List Of Descriptive Plant Species Epithets (I–Z)
Since the first printing of Carl Linnaeus's Species Plantarum in 1753, plants have been assigned one epithet or name for their species and one name for their genus, a grouping of related species. These scientific names have been catalogued in a variety of works, including Stearn's Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners. William Stearn (1911–2001) was one of the pre-eminent British botanists of the 20th century: a Librarian of the Royal Horticultural Society, a president of the Linnean Society and the original drafter of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants.
The first column below lists seed-bearing species epithets from Stearn's Dictionary, Latin for Gardeners by Lorraine Harrison, The A to Z of Plant Names by Allen Coombes, The Gardener's Botanical by Ross Bayton, and the glossary of Stearn's Botanical Latin. Epithets from proper nouns, proper adjectives, and two or more nouns are excluded, along with epithets used only in species names that are no longer widely accepted. Classical and modern meanings are provided in the third column, along with citations to Charlton T. Lewis's An Elementary Latin Dictionary.
Key
- LG = language: (L)atin or (G)reek
- L = derived from Latin, or both Classical Latin and Greek (unless otherwise noted)
- G = derived from Greek
- H = listed by Harrison, and (except as noted) by Bayton
- D = listed in Stearn's Dictionary
- S = listed in Stearn's Botanical Latin
- DS = listed in Stearn's Dictionary, with the word or root word listed in Botanical Latin
- C = listed by Coombes
Epithets
Epithets | LG | Meanings and derivations | Example species | H | DS | C |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ianthinus | G | bluish-purple | Justicia ianthina | D | ||
icosandrus | G | twenty-stamened | Phytolacca icosandra | H | DS | |
idoneus | L | worthy | Lupinus idoneus* | DS | ||
igneus | L | fiery red | Cuphea ignea, Heliconia ignescens* | H | DS | C |
ignescens | H | DS | ||||
ignotus | L | (formerly) unknown | Tricalysia ignota* | DS | ||
illecebrosus | L | enticing, from illecebra | Tigridia illecebrosa* | H | DS | |
illinitus | L | smeared, from lino, to smear | Escallonia illinita* | H | DS | |
illustris | L | lustrous, from lustro, to illuminate | Ilex illustris | H | D | C |
imbecillus | L | feeble | Agrostis imbecilla* | DS | ||
imbecillis | DS | |||||
imberbis | L | unbearded | Combretum imberbe | H | DS | |
imbricatus | L | overlapping, from imbrex, gutter tile; imbricate. (Also imbricans, imbricarius.) | Cylindropuntia imbricata | H | DS | C |
immaculatus | L | immaculate, from macula, stain | Dicerandra immaculata | H | DS | |
immersus | L | immersed | Navia immersa | H | DS | |
impeditus | L | impeded | Tragia impedita* | DS | C | |
imperator | L | war leader; emperor | Fritillaria imperialis, Epidendrum imperator* | D | ||
imperialis | H | D | C | |||
implexus | L | interwoven | Acacia implexa | H | DS | |
impressus | L | engraved; creased | Epacris impressa | H | DS | C |
impudicus | L | impudent | Heliconia impudica | DS | ||
inaequalis | L | unequal | Dryopteris inaequalis | H | DS | |
inapertus | L | closed, from apertus | Agapanthus inapertus | DS | C | |
incanus | L | grey-haired | Matthiola incana | H | DS | C |
incarnatus | L | peach-coloured, from caro, flesh | Asclepias incarnata | H | DS | C |
incertus | L | uncertain | Penstemon incertus | H | DS | |
incisus | L | cut deeply; incised | Urtica incisa | H | DS | C |
inclaudens | L | not closing | Esterhuysenia inclaudens* | H | ||
inclinatus | L | inclined | Bulbophyllum inclinatum | H | DS | |
incomparabilis | L | incomparable, from comparabilis | Stapelia incomparabilis* | H | DS | |
incomptus | L | unkempt | Blakea incompta | H | D | |
inconspicuus | L | inconspicuous, from conspicuus | Trithuria inconspicua | H | DS | |
incrassatus | L | stout, from crassus, thick | Eucalyptus incrassata | H | DS | |
incurvus | L | bowed; incurved | Corybas incurvus, Dacryodes incurvata | H | DS | C |
incurvatus | H | DS | ||||
indivisus | L | undivided, from divido | Cordyline indivisa | H | DS | |
induratus | L | hardened | Eucalyptus indurata | H | DS | |
inebrians | L | intoxicating, from inebrio | Lagochilus inebrians | H | D | |
inermis | L | unarmed | Nepenthes inermis | H | DS | C |
infaustus | L | unfortunate | Vangueria infausta | H | D | |
infectorius | L | tinted, from infector, dyer | Quercus infectoria | H | D | |
infestus | L | troublesome | Adolphia infesta* | H | DS | |
inflatus | L | swollen; inflated | Eriogonum inflatum, Utricularia inflata | H | DS | C |
inflexus | L | bowed; inflexed | Utricularia inflexa | DS | ||
infortunatus | L | unfortunate | Clerodendrum infortunatum | H | D | |
infractus | L | bent, from frango, to fracture | Hypolobus infractus | H | DS | |
infundibuliformis | L | funnel-shaped. (Also infundibulus.) | Crossandra infundibuliformis | H | DS | |
ingens | L | huge | Euphorbia ingens | H | DS | |
innominatus | L | uncelebrated, from nominatus; nameless | Iris innominata | DS | ||
innoxius | L | harmless. (Also inoxius.) | Datura innoxia | DS | ||
inodorus | L | unscented, from odorus | Tripleurospermum inodorum | H | DS | |
inopinus | L | unexpected | Encephalartos inopinus | D | ||
inornatus | L | plain | Boronia inornata | H | D | |
inquinans | L | stained, from inquino | Pelargonium inquinans | H | D | |
inscriptus | L | inscribed | Calathea inscripta* | D | ||
insignis | L | significant | Nepenthes insignis | H | DS | C |
insipidus | L | insipid, from sapio | Ficus insipida | DS | ||
insititius | L | grafted, from insitio, a grafting | Prunus insititia | H | DS | |
insulanus | L | island | Alsophila insulana, Digitaria insularis | H | D | |
insularis | H | DS | ||||
intactus | L | intact | Anthurium intactum* | DS | ||
intaminatus | L | uncontaminated | Cyclamen intaminatum | D | ||
integer | L | undivided; entire. Feminine integra, neuter integrum. | Artocarpus integer, Ochna integerrima | H | DS | C |
integerrimus | DS | C | ||||
intermedius | L | intermediate, from medium, middle | Thinopyrum intermedium | H | DS | C |
