egyptian for reed - Greek "papyros" (paper) and Latin "ferre" (to bear)
Buddleia davidii - butterfly bush After Adam Buddle / After Armand David
Bursera simarouba - gumbo-limbo Latin "burs" (a purse) / perhaps an indication of the resemblance to simaroubaceae
Buxus sempervirens - boxwood Latin name for Buxus sempervirens / evergreen - Latin "semper" (always) and "vivere" (live)
Callicarpa americana - American beautyberry Greek "kallos" (beautiful) "carpa" (fruit) / of America
Callistemon spp. - bottlebrush tree Greek "kallos" (beautiful) and "stemon" (stamen)
Calocedrus decurrens - incense-cedar Greek "kallos" (beautiful) and Cedrus / with the leaf stem running gradually into the stem
Calycanthus floridus - common sweetshrub Greek "kalyx" (calyx) and "anthos" (a flower) referring to similar sepals and petals / flowering
Campsis radicans - trumpet creeper Greek "kampe" (something bent) refers to curved stamens / with rooting stems
Carpinus caroliniana - hornbeam Latin name of European hornbeam/ of Carolina
Carya aquatica - water hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / of water
Carya cordiformis - bitternut hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / heart-shaped (fruit) Latin "cordis" (heart) and "forma" (shaped)
Carya glabra - pignut hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / glabrous (lacking hair)
Carya illinoensis - pecan Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / of Illinois
Carya laciniosa - shellbark hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / Latin "lacinia" (shred - the bark)
Carya ovata - shagbark hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / ovate or egg-shaped (leaflets)
Carya pallida - sand hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / pallid (pale)
Carya tomentosa - mockernut hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / hairy
Castanea dentata - American chestnut After Castanea in northern Greece, Greek "kastanea" (chestnut) / refers to big teeth on leaves
Castanea mollissima - Chinese chestnut After Castanea in northern Greece, Greek "kastanea" (chestnut) / very soft-hairy
Castanea pumila - Alleghany chinkapin After Castanea in northern Greece, Greek "kastanea" (chestnut) / dwarf or small
Castanopsis chrysophylla - golden chinkapin Like Castanea, Greek "kastanea" (chestnut) / Greek "chrysos" (golden) and "phyllon" leaf
Casuarina equisetifolia - Australian pine Malayan "casuar" (a cassowary) / Latin "equi" horse and "folium" (leaf)
Catalpa speciosa - Northern catalpa Cherokee name / Latin "species" (form) and "osus" (full of) - showy
Ceanothus americanus - New Jersey tea Greek name of a spiny shrub / american
Ceanothus cuneatus - narrowleaf buckbrush Greek name of a spiny shrub / wedge-shaped (leaf tips)
Ceanothus integerrimus - deerbrush Greek name of a spiny shrub / entire or uninjured - leaves are entire
Ceanothus prostratus - mahala mat Greek name of a spiny shrub / prostrate
Ceanothus sanguineus - redstem ceanothus Greek name of a spiny shrub / blood red
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus - blueblossom Greek name of a spiny shrub / flowers in a thyrse
Ceanothus velutinus - snowbrush Greek name of a spiny shrub / velvety
Cedrus atlantica - Atlas cedar Latin name / of the Atlas Mountains
Cedrus deodara - deodar cedar Latin name / Northern Indian name
Celastrus spp. - bittersweet Greek "kelastros" the name for an evergreen tree
Celtis laevigata - sugarberry Greek name or name applied to African lotus / Latin "laevigat" (smooth or slippery) - the bark
Celtis occidentalis - hackberry Greek name or name applied to African lotus / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)
Cephalanthus occidentalis - buttonbush "Head of anthers" / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)
Cercidiphyllum japonicum - katsuratree From Cercis and Greek "phyllon" (leaf) / of Japan
Cercis canadensis - Eastern redbud Greek "kerkis" (a shuttle - fruit resembled instrument) / of eastern North America
Cercis occidentalis - Western redbud Greek "kerkis" (a shuttle - fruit resembled instrument) / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)
Cercocarpus betuloides - birchleaf mountain-mahogany "kerkis" (a shuttle) and "karpon" (fruit) / birch-like (leaves)
Cercocarpus ledifolius - curlleaf mountain-mahogany "kerkis" (a shuttle) and "karpon" (fruit) / Ledum (labrador tea)-like leaves
Chaenomeles speciosa - common floweringquince Greek "chaina" (to gape) and "melon" (apple) / showy
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - Port-Orford-cedar Greek "chamai" (low growing) and "kuparissos" (cypress) / after Charles Lawson British nurseryman
