Botanical Latin: Lycopersicon
Karen Ly co PER si con Greek lykos meaning wolf, and persicon meaning peach Lycopersicon is the part of the scientific name for tomato and literally means wolf-peach. Tomatoes are a…
Botanical Latin: Saintpaulia
Saintpaulia (Saint PAWL ee a) named for Baron Adalbert Emil Walter Redcliffe Le Tanneaux von Saint Paul-Illaire who first discovered the African violet. The baron was an avid plant collector…
Botanical Latin: Cucurbita
Cucurbita (ku KUR bi ta) from the Latin cucurbita meaning gourd. This Latin word is used as the genus name for summer and winter squash, pumpkins and some gourds. Cucurbitae…
Botanical Latin: Maculatus, a, um
Mac u LA tus; from Latin meaning spotted Many plants have spotted parts: flowers, stems, or leaves. Maculatus is most often used as a specific epithet but is also employed…
Botanical Latin: Potentilla
Potentilla (po ten TILL a) derived from Latin potens, powerful + suffix – illa, little. Potentilla is the genus name for about five hundred plants known for their palmately compound…
Botanical Latin: Pogonia
Pogonia (puh GOH nee uh) derived from Greek pogon meaning beard Pogonia is a genus of terrestrial orchids that includes four species native to temperate regions, mostly in Asia. The…
Botanical Latin: Galium
Chuck Galium (gay LEE um) derived from Greek gala meaning milk. Galium is the genus name for the bedstraws which includes over six hundred annuals and perennials most of which are…
Botanical Latin: Calochortus
Calochortus (Cal o KOR tus) derived from the Greek words kalos meaning beautiful, and chortos meaning grass The members of this genus have strikingly beautiful flowers and grass like leaves.…
Botanical Latin: Acanthus
Acanthus (uh KAN thuhs) Latin form from Greek akanthos, meaning thorn or prickle Acanthus is used as the name for the family Acanthaceae composed mostly of perennial herbs and shrubs…
Botanical Latin: Hesperus
Hesperus (HES per us) derived from the Greek hesperos, meaning evening In Greek mythology, Hesperos was associated with the evening star, which was the planet Venus in the evening. He…