interruptus | L | gapped | Salvia interrupta | H | DS | |
intertextus | L | interwoven | Eucalyptus intertexta | H | D | |
intortus | L | contorted, from intorqueo | Acacia intorta | H | DS | |
intricatus | L | entangled | Dipterocarpus intricatus | H | DS | |
introrsus | L | turned inwards; introrse | Endiandra introrsa | DS | ||
intumescens | L | tumescent, from intumesco | Acrocomia intumescens | H | DS | |
inundatus | L | inundated, from inundo | Lycopodiella inundata | DS | ||
inutilis | L | useless | Allium inutile | D | ||
inversus | L | inverted | Astragalus inversus | H | DS | |
invisus | L | unseen | Silene invisa | D | ||
involucratus | L | enveloped, from involucrum, wrapper; involucred | Davidia involucrata | H | DS | C |
involutus | L | rolled up, from involvo; involute | Bulbophyllum involutum | H | DS | |
involvens | L | wrapping-around | Utricularia involvens | DS | ||
ionanthus | G | violet-coloured flowers | Streptocarpus ionanthus | H | DS | |
iridescens | L | iridescent, from iris, rainbow | Caladenia iridescens | H | D | |
irrasus | L | unshaven, from rasus | Grevillea irrasa | D | ||
irregularis | L | not symmetric, from regula, rule; irregular | Polygala irregularis | H | DS | |
irriguus | L | irrigated; wet | Stellaria irrigua | H | DS | |
irritans | L | irritating, from irrito | Triodia irritans | D | ||
irroratus | L | besprinkled,from irroro | Acacia irrorata | D | ||
isophyllus | G | even-leaved | Campanula isophylla | H | DS | C |
ixocarpus | G | sticky-fruited | Indigofera ixocarpa* | H | D | |
jejunus | L | meagre; small | Salix jejuna | H | ||
jubatus | L | crested; awned | Hordeum jubatum | H | DS | C |
jucundus | L | joyful; pleasant | Conophytum jucundum | H | D | C |
jugalis | L | yoked | Melicope jugosa, Psychotria jugalis | H | D | |
jugosus | H | D | ||||
julaceus | L | cylindrical, like some catkins | Anomobryum julaceum | H | S | |
junceus | L | made of rushes; rush-like | Psathyrostachys juncea | H | DS | C |
juvenilis | L | young | Carex juvenilis* | H | S | |
kermesinus | L | crimson, from Arabic and Latin | Portea kermesina | H | DS | |
labiatus | L | lipped, from labium, lip | Cattleya labiata, Zygosepalum labiosum | H | DS | |
labiosus | H | DS | ||||
labilis | L | labile, from labo, to totter or slip | Celtis labilis* | H | D | |
lacerus | L | jagged, from lacer, lacerated. Stearn's spelling is lacer. | Spiranthes lacera, Calanthe lacerata* | H | DS | |
laceratus | DS | |||||
laciniatus | L | roughly segmented | Silphium laciniatum, Carya laciniosa | H | DS | C |
laciniosus | DS | C | ||||
lacrimans | L | weeping, from lacrimo | Eucalyptus lacrimans | H | D | |
lacteus | L | milky | Iris lactea, Hieracium lactescens | H | DS | C |
lactescens | D | |||||
lactifer | L | milk; with milky sap | Gymnema lactiferum | H | DS | |
lacunosus | L | full of hollows | Ipomoea lacunosa | H | DS | |
lacustris | L | lake, from lacus | Iris lacustris | H | DS | C |
laetus | L | joyful; bright | Myoporum laetum | H | DS | |
laevis | L | smooth | Hibiscus laevis, Echinacea laevigata | H | DS | C |
laevigatus | H | C | ||||
lamellatus | L | layered, from lamina, a thin sheet; lamellate | Leptospermum lamellatum | H | DS | |
lanatus | L | woolly | Citrullus lanatus | H | DS | C |
lanceus | L | lance, from lancea | Searsia lancea | H | D | |
lanceolatus | L | lanceolate | Persoonia lanceolata | H | DS | C |
laniger | L | fleecy | Leptospermum lanigerum, Myriopteris lanosa, Fraxinus lanuginosa | H | DS | C |
lanosus | H | DS | C | |||
lanuginosus | H | DS | C | |||
lappa | L | with burrs. (Also lappaceus.) | Arctium lappa | H | DS | |
lasiocarpus | G | woolly-fruited | Abies lasiocarpa | DS | C | |
latebrosus | L | with lurking-holes; concealing | Vexatorella latebrosa | D | ||
lateralis | L | lateral, from latus, side | Calothamnus lateralis | H | DS | |
lateritius | L | brick-red, from later, brick | Melaleuca lateritia | H | DS | C |
latifolius | L | broad-leaved, from latus, broad | Isopogon latifolius | H | DS | C |
laudatus | L | laudible | Rhododendron laudandum* | H | D | |
laudandus | D | |||||
laxus | L | relaxed; lax | Freesia laxa | H | DS | C |
leiocarpus | G | smooth-fruited | Angophora leiocarpa | H | DS | |
lenticularis | L | lens; lenticular | Isolepis lenticularis, Atriplex lentiformis | DS | ||
lentiformis | DS | C | ||||
lentiginosus | L | spotted | Astragalus lentiginosus | H | DS | |
lentus | L | pliant | Betula lenta | H | DS | C |
leonis | L | lion, from leo. Neuter leonis. | Phacelia leonis | H | D | |
leopardinus | G | spotted | Bulbophyllum leopardinum | H | D | |
lepidotus | G | scaly | Andesanthus lepidotus | DS | ||
lepidus | L | elegant | Lupinus lepidus | H | D | |
leptophyllus | G | slender-leaved | Banksia leptophylla | H | DS | C |
leucanthus | G | white-flowered | Stenomesson leucanthum | H | DS | C |
lignosus | L | woody, from lignum | Dipogon lignosus | H | DS | |
ligularis | L | shoe-strap, from ligula; liguled | Passiflora ligularis, Schoenus ligulatus | H | D | |
ligulatus | H | DS | ||||
limbatus | L | bordered, from limbus, border | Fissidens limbatus | H | DS | |
limosus | L | muddy | Schoenus limosus | H | DS | |
limnophilus | G | marsh-loving | Myriophyllum limnophilum* | DS | ||
linearis | L | linear | Persoonia linearis | H | DS | C |
lineatus | L | lined | Iris lineata | H | DS | C |
lingua | L | tongue | Pterostylis lingua | H | DS | C |
linguiformis | H | DS | ||||
lingulatus | H | DS | ||||
lissocarpus | G | smooth-fruited | Synostemon lissocarpus* | D | ||
lithophilus | G | rock-loving | Isoetes lithophila* | H | DS | |
littoralis | L | littoral, from litus, shore | Griselinia littoralis, Acacia littorea | H | DS | C |
littoreus | H | DS | ||||
lividus | L | lead-coloured | Helleborus lividus | H | DS | C |
lobatus | G | lobed | Quercus lobata | H | DS | C |
lobulatus | H | D | ||||
lochmius | G | thicket | Rhododendron lochmium* | D | ||
longus | L | long | Curcuma longa | H | DS | C |
longissimus | L | longest | Dasylirion longissimum | H | DS | C |
lophanthus | G | crested-flower | Paraserianthes lophantha | H | DS | |
lucens | L | shining; clear. From luceo. | Potamogeton lucens | H | DS | |