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis - Alaska yellow-cedar Greek "chamai" (low growing) and "kuparissos" (cypress) / of Nootka Sound
Chamaecyparis obtusa - Hinoki falsecypress Greek "chamai" (low growing) and "kuparissos" (cypress) / blunt leaves
Chamaecyparis pisifera - Sawara-cedar Greek "chamai" (low growing) and "kuparissos" (cypress) / pea-bearing (referring to the small cones)
Chamaecyparis thyoides - Atlantic white-cedar Greek "chamai" (low growing) and "kuparissos" (cypress) / like Thuja
Chimaphila maculata - striped pipsissewa Strange leaf / spotted
Chionanthus virginicus - fringetree Greek "chion" (snow) and "anthus" (flower) / of Virginia
Chrysothamnus nauseosus - gray rabbitbrush Latin "chryso" (golden) flowered / nausea
Cladrastis kentukea - yellowwood Greek "kladros" (branch) and "thraustos or thrastos" (fragile) for fragile branches / from Kentucky
Clethra alnifolia - summersweet clethra Greek "klethra" (alder) / alnus-leaved
Coccoloba uvifera - seagrape Latin "coccum" (a berry) / grape
Cornus alternifolia - alternate-leaf dogwood The Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / alternate leaves
Cornus amomum - silky dogwood The Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / purifying - Greek name of a spice plant
Cornus canadensis - bunchberry The Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / of Canada
Cornus florida - flowering dogwood The Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / flowering Latin "flos" (flower)
Cornus kousa - kousa dogwood The Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / Japanese name
Cornus mas - Cornelian cherry dogwood The Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / masculine, robust, non-delicate
Cornus nuttallii - Pacific dogwood The Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / after Thomas Nuttall
Cornus sericea (stolonifera) - red-osier dogwood The Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / Latin "serus" (late or tardy) (stolonifera means "bearing stolons")
Corylus americana - American hazel Latin name / of America
Corylus cornuta - beaked hazel Latin name / horned, refers to bracts forming a beak at the apex of the nut
Cotinus obovatus - American smoketree Greek name for olive / obovate leaves
Crataegus spp. - hawthorn Greek "kratos" (strength - for the wood)
Cryptomeria japonica - Japanese cryptomeria Greek "krypto" (to hide) and "meris" (part), referring to concealed flower parts / of Japan
Cunninghamia lanceolata - Chinafir After James Cunningham / lanceolate (leaves)
Cyrilla racemiflora - swamp cyrilla perhaps a reference to Cyril or Greek "cyri" (master of) / flowers in racemes
Cytisus scoparius - Scotch broom Greek name "kytisus" / broom-like
Diervilla lonicera - northern bush-honeysuckle After Dr. Dierville, French surgeon who introduced the plant / from Lonicera
Diospyros virginiana - persimmon Greek "dios" (divine) and "pyros" (wheat) referring to the edible fruit / of Virginia
Elaeagnus angustifolia - Russian-olive The name originally applied to a willow Greek "helodes" (growing in marshes) and "hagnos" (pure) referring to white fruit / narrow-leaved
Elaeagnus umbellata - autumn-olive The name originally applied to a willow Greek "helodes" (growing in marshes) and "hagnos" (pure) referring to white fruit / flowers in umbel-like clusters
Euonymus alatus - winged euonymus Latin name / winged
Euonymus americanus - strawberry bush Latin name / American
Euonymus atropurpureus - Eastern wahoo Latin name / dark purple
Fagus grandifolia - American beech Latin name from Greek "phagein" (to eat - edible nuts) / grand foliage
Fagus sylvatica - European beech Latin name from Greek "phagein" (to eat - edible nuts) / of the woods - Latin "silva" (forest)
Ficus aurea - strangler fig Latin name for Ficus carica / golden, beautiful or splendid
Forsythia spp. - forsythia After William Forsyth, Scottish gardener
Franklinia alatamaha - Franklin tree After Benjamin Franklin / of the Altamaha River in Georgia
Fraxinus americana - white ash The Latin name / of America
Fraxinus caroliniana - Carolina ash The Latin name / of Carolina
Fraxinus latifolia - Oregon ash The Latin name / broad-leaved
Fraxinus nigra - black ash The Latin name / black
Fraxinus pennsylvanica - green ash The Latin name / of Pennsylvania
Fraxinus profunda - pumpkin ash The Latin name / deep or profound
Fraxinus quadrangulata - blue ash The Latin name / four-angled
Gaultheria procumbens - teaberry after Gaulthier, Canadian botanist / prostrate
Gaultheria shallon - salal after Gaulthier, Canadian botanist / Indian name
Gelsemium sempervirens - false jessamine Italian "gelsomino" (jasmine) / evergreen - Latin "semper" (always) and "vivere" (live)
Ginkgo biloba - ginkgo Japanese "ginkyo" (silver apricot) and Chinese ngin-ghang / two-lobed (leaves)
Gleditsia aquatica - waterlocust After Gottlieb Gleditsch, German botanist / water
Gleditsia triacanthos - honeylocust After Gottlieb Gleditsch, German botanist / Greek "treis" (three) and "akantha" (spine)
Gordonia lasianthus - loblolly bay After nurseryman James Gordon / rough anthers
Gymnocladus dioicus - Kentucky coffetree Greek "gymnos" (naked) and "klados" (a branch) referring to leaves that grow following stem growth in spring / dioecious (two houses)
Halesia carolina - Carolina silverbell After English scientist Stephen Hales / of Carolina
Hamamelis virginiana - witch-hazel Greek name for a tree with pear-shaped fruits (the medlar) / of Virginia
Hedera helix - English ivy Latin name / "winding around", referring to staff carried by Baccharus
Hibiscus syriacus - rose-of-sharon Greek name for mallow / of Syria
Holodiscus discolor - ocean spray Greek "holos" (entire) and "diskos" (disk), referring to unlobed discs / two-colored (leaves green and gray)
Hydrangea anomala - climbing hydrangea Greek "hydor" (water) and ""aggos" (jar) for cupped fruits / irregular, deviating from the norm - this hydrangea is a vine
Hydrangea arborescens - wild hydrangea Greek "hydor" (water) and ""aggos" (jar) for cupped fruits / tree-like
Hydrangea macrophylla - bigleaf hydrangea Greek "hydor" (water) and ""aggos" (jar) for cupped fruits / big leaves
Hydrangea paniculata - panicle hydrangea Greek "hydor" (water) and ""aggos" (jar) for cupped fruits / flowers in panicles
Hydrangea quercifolia - oakleaf hydrangea Greek "hydor" (water) and ""aggos" (jar) for cupped fruits / leaves oak-like
Hypericum spp. - Saint Johnswort Greek "hyper" (above) and "eikon" (picture) - it was hung above pictures to ward off evil spirits
Ilex cassine - dahoon from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / Latin "casso" to destroy or Latin "cassi" (a helmet)
Ilex coriacea - large gallberry from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / leathery (leaves)
Ilex cornuta - Chinese holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / horned (leaf spines)
Ilex crenata - Japanese holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / with shallow rounded teeth
Ilex decidua - deciduous holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / deciduous Latin "de" (down) and "cadere" (to fall)
Ilex glabra - inkberry from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / glabrous (lacking hair)
Ilex opaca - American holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / not glossy, shady, opaque
Ilex verticillata - winterberry holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / in circles around the stem, probably in reference to the lenticels
Ilex vomitoria - yaupon from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / inducing vomiting
Ilex x attenuata - Foster's holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / to make thin
Itea virginica - sweetspire Greek name for willow / of Virginia
Juglans cinerea - butternut Latin name for Juglans regia Latin "jovis" (Jupiter) and "glans" (nut) / ashy gray (bark)
Juglans nigra - walnut Latin name for Juglans regia Latin "jovis" (Jupiter) and "glans" (nut) / black (bark)
Juniperus chinensis - Chinese juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / of China
Juniperus communis - common juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / common
Juniperus conferta - shore juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / crowded (leaves)
Juniperus horizontalis - creeping juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / horizontal (habit)
Juniperus occidentalis - western juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)
Juniperus procumbens - Ibuki juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / prostrate
Juniperus scopulorum - Rocky Mountain juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / growing on cliffs
Juniperus virginiana - eastern redcedar Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / of Virginia
Kalmia angustifolia - sheep laurel After Pehr Kalm, student of Linnaeus / narrow-leaved
Kalmia latifolia - mountain laurel After Pehr Kalm, student of Linnaeus / broad-leaved
Koelreuteria paniculata - goldenraintree After German botanist Joseph Koelreuter / flowers in panicles
Kolkwitzia amabilis - beautybush After Richard Kolkwitz, German botanist / beautiful
Laburnum x watereri - goldenchain tree Latin name / after the Waterer nursery that introduced this cross
Lagerstroemia indica - crapemyrtle After Magnus von Lagerstrom, friend of Linneus / Indian
Laguncularia racemosa - white mangrove Latin "laguncula" (little bottle) / flowers in racemes
Larix decidua - European larch Latin name / deciduous Latin "de" (down) and "cadere" (to fall)