lucidus | H | D | C | |||
lunatus | L | lunate | Phaseolus lunatus | H | DS | C |
lunulatus | H | DS | ||||
luridus | L | greyish-yellow | Pelargonium luridum | H | DS | |
luteus | L | yellow | Gentiana lutea | H | DS | C |
luteolus | L | light yellow | Iris lutescens | H | DS | |
lutescens | DS | C | ||||
luxurians | L | luxuriant, from luxurio | Araucaria luxurians | H | DS | C |
lyratus | L | lyre, from lyra; lyrate | Arabidopsis lyrata | DS | C | |
lysistemon | G | loose-stamened | Erythrina lysistemon | D | ||
macilentus | L | gaunt, from macies | Archaeopteris macilenta | H | DS | |
macrophyllus | G | big-leaved | Ficus macrophylla | H | DS | C |
maculosus | L | spotted | Flindersia maculosa | H | DS | C |
maculatus | H | DS | C | |||
maculifer | D | |||||
magnificus | L | magnificent | Cercidiphyllum magnificum | H | D | C |
magnus | L | big | Crateva magna | H | DS | |
major | L | bigger. Stearn also lists majus. From maior, neuter maius. | Plantago major | H | DS | C |
majalis | L | (flowering in) May, from Maius | Convallaria majalis | H | D | C |
majesticus | L | majestic, from maiestas | Brillantaisia majestica* | D | ||
malacoides | G | soft | Eremophila malacoides | H | D | |
mammillaris | L | nippled, from mamilla | Mammillaria mammillaris, Erica mammosa | H | D | |
mammiformis | DS | |||||
mammillatus | H | DS | ||||
mammosus | H | DS | ||||
manicatus | L | long-sleeved | Gunnera manicata | H | DS | C |
manipuliflorus | L | with small bundles of flowers, from manipulus, a handful | Erica manipuliflora | DS | ||
margaritaceus | L | pearly, from margarita | Anaphalis margaritacea | H | DS | C |
margaritus | H | D | ||||
margaritifer | H | D | ||||
marginalis | L | bordered, from margino | Banksia marginata | H | DS | C |
marginatus | H | DS | C | |||
marginellus | D | |||||
maritimus | L | maritime | Pancratium maritimum | H | DS | C |
marmoreus | L | marble | Sempervivum marmoreum, Kalanchoe marmorata | H | DS | C |
marmoratus | H | DS | ||||
mas | L | with masculine qualities | Cornus mas | H | DS | C |
masculus | H | DS | ||||
matronalis | L | matronly | Hesperis matronalis | D | C | |
maxillaris | L | jaw, from maxilla | Bulbophyllum maxillare | H | D | |
maximus | L | biggest. (Also max.) | Heracleum maximum | H | DS | C |
medicus | L | medicinal | Citrus medica | H | DS | C |
medius | L | medium or middle | Campanula medium | H | DS | C |
medullaris | L | pithy, from medulla, marrow | Sphaeropteris medullaris | H | D | |
medullus | H | D | ||||
megacarpus | G | with big fruit | Schoenus megacarpus | H | DS | |
megalophyllus | G | with big leaves | Muniria megalophylla | H | DS | C |
megeratus | G | very lovely | Rhododendron megeratum* | D | ||
meiacanthus | G | little-spined | Mammillaria meiacantha* | DS | ||
melancholicus | L | melancholy | Besleria melancholica* | DS | ||
melanoxylon | G | with black wood | Acacia melanoxylon | H | S | |
mellitus | L | honey | Navarretia mellita | H | DS | |
melleus | DS | |||||
mellifer | H | D | C | |||
melliodorus | L | honey-scented. Stearn also lists meliodorus. | Eucalyptus melliodora | H | D | |
meloformis | L | melon-shaped | Euphorbia meloformis | H | D | |
membranaceus | L | membranous, from membrana | Scadoxus membranaceus | H | DS | |
meniscifolius | L | crescent-leaved | Serpocaulon meniscifolium* | H | DS | |
meridianus | L | (flowering at) midday; southern | Caladenia meridionalis | H | D | |
meridionalis | H | DS | C | |||
metallicus | L | metal, from metallum | Calochilus metallicus | H | DS | C |
micans | L | sparkling | Shorea micans | DS | ||
micranthus | G | small-flowered | Eremophila micrantha | H | DS | C |
militaris | L | military | Orchis militaris | H | D | |
millefolius | L | thousand-leaved, from mille | Potentilla millefolia | H | DS | C |
mimetes | G | mimic | Senecio mimetes* | D | ||
minax | L | menacing | Bulbophyllum minax | D | ||
miniatus | L | red-tinged | Aechmea miniata | H | DS | C |
minimus | L | smallest | Salvinia minima | H | DS | C |
minor | L | smaller. Stearn also lists minus. From minor, neuter minus. | Vinca minor | H | DS | C |
minutus | L | minute | Marsilea minuta | H | DS | |
minutissimus | L | minutest | Bulbophyllum minutissimum | H | D | |
mirabilis | L | amazing | Nepenthes mirabilis | H | D | C |
mitis | L | gentle | Caryota mitis | H | DS | |
mitratus | L | turbaned | Blepharis mitrata | H | D | |
mitriformis | H | DS | ||||
mixtus | L | hybrid; mixed | Passiflora mixta | H | DS | |
modestus | L | modest | Carpobrotus modestus | H | D | C |
mollis | L | soft | Leymus mollis | H | DS | C |
mollissimus | L | softest | Castanea mollissima | H | D | C |
monilifer | L | necklace, from monile | Allocasuarina monilifera, Consolea moniliformis | H | D | |
moniliformis | H | DS | ||||
monogynus | G | single-ovaried | Crataegus monogyna | H | DS | C |
monstrosus | L | monstrous, from monstruosus | Aegiphila monstrosa | H | DS | |
montanus | L | mountain. (Also montensis.) | Asplenium montanum, Acacia monticola | H | DS | C |
monticola | H | D | ||||
montigenus | H | D | ||||
moschatus | G | musky | Cucurbita moschata | H | DS | C |
mucosus | L | slimy, from mucus, mucus | Euryops mucosus | H | DS | |
mucronatus | L | sharp-edged, from mucro, sword-point or edge; mucronate | Ziziphus mucronata | H | DS | C |
mucronulatus | L | short-pointed | Grevillea mucronulata | H | D | C |
multifidus | L | divided into many parts | Leucospora multifida | H | DS | C |
mundulus | L | elegant, from mundus | Hackelia mundula | H | D | |
muralis | L | wall | Cymbalaria muralis | H | DS | C |
musaicus | L | mosaic. Stearn also lists mosaicus. | Guzmania musaica | H | DS | |
muscitoxicus | L | toxic to flies | Amianthium muscitoxicum | D | ||
muscivorus | L | fly-eating, from voro | Helicodiceros muscivorus | H | D | |
muscosus | L | mossy | Crassula muscosa | H | DS | |
muscoides | H | D | ||||
mutabilis | L | mutable | Hibiscus mutabilis | H | DS | C |
mutatus | L | changed | Apoballis mutata* | H | DS | |
mutilatus | L | mutilated; blunt. From mutilus. | Cirsium muticum | H | DS | |
muticus | H | DS | ||||
myriophyllus | G | myriad-leaved | Pilea myriophylla | H | DS | |