Larix kaempferi - Japanese larch Latin name / After Engelbert Kaempfer, German botanist
Larix laricina - tamarack Latin name / pertaining to larch
Larix occidentalis - western larch Latin name / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)
Leucothoe axillaris - coast leucothoe From Greek mythology Leucothoe was changed into a shrub by her lover, Apollo / refers to flowers in leaf axils
Leucothoe racemosa - swamp sweetbells From Greek mythology Leucothoe was changed into a shrub by her lover, Apollo / refers to flowers in racemes
Ligustrum spp. - privet The Latin name
Lindera benzoin - spicebush After Johann Linder, Swedish botanist / Arabic name - resinous balsams
Liquidambar styraciflua - sweetgum Latin "liquidus" (liquid) and "ambar" (amber), referring to resin containing storax / flowing with styrax (an aromatic balsam)
Liriodendron tulipifera - yellow-poplar Greek "leiron" (lily) and "dendron" (tree) / tulip-bearing
Lithocarpus densiflorus - tanoak Greek "lithos" (stone) and "karpos" (fruit) for its hard fruit / densely flowered
Lonicera involucrata - black twinberry After Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / with an involucre
Lonicera japonica - Japanese honeysuckle After Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / of Japan
Lonicera maackii - Amur honeysuckle After Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / unknown - a surname
Lonicera morrowii - Morrow honeysuckle After Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / unknown - a surname
Lyonia lucida - fetterbush lyonia After John Lyon, Scottish gardener / bright, shining or clear - leaves are shiny
Maclura pomifera - osage-orange After geologist William Maclure / "pommum" (apple) and "ferre" (to bear) - apple-bearing
Magnolia acuminata - cucumbertree After Pierre Magnol, French botanist / long pointed leaf tip
Magnolia fraseri - Fraser magnolia After Pierre Magnol, French botanist / after John Fraser
Magnolia grandiflora - southern magnolia After Pierre Magnol, French botanist / large flowering
Magnolia kobus var. stellata - star magnolia After Pierre Magnol, French botanist / Japanese name "kobushi"
Magnolia macrophylla - bigleaf magnolia After Pierre Magnol, French botanist / big leaves
Magnolia tripetala - umbrella magnolia After Pierre Magnol, French botanist / three petals
Magnolia virginiana - sweetbay magnolia After Pierre Magnol, French botanist / of Virginia
Magnolia x soulangiana - saucer magnolia After Pierre Magnol, French botanist / After Etienne Soulange-Bodin, French horticulturalist
Malus spp. - apple Latin name for apple, Greek "melon"
Melia azederach - Chinaberry Greek name for ash (similar leaves) / Native name
Metasequoia glyptostroboides - dawn redwood Greek "meta" (changed) and sequoia (a relative) / glypto (carved) and stroboides (overlapping scales)
Mitchella repens - partridgeberry After botanist John Mitchell / creeping
Morus rubra - red mulberry Latin name for Morus nigra from Greek "morea" (mulberry tree) / red
Myrica californica - Pacific waxmyrtle Greek "myrike" (Tamarix) / of California
Myrica cerifera - waxmyrtle Greek "myrike" (Tamarix) / wax-bearing
Myrica gale - sweetgale Greek "myrike" (Tamarix) / old English "gagel"
Nandina domestica - Heavenly bamboo Japanese name "nanten" / cultivated
Nyssa aquatica - water tupelo Greek "Nysa" - a water nymph / of water
Nyssa biflora - swamp tupelo Greek "Nysa" - a water nymph / two-flowered
Nyssa sylvatica - blackgum Greek "Nysa" - a water nymph / of the woods - Latin "silva" (forest)
Oemleria cerasiformis - Indian plum Greek "oem" (a pathway) / cherry bearing
Oplopanax horridum - devilsclub Latin "opus" (beneficial) and "panax" (a plant that heals all diseases - natives used the plants to cure many ailments) / frightful, rough, bristly, horrible
Ostrya virginiana - hophornbeam Greek "ostrya or ostrua" (a tree with hard wood) / of Virginia
Oxydendrum arboreum - sourwood Greek "oxys" (acid) and "dendron" (tree) - refers to acid-tasting leaves / tree-like
Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia creeper Greek "parthenos" (a virgin) and "kissos" (ivy) / five leaflets
Parthenocissus tricuspidata - Boston ivy Greek "parthenos" (a virgin) and "kissos" (ivy) / three-pointed (leaves)
Paulownia tomentosa - royal paulownia After Princess Paulowna of Russia / hairy (leaves)
Persea borbonia - redbay Greek name of a tree / Greek "bor" (food) and Latin "bon" (good) - allusion to bay leaves
Phellodendron amurense - Amur corktree Greek "phellos" (cork) and "dendron" (tree) / of Amur
Philadelphus coronarius - mock-orange The Greek name / used in garlands
Philadelphus lewisii - mockorange The Greek name / unknown - a surname?
Photinia x fraseri - red tips Greek "photos" (light), referring to shiny leaves / After Fraser nurseries
Physocarpus capitatus - ninebark Greek "physa" (bladder) and "karpon" (fruit) / having or forming a head
Picea abies - Norway spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / fir (needles flattened like a fir)
Picea breweriana - Brewer spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / after William Brewer, American botanist
Picea engelmannii - Engelmann spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / after Engelmann
Picea glauca - white spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / waxy whitish bloom
Picea mariana - black spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / of Maryland
Picea pungens - blue spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / sharp (leaves) - Latin "pungere" (to prick)
Picea rubens - red spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / blushed with red (buds and bark) - Latin "rubere" (red)
Picea sitchensis - Sitka spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / of Sitka, Alaska
Pieris japonica - Japanese pieris From Pierides, a name of the Muses / flowering profusely
Pinus albicaulis - whitebark pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / white-stemmed
Pinus aristata - bristlecone pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / bristle, thorn, awned (armed cone) Latin "arista" (bristle)
Pinus attenuata - knobcone pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / drawn-out (cones)
Pinus banksiana - jack pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / After botanist Joseph Banks
Pinus bungeana - lacebark pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / After Alexander von Bunge, Russian botanist
Pinus clausa - sand pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / Latin "clausus" (shut - cones remain closed)
Pinus contorta - lodgepole pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / twisted Latin "torque" (to twist)
Pinus coulteri - Coulter pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after Thomas Coulter
Pinus densiflora - Japanese red pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / densely flowered
Pinus echinata - shortleaf pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / Greek "echinos" (a hedgehog, prickly - a reference to the cone scales)
Pinus edulis - pinyon pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / edible (seeds)
Pinus elliottii - slash pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / After Elliott
Pinus flexilis - limber pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / flexible
Pinus glabra - spruce pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / glabrous (lacking hair)
Pinus jeffreyi - Jeffrey pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / After John Jeffrey
Pinus lambertiana - sugar pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / After Aylmer Lambert
Pinus monticola - western white pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / growing on mountains
Pinus mugo - Mugo pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / Tyrolese name
Pinus nigra - Austrian pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / black
Pinus palustris - longleaf pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / of swamps - Latin "palus" (swamp)
Pinus parviflora - Japanese white pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / small-flowered
Pinus ponderosa - ponderosa pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / ponderous or heavy (wood) - Latin "pondus" (weight)
Pinus pungens - table mountain pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / sharp (cones) - Latin "pungere" (to prick)
Pinus radiata - Monterey pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / Latin "radi" (a spoke or ray) or "radian" (shining)
Pinus resinosa - red pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / resinous
Pinus rigida - pitch pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / rigid (leaves)
Pinus sabiniana - digger pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after Sabine
Pinus serotina - pond pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / Latin "serus" (late) - cones are slow to open
Pinus strobus - eastern white pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / incense-bearing or a gum-yielding tree (pitchy) or Greek "strobus" (cone)
Pinus sylvestris - Scotch pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / of the woods - Latin "silva" (forest)
Pinus taeda - loblolly pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / a torch of pine wood - resinous
Pinus thunbergii - Japanese black pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / After Thunberg
Pinus torreyana - Torrey pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / unknown - a surname?
Pinus virginiana - Virginia pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / of Virginia
Planera aquatica - water elm Latin "plan" (flat or level) or Greek "plane" (a wanderer) / of water
Platanus occidentalis - American sycamore Greek "platanos" (broad or flat) / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)
Platanus racemosa - California sycamore Greek "platanos" (broad or flat) / racemes
Platanus x acerifolia - London plane tree Greek "platanos" (broad or flat) / maple-like (leaves)
Poncirus trifoliata - trifoliate orange French name of a citron / three leaflets
Populus alba - European white poplar Latin name / white
Populus balsamifera - balsam poplar Latin name / balsam bearing
Populus deltoides - cottonwood Latin name / triangular (leaf)
Populus grandidentata - bigtooth aspen Latin name / with large teeth
Populus heterophylla - swamp cottonwood Latin name / Greek "hetero" (different) "phylla" (leaf) - with variable leaves
Populus tremuloides - quaking aspen Latin name / trembling
Populus trichocarpa - black cottonwood Latin name / three-parted fruit or Greek "thrix" (hair) and "karpos" (fruit)
Prunus angustifolia - Chickasaw plum Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / narrow-leaved
Prunus avium - sweet cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of birds (distribute seeds), where birds are found Latin "avis" (bird)
Prunus caroliniana - Carolina laurelcherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Carolina
Prunus cerasifera - purple leaf plum Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / cherry-bearing
Prunus emarginata - bitter cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / out or away from
Prunus pennsylvanica - fire cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Pennsylvania
Prunus persica - peach Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Persia
Prunus serotina - black cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / Latin "serus" (late) - late maturing fruit
Prunus serrulata - Kwanzan cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / small teeth (leaves)
Prunus subcordata - klamath plum Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / somewhat heart-shaped
Prunus subhirtella - Higan cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / somewhat hairy
Prunus virginiana - choke cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Virginia
Prunus x yedoensis - Yoshino cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Tokyo (Yedo)
Pseudotsuga menziesii - Douglas-fir False Tsuga / After naturalist Archibald Menzies
Pueraria lobata - kudzu perhaps Latin "puer" (a boy) / Latin "lobata" (lobed)
Purshia tridentata - bitterbrush unknown - a surname / three teeth (leaves)
Pyracantha coccinea - scarlet firethorn Greek "pyr" (fire) and "akantha" (thorn) / scarlet (fruit), Greek "kakkos" (a berry)
Pyrus calleryana - callery pear Latin name / After J. Callery, French missionary
Pyrus communis - common pear Latin name / common
Quercus acutissima - sawtooth oak Latin name / sharply pointed leaves
Quercus alba - white oak Latin name / white
Quercus bicolor - swamp white oak Latin name / 2-colored
Quercus chrysolepis - canyon live oak Latin name / Latin "chryso" (golden)
Quercus coccinea - scarlet oak Latin name / scarlet, Greek "kakkos" (a berry)
Quercus douglasii - blue oak Latin name / after Douglas
Quercus falcata - southern red oak Latin name / sickle-shaped (leaves)
Quercus gambelli - Gambel oak Latin name / after Gambel
Quercus garryana - Oregon white oak Latin name / unknown - a surname?