myrmecophilus | G | ant-loving | Hylaeaicum myrmecophila | H | DS | |
nanus | L | dwarf | Boronia nana | H | DS | C |
nanellus | H | D | ||||
nasutus | L | large-nosed; scornful | Erythranthe nasuta | D | ||
natans | L | floating, from nato | Trapa natans | H | DS | |
nauseosus | L | disgusting, from nauseo | Dypsis nauseosa | H | DS | |
navicularis | L | boat-shaped, from navicula, a small boat | Micromyrtus navicularis | H | DS | C |
nebulosus | L | cloudy | Eucalyptus nebulosa | H | DS | |
neglectus | L | neglected | Stellaria neglecta | H | DS | C |
nemorosus | L | forest | Anemonoides nemorosa | H | DS | C |
nemoralis | H | DS | C | |||
nervosus | L | veined, originally from nervus | Liparis nervosa | H | DS | C |
nervatus | D | |||||
nervis | H | DS | ||||
neurocarpus | G | veined-fruit | Acacia neurocarpa | D | ||
nictitans | L | blinking; moving | Chamaecrista nictitans | H | D | |
nidus | L | nest | Asplenium nidus | H | DS | |
niger | L | black. Feminine nigra, neuter nigrum. | Piper nigrum | H | DS | C |
nigrescens | L | blackish, from nigresco | Pyrorchis nigricans | H | DS | |
nigricans | H | DS | C | |||
nigratus | H | D | ||||
nitidus | L | shining | Calochortus nitidus | H | DS | C |
nitens | H | DS | ||||
nivalis | L | snow | Galanthus nivalis | H | DS | C |
niveus | H | DS | C | |||
nivosus | H | DS | ||||
nobilis | L | celebrated | Laurus nobilis | H | D | C |
nocturnus | L | night | Cestrum nocturnum | H | DS | C |
nodosus | L | knobby | Ficinia nodosa | H | DS | |
nodulosus | H | DS | ||||
non-scriptus | L | unmarked, from scriptus | Hyacinthoides non-scripta | H | D | C |
notatus | L | marked | Paspalum notatum | H | DS | |
nothus | G | false | Iris notha | DS | ||
nubigenus | L | high-altitude, from nubigena, cloud-born | Podocarpus nubigenus | H | D | C |
nubicola | H | D | ||||
nucifer | L | nut-bearing, from nux | Cocos nucifera | H | DS | |
nudus | L | naked | Genoplesium nudum | H | DS | C |
nudatus | H | D | ||||
nummularius | L | coin, from nummulus | Atriplex nummularia | H | D | C |
nutans | L | nodding | Silene nutans | H | DS | C |
nyctagineus | G | night-born (night-blooming) | Mirabilis nyctaginea | H | D | |
obconicus | L | inverted cone, from conus | Eucalyptus obconica | H | DS | |
obesus | L | fat | Adenium obesum | H | DS | |
oblatus | L | oblate (round and slightly flattened). From latus, wide. | Syringa oblata | H | DS | |
obliquus | L | slanting; oblique | Ficus obliqua | H | DS | C |
obliteratus | L | erased, from oblitero; imperceptible | Nephrolepis obliterata | DS | ||
oblongus | L | oblong | Cydonia oblonga | H | DS | C |
oblongatus | H | D | ||||
obovatus | L | obovate (reversed ovate). From ovum, egg. | Adenanthos obovatus | H | DS | C |
obscurus | L | obscure; dark | Dendrolycopodium obscurum | H | DS | C |
obsoletus | L | shabby | Narcissus obsoletus | DS | ||
obtectus | L | covered; protected | Acacia obtecta | H | S | |
obtusus | L | obtuse | Galium obtusum | H | DS | C |
obtusatus | H | DS | ||||
obvallatus | L | fortified; walled | Geophila obvallata* | H | DS | |
obvallaris | D | C | ||||
occidentalis | L | western, from occidens | Platanus occidentalis | H | DS | C |
occultus | L | hidden | Dalbergia occulta | H | S | |
ocellatus | L | eyespot, from ocellus, little eye | Viola ocellata | H | DS | |
ochraceus | G | ochre | Tabebuia ochracea | H | DS | C |
octopetalus | L | eight-petalled, from octo | Dryas octopetala | H | DS | C |
oculatus | L | eyespot, from oculus, eye | Verticordia oculata | H | D | |
odoratus | L | fragrant | Lathyrus odoratus | H | DS | C |
odorifer | H | DS | ||||
odorus | H | DS | C | |||
odoratissimus | L | most fragrant | Artocarpus odoratissimus | H | D | C |
officinalis | L | medicinal | Zingiber officinale | H | DS | C |
officinarum | H | D | ||||
oleifer | L | oil-bearing, from oleum, oil | Moringa oleifera | H | D | C |
oleraceus | L | kitchen-garden, from olus | Sonchus oleraceus | H | DS | C |
olitorius | H | DS | ||||
oligocarpus | G | with few fruits | Annona oligocarpa | H | DS | |
olivaceus | L | green-brown, from oliva, olive | Lithops olivacea | H | DS | |
opacus | L | darkened; in the shade | Ilex opaca | H | S | |
operculatus | L | lidded, from operculum, a covering | Luffa operculata | H | S | |
oporinus | G | autumn | Diuris oporina | D | ||
oppositifolius | L | opposite-leaved, from oppositus | Myoporum oppositifolium | H | DS | C |
orbiculatus | L | circular, from orbis, ring; orbicular | Celastrus orbiculatus | H | DS | C |
orbicularis | H | DS | ||||
oreophilus | G | mountain | Sarracenia oreophila | H | DS | C |
oresbius | H | DS | ||||
orgyalis | G | fathom-long | Kalanchoe orgyalis | DS | ||
orientalis | L | eastern, from oriens | Platanus orientalis | H | DS | C |
ornatus | L | ornamented. (Also ornans.) | Musa ornata | H | DS | C |
ornatissimus | L | most ornamented | Downingia ornatissima | H | D | |
orthocarpus | G | straight-fruited | Acacia orthocarpa | H | DS | |
osmanthus | G | fragrant-flowered | Attalea osmantha | H | DS | |
ovatus | L | ovate, from ovum, egg | Trillium ovatum | H | DS | C |
ovalis | H | DS | ||||
ovifer | L | egg-bearing, from ovum | Pachyphytum oviferum, Pandanus oviger* | D | ||
oviger | D | |||||
ovinus | L | sheep, from ovis | Festuca ovina | H | DS | C |
oxyphyllus | G | sharp-leaved | Melaleuca oxyphylla | H | DS | C |
pabularis | L | fodder, from pabulum | Barleria pabularis* | DS | ||
pachycarpus | G | thick-fruited | Corymbia pachycarpa | H | DS | C |
paganus | L | of villages | Rubus paganus | H | ||
pallidus | L | pale | Lycium pallidum | H | DS | C |
pallens | H | DS | ||||
pallescens | H | DS | ||||
palmaris | L | palm's-width | Chromolaena palmaris* | H | DS | |
palmatus | L | hand-shaped, from palma; palmate | Diplocyclos palmatus | H | DS | C |
palustris | L | marsh, from palus | Banksia paludosa | H | DS | C |
paludosus | H | DS | ||||
panduratus | L | fiddle-shaped; pandurate | Ipomoea pandurata | H | DS | |
paniculatus | L | panicled | Toxicoscordion paniculatum | H | DS | C |
pannosus | L | tattered | Cotoneaster pannosus | H | DS | |
papilio | L | butterfly | Bulbophyllum papilio | H | ||