Quercus hemisphaerica - Darlington oak Latin name / unknown - perhaps a reference to the dome-shaped crown when open-grown
Quercus ilicifolia - bear oak Latin name / holly-like leaves
Quercus imbricaria - shingle oak Latin name / Latin "imbrex" (tile) - was used for shingles
Quercus incana - bluejack oak Latin name / gray or hoary
Quercus kelloggii - California black oak Latin name / after Kellogg
Quercus laevis - turkey oak Latin name / Latin "laev" (smooth; nimble, light)
Quercus laurifolia - laurel oak Latin name / laurel-like leaves
Quercus lobata - valley oak Latin name / lobed leaves
Quercus lyrata - overcup oak Latin name / Greek "lyra" (lute) - lyre-shaped seed
Quercus macrocarpa - bur oak Latin name / Greek "makros" (large) and "karpos" (seed)
Quercus margarettiae - sand post oak Latin name / perhaps Greek "margarit" (a pearl) or Latin "marg" (a border or edge)
Quercus marilandica - blackjack oak Latin name / of Maryland
Quercus michauxii - swamp chestnut oak Latin name / after Michaux
Quercus muehlenbergii - chinkapin oak Latin name / after G.H.E. Muehlenberg
Quercus nigra - water oak Latin name / black
Quercus pagoda - cherrybark oak Latin name / leaf shaped like a pagoda
Quercus palustris - pin oak Latin name / of swamps - Latin "palus" (swamp)
Quercus phellos - willow oak Latin name / Greek "phellos" (corky - bark has rough, corky ridges)
Quercus prinus - chestnut oak Latin name / perhaps a variation of "primus" (first) or Greek "prinos" (evergreen tree)
Quercus rubra - northern red oak Latin name / red
Quercus shumardii - Shumard oak Latin name / after Shumard
Quercus stellata - post oak Latin name / stellate (covered with stars), referring to hairs on leaf undersides
Quercus velutina - black oak Latin name / Latin "velutum" (velvety, in reference to the buds)
Quercus virginiana - live oak Latin name / of Virginia
Rhamnus purshiana - Cascara buckthorn Greek name for buckthorn "rhamnos" / unknown - a surname?
Rhizophora mangle - red mangrove Greek "rhiz" (a root) and "phor" (carry) / Portuguese "mang" (mongo)
Rhododendron calendulaceum - flame azalea Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / like Calendula, referring to the flower color
Rhododendron canescens - swamp azalea Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / covered in white, becoming hoary
Rhododendron catawbiense - Catawba rhododendron Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / refers to the Catawba River
Rhododendron macrophyllum - Pacific rhododendron Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / large leaves
Rhododendron maximum - great rhododendron Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / the largest
Rhododendron nudiflorum- pink azalea Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / naked flower
Rhododendron occidentale - western azalea Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / western
Rhus aromatica - fragrant sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / fragrant
Rhus copallina - shining sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / Mexican name - yields copal gum
Rhus glabra - smooth sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / glabrous (lacking hair)
Rhus typhina - staghorn sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / like Typha or "cat-tail-like" (hairy branches)
Ribes sanguineum - red-flowering currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / blood red (flowers)
Robinia hispida - bristly locust After Jean Robin, French Herbalist / bristly
Robinia neomexicana - New Mexico locust After Jean Robin, French Herbalist / of New Mexico
Robinia pseudoacacia - black locust After Jean Robin, French Herbalist / false acacia, Greek "akakia" (the Egyptian thorn-tree) and "akis" (thorn)
Rosa multiflora - multiflora rose Latin name / many flowers
Rosa rugosa - rugosa rose Latin name / wrinkled (leaves)
Roystonea elata - royal palm unknown / Latin "elat" (high or lofty; proud)
Rubus allegheniensis - Alleghany blackberry Latin name for blackberry / from Alleghany region
Rubus discolor - Himalaya blackberry Latin name for blackberry / two-colored (leaves)
Rubus flagellaris - dewberry Latin name for blackberry / lash, thresh or flail
Rubus idaeus - red raspberry Latin name for blackberry / of Mt. Ida
Rubus laciniatus - evergreen blackberry Latin name for blackberry / deeply cut (leaves)