papillosus | L | papillose, from papilla, nipple | Sphagnum papillosum | DS | ||
papilliger | D | |||||
papyraceus | L | paper. (Also papyrus.) | Narcissus papyraceus | H | DS | C |
papyrifer | H | D | C | |||
paradisiacus | G | paradise; garden | Cipura paradisiaca* | H | D | |
paradisi | H | D | ||||
paradoxus | G | unusual | Dissocarpus paradoxus | H | D | C |
parasiticus | L | parasitic, from parasitus | Macrosolen parasiticus | H | DS | |
pardalinus | L | leopard, from pardus. (Also pardinus.) | Lilium pardalinum | H | D | C |
parmulatus | L | shield, from parmula | Rhododendron parmulatum* | D | ||
partitus | L | divided | Klattia partita* | H | DS | |
parvus | L | small | Camissonia parvula | H | DS | |
parvulus | D | C | ||||
pastoralis | L | of shepherds | Meryta pastoralis* | DS | ||
patellaris | L | dish, from patella | Eucalyptus patellaris | D | ||
patelliformis | DS | |||||
patens | L | spreading out | Physcomitrella patens | H | DS | C |
patulus | H | DS | C | |||
pauciflorus | L | sparse-flowered, from paucus | Stephanomeria pauciflora | H | DS | C |
pauperculus | L | poor | Astragalus pauperculus | H | D | |
pavoninus | L | peacock blue, from pavo; eye-spotted | Anemone pavonina* | H | DS | C |
pectinatus | L | comb, from pecten; pectinate | Echinocereus pectinatus | H | DS | C |
pectinifer | D | |||||
pectoralis | L | chest, from pectus | Justicia pectoralis | H | D | |
peculiaris | L | peculiar | Trachyandra peculiaris | H | S | |
pedalis | L | foot-long | Indocalamus pedalis* | DS | ||
pedatifidus | L | bird's-foot; pedate. From pes, foot. | Viola pedatifida, Sidalcea pedata | H | D | C |
pedatus | H | DS | C | |||
pedunculosus | L | peduncled | Lotus pedunculatus | H | D | C |
peduncularis | H | DS | ||||
pedunculatus | H | DS | ||||
pellucidus | L | transparent, from perlucidus; pellucid | Tetraphis pellucida | H | DS | |
peltatus | L | shield-bearing; peltate | Pelargonium peltatum | H | DS | C |
pelviformis | L | shallow, from pelvis, basin | Campanula pelviformis* | H | DS | |
pendulus | L | hanging | Betula pendula | H | DS | C |
pendulinus | H | DS | C | |||
penicillatus | L | paint-brush, from penicillus; penicillate. (Also penicillius.) | Banksia penicillata | H | DS | |
peninsularis | L | peninsula, from peninsula | Argyrochosma peninsularis | H | DS | |
pennatus | L | feathered; pinnate. From pinnatus. | Stipa pennata | H | DS | |
penniger | L | feathered, from penna | Verticordia pennigera | H | D | |
pensilis | L | hanging | Glyptostrobus pensilis | H | D | |
pentaphyllus | G | five-leaved | Gynostemma pentaphyllum | H | DS | C |
peramoenus | L | very pleasant | Platanthera peramoena | D | ||
perbellus | L | beautiful | Veronica perbella* | H | D | |
percussus | L | perforated | Goniophlebium percussum* | D | ||
peregrinus | L | foreign | Comptonia peregrina | H | DS | C |
perennis | L | year-long; perennial | Mercurialis perennis | H | DS | C |
perennans | DS | |||||
perfoliatus | L | perfoliate | Eupatorium perfoliatum | H | DS | C |
perfossus | DS | |||||
perforatus | L | perforated, from perforo | Hypericum perforatum | H | DS | C |
pergracilis | L | very slender, from gracilis | Psydrax pergracilis | H | D | |
permixtus | L | intermingled | Rubus permixtus | D | ||
persimilis | L | very similar | Crataegus persimilis | D | C | |
persistens | L | persisting, from persisto | Calochortus persistens | H | DS | |
perspicuus | L | transparent | Rubus perspicuus | H | DS | |
pertusus | L | perforated | Bothriochloa pertusa | H | DS | |
perulatus | L | perulate | Enkianthus perulatus | H | DS | C |
perutilis | L | very useful | Aniba perutilis* | DS | ||
petaloideus | G | petal-like | Gunnera petaloidea | H | DS | |
petiolaris | L | petiolate | Banksia petiolaris | H | DS | C |
petiolatus | H | DS | ||||
petraeus | L | rock, from petra, rock or cliff | Quercus petraea | H | DS | C |
phaeus | G | dark brown or grey | Geranium phaeum | H | DS | C |
phyllomaniacus | G | profusely leafy | Begonia phyllomaniaca* | D | ||
picturatus | L | embroidered | Festuca picturata | H | D | C |
pictus | L | painted | Diplacus pictus | H | DS | C |
pileatus | L | skull-capped; pileate | Eucalyptus pileata | H | DS | C |
pilosus | L | hairy; pilose. (Also pilosulus.) | Xanthosia pilosa | H | DS | C |
pilifer | H | DS | ||||
pilularis | G | globular (the fruit), from pila, ball | Eucalyptus pilularis | H | D | C |
pilulifer | H | D | ||||
pinguifolius | L | with waxy or thick leaves, from pinguis, fat | Acacia pinguifolia | H | DS | C |
pinnatus | L | feathered; pinnate | Alloxylon pinnatum | H | DS | C |
piperitus | L | peppery, from piper | Zanthoxylum piperitum | H | D | C |
planus | L | flat | Eleocharis plana | H | DS | C |
platyphyllus | G | broad-leaved. (Also platyphyllos.) | Eucalyptus platyphylla | H | DS | C |
plebeius | L | plebeian | Veronica plebeia | D | ||
plenus | L | double; full | Corymbia plena | H | DS | |
plenissimus | H | D | ||||
pleurostachys | G | side-spiked | Orleanesia pleurostachys* | DS | ||
plicatus | L | pleated, from plico; plicate | Thuja plicata | H | DS | C |
plumarius | L | plumed, from pluma; plumose | Dianthus plumarius | H | D | |
plumatus | D | |||||
plumosus | H | DS | ||||
plumbeus | L | leaden | Merwilla plumbea | H | DS | |
pluriflorus | L | many-flowered, from plurimus; pluriflor | Sannantha pluriflora | H | DS | |
pluvialis | L | rainy-day | Caladenia pluvialis | H | S | |
pocophorus | G | woolly | Rhododendron pocophorum* | H | D | |
poculiformis | G | goblet-shaped | Eragrostis poculiformis* | DS | ||
podagricus | G | gout, from podagra. (Also podagraria.) | Jatropha podagrica | D | ||
poeticus | L | of poets | Narcissus poeticus | H | D | C |
poetarum | D | |||||
pogonanthus | G | bearded-flower | Abronia pogonantha | DS | ||
polaris | L | polar or far northern | Salix polaris | H | S | |
polifolius | G | Greek: grey + Latin: leaf | Kalmia polifolia | H | D | |
politus | L | polished | Gasteria polita | H | DS | |
polycarpus | G | many-fruited | Corymbia polycarpa | H | DS | C |
pomeridianus | L | afternoon | Chlorogalum pomeridianum | H | DS | |
pomifer | L | fruit-bearing; pome-bearing | Maclura pomifera | H | D | C |
pomponius | L | ostentatious, from pompa; tufted | Lilium pomponium | H | D | |
ponderosus | L | weighty | Pinus ponderosa | H | DS | C |
porophyllus | G | (apparently) porous-leaved | Saxifraga porophylla* | H | D | |
porphyreus | G | purple; purple-red | Sedum porphyreum | H | DS | |
porrigens | L | spreading, from porrigo | Galium porrigens | H | ||
potamophilus | G | river | Sebastiania potamophila | H | DS | |
potatorum | L | of drinkers | Agave potatorum | H | D | C |
praealtus | L | very high | Calochilus praealtus | H | D | |
praecox | L | early-ripening, from coquo | Agapanthus praecox | H | DS | C |
praemorsus | L | (apparently) nibbled, from morsus | Acacia praemorsa | H | DS | |
praeruptorum | L | (inhabitant) of rough places, from praeruptus, rugged | Dicymbe praeruptorum* | H | S | |
praestans | L | pre-eminent | Vaccinium praestans | H | D | C |
praeteritus | L | departed; overlooked | Castilleja praeterita | DS | ||
praetermissus | L | overlooked, from praetermitto | Eucalyptus praetermissa | DS | C | |
praetextus | L | bordered; disguised | Cryptanthus praetextus | H | DS | |
praevernus | L | before the spring, from vernus | Rhododendron praevernum* | D | ||
pratensis | L | meadow | Trifolium pratense | H | DS | C |
pravissimus | L | most crooked, from pravus | Acacia pravissima | H | D | C |
precatorius | L | prayer, from precator, suppliant | Euterpe precatoria | D | ||
preptus | G | distinguished | Rhododendron preptum* | D | ||
princeps | L | foremost | Roystonea princeps | H | D | |
prismaticus | G | prism | Iris prismatica | H | DS | |
proboscideus | G | long-snouted | Bulbophyllum proboscideum | H | DS | C |
procerus | L | tall | Abies procera | H | DS | C |
procumbens | L | near the ground, from procumbo; procumbent | Juniperus procumbens | H | DS | C |
procurrens | L | extending, from procurro | Arabis procurrens | H | DS | C |
prodigiosus | L | prodigious | Phyllolobium prodigiosum* | H | ||
productus | L | extended, from produco | Costus productus* | H | DS | |
prolifer | L | proliferous, from proles, offshoot | Isolepis prolifera | H | DS | C |
prolificus | L | prolific; proliferous | Hypericum prolificum | H | DS | C |
pronus | L | tilted forward | Dracophyllum pronum | DS | ||
propinquus | L | kindred | Eucalyptus propinqua | H | DS | C |
prostratus | L | on the ground; prostrate | Ceanothus prostratus | H | DS | C |
protistus | G | very first | Rhododendron protistum | H | ||
protrusus | L | protruding, from protrudo | Melaleuca protrusa | DS | ||
pruinatus | L | (apparently) frosted, from pruina; pruinose | Begonia pruinata* | H | DS | |
pruinosus | H | DS | ||||
pruriens | L | itchy, from prurio | Mucuna pruriens | DS | ||
psilostemon | G | smooth-stamened | Geranium psilostemon | H | DS | C |
psittacinus | L | parrot, from psittacus | Impatiens psittacina, Heliconia psittacorum | H | DS | |
psittacorum | H | D | ||||
pteroneurus | G | winged-vein | Cnidoscolus pteroneurus* | H | DS | |
pubescens | L | fuzzy, from pubesco; pubescent | Betula pubescens | H | DS | C |
pubiger | H | D | ||||
pubens | H | DS | ||||
pudicus | L | shy | Mimosa pudica | H | D | C |
puderosus | D | |||||
pugioniformis | L | dagger-shaped, from pugio | Dendrobium pugioniforme | H | DS | |
pulcher | L | beautiful. Feminine pulchra, neuter pulchrum. | Senecio pulcher | H | DS | C |
pulchellus | H | DS | C | |||
pullus | L | blackish | Piaranthus pullus* | H | DS | C |
pulverulentus | L | powdery, from pulvis; pulverulent | Eucalyptus pulverulenta | H | DS | C |
pulvinatus | L | cushiony, from pulvinus; pulvinate | Grimmia pulvinata | H | DS | C |
pumilus | L | dwarf. (Also pumilio.) | Ficus pumila | H | DS | C |
punctatus | L | dotted, originally from punctum, point or puncture; punctate | Monarda punctata | H | DS | C |
pungens | L | pricking, from pungo; pungent | Picea pungens | H | DS | C |
purgans | L | purgative, from purgo | Saurauia purgans* | D | ||
purpureus | L | purplish | Ceratodon purpureus | H | DS | C |
purpuratus | L | royal; purplish | Eucalyptus purpurata | H | DS | C |
purpurascens | L | light purple, from purpurasco. (Also purpurellus.) | Calamagrostis purpurascens | H | DS | C |
pusillus | L | tiny | Potamogeton pusillus | H | DS | |
pustulatus | L | (apparently) blistered, from pustula, pustule; pustulate | Eremophila pustulata | H | DS | |
pycnanthus | G | densely flowering | Acacia pycnantha | H | S | |
pyramidalis | L | pyramidal, from pyramis | Anacamptis pyramidalis | H | DS | C |
pyramidatus | D | |||||
pyxidatus | G | lidded box | Eugenia pyxidata* | DS | ||
quadrifolius | L | four-leaved, from quattuor, four | Paris quadrifolia | H | DS | C |
quinatus | L | five-part, from quinque, five | Akebia quinata | H | DS | C |
racemosus | L | racemose, from racemus, cluster | Sambucus racemosa | H | DS | C |
radiatus | L | radiating; radiate | Lycoris radiata | H | DS | C |
radians | DS | |||||
radiosus | H | DS | ||||
radicans | L | rooting, originally from radix, root | Toxicodendron radicans | H | DS | C |
radicatus | H | DS | ||||
radicosus | H | DS | ||||
radicum | D | |||||
radula | L | rasp, originally from rado, to scrape | Eurybia radula | H | DS | |
ramentaceus | L | very scaly | Drosera ramentacea* | H | S | |
ramosus | L | branching, from ramus, branch | Boronia ramosa | H | DS | C |
ramulosus | H | DS | ||||
ramosissimus | L | with many branches | Jamesbrittenia ramosissima | H | DS | C |
rarus | L | rare | Hymenophyllum rarum | DS | ||
rariflorus | L | sparse-flowered | Rhynchospora rariflora | H | DS | |
ravus | L | grey, dull yellow or tawny | Miconia rava* | DS | ||
reclinatus | L | reclined, from reclino | Phoenix reclinata | H | DS | |
rectus | L | erect | Eucalyptus recta | H | DS | C |
recurvus | L | curved back; recurved | Eucalyptus recurva | H | DS | |
recurvatus | H | DS | C | |||
recutitus | L | (apparently) skinned, from cutis, skin | Pedicularis recutita* | DS | ||
redivivus | L | reviving | Styrax redivivus | H | DS | C |
reductus | L | reduced, from reduco | Brocchinia reducta | H | DS | C |
reflexus | L | bent backwards, from reflecto; reflexed | Dracaena reflexa | H | DS | C |
refractus | H | DS | ||||