Rubus occidentalis - black raspberry Latin name for blackberry / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)
Rubus odoratus - purple flowering raspberry Latin name for blackberry / scented
Rubus parviflorus - thimbleberry Latin name for blackberry / small-flowered
Rubus phoenicolasius - wine raspberry Latin name for blackberry / with purple hairs (stems)
Rubus spectabilis - salmonberry Latin name for blackberry / spectacular
Rubus ursinus - wild blackberry Latin name for blackberry / of bears - bears eat the fruits
Sabal minor - bush palmetto Latin "sab" (sand) / smaller or slight
Sabal palmetto - cabbage palmetto Latin "sab" (sand) / palm grove
Salix babylonica - weeping willow Latin name / of Babylon
Salix discolor - pussy willow Latin name / two colors (leaf)
Salix nigra - black willow Latin name / black
Sambucus canadensis - American elderberry Greek name for the elder tree / of Canada
Sambucus cerulea - blue elderberry Greek name for the elder tree / Latin "cera" (waxy - leaves)
Sambucus racemosa - red elderberry Greek name for the elder tree / in racemes
Sapium sebiferum - Chinese tallow tree Latin "sapium" (art or craft done by a person) or Latin "sapa" (new wine) / Latin "seb" (tallow)
Sassafras albidum - sassafras American Indian name or from Spanish "saxafrax" / white (leaf undersides)
Sequoia sempervirens - redwood After Sequoiah, son of a British merchant and Cherokee woman / Latin "semper" (always) and "vivere" (to live) - evergreen
Sequoiadendron giganteum - giant sequoia From sequoia and Greek "dendron (tree) / huge
Serenoa repens - saw palmetto interwoven / creeping or low
Smilax glauca - catbriar Greek name / waxy whitish bloom
Smilax laurifolia - laurel greenbrier Greek name / laurel-like leaves
Smilax rotundifolia - common greenbrier Greek name / round-leaved
Solanum dulcamara - bitter nightshade Latin name / sweet and injurious
Sophora japonica - Japanese pagoda tree Arabic name / of Japan
Sorbus americana - American mountainash Latin name for Sorbus domestica / of America
Sorbus aucuparia - European mountainash Latin name for Sorbus domestica / Latin "avis" (bird) and "capere" (to catch) - birds eat the fruits, tree used as bait
Sorbus sitchensis - Sitka mountainash Latin name for Sorbus domestica / of Sitka, Alaska
Spiraea alba - narrowleaf spiraea Greek "speiraira" (plant used in garlands) / white
Spiraea latifolia - meadowsweet Greek "speiraira" (plant used in garlands) / broad-leaved
Staphylea trifolia - bladdernut Greek "staphyle" (cluster - of flowers) / three leaflets
Stewartia spp. - stewartia After John Stuart
Styrax japonicus - Japanese snowbell Greek name of Styrax officinalis / of Japan
Swietenia mahogani - West Indies mahogany unknown / unknown
Symphoricarpos albus - snowberry Greek "symphorein" (bear together) and "karpos" (fruit) refers to clustered fruits / white
Symphoricarpos orbiclatus - coralberry Greek "symphorein" (bear together) and "karpos" (fruit) refers to clustered fruits / orbicular fruits
Symplocos tinctoria - common sweetleaf Greek "symploke" (connection") - stamens are connected / dye or medical solution
Syringa reticulata - Japanese tree lilac Greek "syrinx" (a pipe) for its hollow stems / networked (veins in the leaf)
Syringa vulgaris - common lilac Greek "syrinx" (a pipe) for its hollow stems / common
Tamarix gallica - tamarisk Latin name / of France
Taxodium ascendens - pondcypress From Taxus and Greek "eidos" (resemblence to Taxus) / ascending
Taxodium distichum - baldcypress From Taxus and Greek "eidos" (resemblence to Taxus) / in two rows (leaves) Greek "di" (two) and "stichos" (rank)
Taxus brevifolia - Pacific yew Latin name / short foliage
Taxus baccata - English Yew Latin name / berry-bearing
Thuja occidentalis - northern white-cedar Greek "thyia" (for a juniper or a fragrant-wooded tree) from "thyo" (perfume) / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)
Thuja plicata - western redcedar Greek "thyia" (for a juniper or a fragrant-wooded tree) from "thyo" (perfume) / plaited (leaves, branches) - Latin "plicare" (to fold)
Tilia americana - American basswood Latin name of Linden / of America
Tilia cordata - littleleaf linden Latin name of Linden / heart shaped
Tilia tomentosa - silver linden Latin name of Linden / hairy (leaves and twigs)
Torreya californica - California nutmeg After John Torrey / of California
Toxicodendron diversilobum- Pacific poison-oak Greek "toxikon" (poison) and "dendron" (tree) / variable leaves