refulgens | L | reflecting, from refulgeo | Justicia refulgens* | H | D | |
regalis | L | royal | Roystonea regia, Drosera regia | H | D | C |
regius | H | D | C | |||
religiosus | L | sacred | Ficus religiosa | H | D | |
remotus | L | remote (in distribution) | Pinus remota | H | DS | C |
reniformis | L | kidney-shaped, from renes, kidneys | Utricularia reniformis | H | DS | |
repandus | L | curling at the edges | Boronia repanda | H | DS | C |
repens | L | creeping | Trifolium repens | H | DS | C |
reptans | H | DS | C | |||
replicatus | L | folded, from replico | Lafoensia replicata | H | DS | |
resinosus | L | resinous, from resina | Pinus resinosa | H | DS | C |
resinifer | H | DS | ||||
resupinatus | L | bent backward, from resupino | Trifolium resupinatum | DS | ||
reticulatus | L | net-like, from reticulum; reticulate | Hippeastrum reticulatum | H | DS | C |
retortus | L | twisted back, from retorqueo | Cerinthe retorta* | H | DS | |
retroflexus | H | DS | ||||
retrofractus | H | D | ||||
retusus | L | blunt; retuse | Rhynchostylis retusa | H | DS | C |
reversus | L | reversed | Alocasia reversa | H | DS | |
revolutus | L | rolled inward, from revolvo; revolute | Orites revolutus | H | DS | C |
rex | L | king. (Also reginae, queen.) | Cattleya rex | H | D | |
rhabdotus | G | striped | Allium rhabdotum | D | ||
rhodanthus | G | with rose-red flowers | Eucalyptus rhodantha | H | DS | |
rhombicus | G | rhombic | Acalypha rhomboidea | DS | ||
rhomboideus | H | DS | ||||
rhytidophyllus | G | wrinkled-leaf | Viburnum rhytidophyllum | H | DS | C |
rigens | L | rigid. (Also rigescens.) | Muhlenbergia rigens | H | DS | C |
rigidus | H | DS | C | |||
ringens | L | gaping, from ringor | Melaleuca ringens | H | DS | C |
riparius | L | riverside, from ripa, riverbank | Vitis riparia | H | DS | C |
rivalis | L | brook | Calyptronoma rivalis | H | DS | C |
rivularis | H | DS | C | |||
robustus | L | strong; solid | Metrosideros robusta | H | DS | C |
rostratus | L | beaked; rostrate | Eremophila rostrata | H | DS | C |
rotatus | L | circular, from rota, wheel; rotate | Hymenocallis rotata | H | DS | |
rotundus | L | round | Cyperus rotundus | H | DS | |
rotundatus | H | DS | ||||
ruber | L | red. Feminine rubra, neuter rubrum. | Acer rubrum | H | DS | C |
rubens | H | DS | ||||
rubescens | L | pale red, from rubesco | Calamagrostis rubescens | H | DS | |
rubellus | H | DS | ||||
rubiginosus | L | rusty-red, from rubigo, rust | Ficus rubiginosa | H | DS | C |
rudis | L | untilled; rough | Eucalyptus rudis | H | DS | |
rufus | L | reddish | Pterostylis rufa | H | DS | |
rufescens | D | |||||
rugosus | L | wrinkled; rugose | Rosa rugosa | H | DS | C |
runcinatus | L | saw-toothed; runcinate | Crepis runcinata | DS | ||
rupestris | L | rock or cliff, from rupes; rupicolous | Brachychiton rupestris | H | DS | C |
rupicola | H | D | ||||
rupifragus | L | rock-cleaving | Salix rupifraga | H | D | C |
russatus | L | russet, from russus | Brachyotum russatum | H | D | |
rusticanus | L | countryside | Armoracia rusticana | H | DS | C |
rusticus | H | D | C | |||
rutilans | L | reddish, from rutilo | Nidularium rutilans | H | DS | |
saccatus | L | bag, from saccus; saccate | Persoonia saccata, Manicaria saccifera | H | DS | |
saccifer | H | D | ||||
saccharatus | G | sugared (in flavour or appearance) | Caladenia saccharata | H | DS | |
saccharifer | G | sugary. (Also saccharum.) | Acer saccharinum, Vitis saccharifera* | DS | C | |
saccharinus | H | DS | C | |||
sagittalis | L | arrow, from sagitta; sagittate. (Also sagittatus.) | Crotalaria sagittalis | H | DS | |
salinus | L | salt, from sal | Drosera salina | H | DS | |
salsuginosus | L | salt marsh, from salsus | Castilleja salsuginosa | DS | ||
sanctus | L | holy | Anacamptis sancta | H | D | |
sanguineus | L | bloody | Broughtonia sanguinea | H | DS | C |
sapidus | L | tasty, from sapio, to have a flavour | Lissanthe sapida | H | DS | |
saponaceus | L | soapy. (Also saponarius.) | Solanum saponaceum* | DS | ||
sarcodes | G | fleshy | Oncidium sarcodes | H | D | |
sarmentosus | L | sarmentose, from sarmentum, twig | Piper sarmentosum | H | DS | C |
sativus | L | cultivated, from sero | Cannabis sativa | H | DS | C |
saturatus | L | colour-saturated | Taraxacum saturatum* | DS | ||
savannarum | L | savanna. Neo-Latin, from a 16th-century Taíno word. | Iris savannarum | DS | ||
saxatilis | L | rock-dwelling, from saxum; saxicolous. (Also saxorum, rock, and saxifraga, rock-breaker.) | Mimetes saxatilis, Acacia saxicola, Dudleya saxosa | H | DS | C |
saxicola | H | DS | ||||
saxosus | H | DS | ||||
scaber | L | rough; scabrid. Feminine scabra, neuter scabrum. (Also scabiosus.) | Boronia scabra | H | DS | C |
scalaris | L | ladder, from scalae | Vriesea scalaris | H | DS | C |
scandens | L | climbing, from scando; scandent | Cobaea scandens | H | DS | C |
scapiger | L | scaped; scapose | Caltha scaposa, Isotoma scapigera | DS | ||
scaposus | H | DS | ||||
scariosus | L | filmy; scarious | Cyperus scariosus | H | DS | C |
scarlatinus | L | scarlet | Bromelia scarlatina | DS | ||
sceleratus | L | toxic | Ranunculus sceleratus | DS | ||
sceptrum | L | sceptre | Banksia sceptrum | H | D | |
schidigerus | G | Greek: splinter + Latin: bearing | Yucca schidigera | H | ||
schistocalyx | G | with a split calyx | Rhododendron schistocalyx* | D | ||
schizopetalus | G | split-petalled | Hibiscus schizopetalus | H | DS | |
scholaris | L | school, from schola, school or debate | Alstonia scholaris | DS | ||
scintillans | L | shining, from scintillo | Schizachyrium scintillans*, Triodia scintillans | D | ||
sclerocarpus | G | hard-fruited | Metrosideros sclerocarpa | D | ||
scoparius | L | broom, from scopae | Leptospermum scoparium, Cytisus scoparius | H | DS | C |
scopulorum | L | cliff, from scopulus | Eucalyptus scopulorum | H | DS | C |
scorpioides | L | scorpion, from scorpio; scorpioid | Myosotis scorpioides | H | DS | |
scrobiculatus | L | dimpled, from scrobis, ditch; scrobiculate | Eremophila scrobiculata | DS | ||
sculptus | L | carved | Epidendrum sculptum | DS | ||
scutatus | L | shield, from scutum. (Also scutellaris, scutellatus.) | Rumex scutatus | DS | C | |