Toxicodendron quercifolium - poison-oak Greek "toxikon" (poison) and "dendron" (tree) / oak-like leaves
Toxicodendron radicans - poison-ivy Greek "toxikon" (poison) and "dendron" (tree) / with rooting stems
Tsuga canadensis - eastern hemlock Japanese name / of Canada
Tsuga caroliniana - Carolina hemlock Japanese name / of Carolina
Tsuga heterophylla - western hemlock Japanese name / Greek "hetero" (different) "phylla" (leaf) - with variable leaves
Tsuga mertensiana - mountain hemlock Japanese name / after Karl Mertens, German botanist
Ulmus alata - winged elm Latin name / winged (twigs)
Ulmus americana - American elm Latin name / of America
Ulmus parvifolia - Chinese elm Latin name / small leaves
Ulmus pumila - Siberian elm Latin name / dwarf or small
Ulmus rubra - slippery elm Latin name / red
Ulmus thomasii - rock elm Latin name / after horticulturist David Thomas
Umbellularia californica - California laurel Latin "umbella" (umbel) / of California
Vaccinium arboreum - sparkleberry The Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / tree-like
Vaccinium membranaceum - big huckleberry The Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / like a membrane - thin leaves
Vaccinium ovatum - evergreen huckleberry The Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / ovate leaves
Vaccinium parvifolium - red huckleberry The Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / small leaves
Vaccinium vacillans - lowbush blueberry The Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / Latin "vacill" (waver; stagger, totter, to be in a weak condition)
Viburnum acerifolium - mapleleaf viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / maple-leaved
Viburnum alnifolium - hobblebush Latin name for Viburnum lantana / alder-leaved
Viburnum dentatum - Southern arrowwood Latin name for Viburnum lantana / referring to the teeth on the leaves
Viburnum lentago - nannyberry Latin name for Viburnum lantana / tough but pliable
Viburnum nudum - possumhaw viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / bare or stripped
Viburnum opulus - European cranberrybush Latin name for Viburnum lantana / Latin name for a kind of maple
Viburnum plicatum - doublefile viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / pleated leaves
Viburnum prunifolium - blackhaw Latin name for Viburnum lantana / plum-leaved
Viburnum rhytidophyllum - leatherleaf viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / wrinkled leaves
Viburnum rufidulum - rusty blackhaw Latin name for Viburnum lantana / Latin "rufi" (red - probably a reference to rusty red hairs)
Viburnum trilobum - highbush cranberry Latin name for Viburnum lantana / 3-lobed leaves
Vitis spp. - grape Latin name
Weigela florida - old fashioned weigela After von Weigel, German botanist / flowering Latin "flos" (flower)
Wisteria floribunda - Japanese wisteria After Caspar Wistar, American anatomy professor / flowering profusely
x Cupressocyparis leylandii - Leyland cypress Latin name for Cupressus sempervirens and Greek "kuparissos" (cypress) / crossed by Leyland
Zelkova serrata - Japanese zelkova Caucasian name / serrate (leaves)
Sources:
- Alcock, R.H. 1876. Botanical Names for English Readers. Grand River Books, Detroit. 236 pages.
- Bailey, L.H. 1933. How Plants Get Their Names. The MacMillan Company, NY. 209 pages.
- Bold, H.C. 1977. The Plant Kingdom, 4th ed. Prentice Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, NJ. 310 pages.
- Borror, D.J. 1988. Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms. Mayfield Publishing Company, Mountain View California. 134 pages.
- Brummitt, R.K. 1992. Vascular Plant Families and Genera. Whitstable Litho Ltd, Kent. 804 pages.
- Coombes, Allen J. 1993. Dictionary of Plant Names. Timber Press, Portland OR, 1993, 207 pages.
- Gledhill, D. 1985. The Names of Plants. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 159 pages.
- Harlow, W.M., E.S. Harrar, F.M. White. Textbook of Dendrology. 7th ed. McGraw-Hill, Inc. NY 501 pages.
- Mabberly, D.J. 1987. The Plant Book. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 706 pages.
- New Pronouncing Dictionary of Plant Names 1964. Florists' Publishing Co., Chicago IL. 63 pages
- Stearn, W.T. 1992. Botanical Latin. David and Charles Publishers, England. 546 pages.
- Derivation of some Latin Names (U Vermont)
- Latin Dictionary and Grammar Aid