sebifer | L | fatty; oily. From sebum. | Triadica sebifera, Geranium sebosum* | DS | ||
sebosus | DS | |||||
seclusus | L | secluded | Acacia seclusa | D | ||
secundus | L | second; secund. (Also secundatus.) | Epidendrum secundum | H | DS | C |
securiger | L | axe-bearing | Tritonia securigera* | D | ||
segetum | L | grainfield, from seges | Glebionis segetum, Nigella segetalis* | H | DS | C |
segetalis | H | DS | ||||
semperflorens | L | ever-blooming, from semper, always | Bulbophyllum semperflorens | H | DS | |
sempervirens | L | evergreen | Sequoia sempervirens | H | DS | C |
senescens | L | greying, from senesco | Allium senescens | H | DS | C |
senilis | L | aged; white-haired | Cephalocereus senilis | H | D | C |
sensitivus | L | sensitive, from sentio; sensitive | Biophytum sensitivum, Onoclea sensibilis | H | DS | |
sensibilis | H | DS | ||||
senticosus | L | thorny, from sentus | Eleutherococcus senticosus | DS | ||
sepiarius | L | hedge, from sepes | Calystegia sepium, Drypetes sepiaria | DS | ||
sepium | H | DS | ||||
septemfidus | L | cut into seven parts, from septem, seven. | Gentiana septemfida | H | DS | C |
septentrionalis | L | northern | Asplenium septentrionale | H | DS | |
sepulcralis | L | graveyard, from sepulcrum | Eucalyptus sepulcralis | DS | C | |
sepultus | L | buried | Euphorbia sepulta* | D | ||
sericifer | L | silky, from sericus; sericeous | Adenanthos sericeus, Araujia sericifera | D | C | |
sericeus | H | DS | C | |||
serotinus | L | late-blooming, from sero, late | Gagea serotina | H | DS | C |
serpens | L | creeping | Eremophila serpens | H | DS | |
serpentinus | L | serpentine | Rauvolfia serpentina, Melaleuca serpentina | DS | ||
serratus | L | toothed, from serra, saw; serrate. (Also serrula.) | Banksia serrata | H | DS | |
serrulatus | L | fine-toothed; serrulate. (Also serrula.) | Prunus serrulata | H | DS | C |
sesquipedalis | L | one-and-a-half-foot | Angraecum sesquipedale | H | DS | C |
sessilis | L | sitting; stalkless | Banksia sessilis | H | DS | |
setiger | L | bristly; setose | Papaver setigerum, Eremophila setacea, Polystichum setiferum, Corymbia setosa, Prunus setulosa | H | D | C |
setaceus | H | DS | C | |||
setifer | H | DS | C | |||
setosus | H | DS | C | |||
setulosus | H | DS | ||||
sexangularis | L | hexagonal, from sex, six | Sedum sexangulare | H | DS | C |
siculiformis | L | dagger-shaped, from sicula | Acacia siculiformis | D | ||
siderophloius | G | iron-barked | Eucalyptus siderophloia | D | ||
signatus | L | marked up, from signo | Acacia signata | H | D | |
siliceus | L | sand, from silex, stone | Carex silicea | H | DS | |
silvicola | L | woodland, from silva. See sylv-, below. | Weinmannia silvicola, Persoonia silvatica, Eucalyptus silvestris | DS | ||
silvaticus | H | DS | ||||
silvestris | H | DS | ||||
similis | L | similar; generic | Melaleuca similis | H | DS | C |
simplex | L | simple; unbranched. (Also simplicissimus, simplest.) | Ruellia simplex | H | DS | C |
simulans | L | imitative | Eremophila simulans | H | DS | |
sinuatus | L | sinuous; sinuate | Pterostylis sinuata | H | DS | C |
smaragdinus | L | emerald-green, from smaragdus, a green gem | Epidendrum smaragdinum | DS | ||
sobolifer | L | shoot-bearing; basal-shoot-bearing | Stylidium soboliferum | H | DS | |
socialis | L | confederated; colony-forming | Ledebouria socialis | H | D | |
solaris | L | solar | Drosera solaris | D | ||
solidus | L | dense | Corydalis solida | H | DS | C |
solstitialis | L | summer-solstice | Centaurea solstitialis | DS | ||
somnifer | L | sedating | Withania somnifera | H | D | C |
sordidus | L | dirty (in appearance) | Salvia sordida | H | DS | |
sororius | L | sisterly | Viola sororia | D | C | |
spadiceus | L | dark brown | Prasophyllum spadiceum | DS | ||
sparsus | L | sparse, from spargo, to scatter | Beaufortia sparsa | DS | ||
spathulatus | L | spatulate. (Also spathaceus, spathed, from spatha, blade.) | Sarcochilus spathulatus | H | DS | |
speciosus | L | showy | Banksia speciosa | H | DS | C |
spectabilis | L | remarkable | Tahina spectabilis | H | D | C |
speculatus | L | mirrored, from speculum | Rubus speculatus* | D | ||
sphacelatus | G | withered | Setaria sphacelata | DS | ||
sphaericus | G | spherical. (Also sphaeroideus.) | Corymbia sphaerica | H | D | |
sphaeroides | D | |||||
sphegodes | G | wasp | Ophrys sphegodes | D | ||
sphenantherus | G | wedge-anthered | Schisandra sphenanthera* | D | ||
spicifer | L | spike, from spica; spicate. (Also spicatus.) | Swintonia spicifera, Melaleuca spicigera, Micraira spiciforma* | DS | ||
spiciger | H | D | C | |||
spiciformis | H | DS | ||||
spinescens | L | spiny, from spina; spinose. (Also spinulosus.) | Acacia spinescens, Cenchrus spinifex, Prunus spinosa | H | DS | |
spinifer | DS | |||||
spinifex | H | D | ||||
spinosus | H | DS | C | |||
spinulifer | D | |||||
spinosissimus | L | spiniest | Mammillaria spinosissima | H | D | C |
spiralis | L | coiled or twisted, from spira; spiral | Thelymitra spiralis | H | DS | |
spissus | L | crowded | Pterostylis spissa | DS | ||
splendidus | L | splendid | Eremophila splendens, Boronia splendida | H | DS | C |
splendens | H | D | C | |||
spurius | L | spurious | Eremophila spuria | H | DS | C |
squalidus | L | squalid | Senecio squalidus | H | DS | C |
squalens | D | |||||
squamosus | L | scaly | Pterostylis squamata, Eucalyptus squamosa | H | DS | C |
squamatus | H | DS | C | |||
squarrosus | L | with extended tips; squarrose. Cognate to squamosus. | Bromus squarrosus | H | DS | C |
stamineus | L | well-stamened, from stamen, thread | Trillium stamineum | H | DS | |
stans | L | standing, from sto | Tecoma stans | H | DS | C |
stauracanthus | G | cross-spined | Cryosophila stauracantha* | D | ||
stellaris | L | star, from stella; stellate. (Also stellulatus.) | Hibbertia stellaris, Allium stellatum | H | DS | |
stellatus | H | DS | C | |||
stelliger | D | |||||
stenocarpus | G | narrow-fruited | Hakea stenocarpa | H | D | |
sterilis | L | infertile; sterile | Bromus sterilis | H | DS | |
stipulaceus | L | stipuled, from stipula, stalk | Dalbergia stipulacea, Palaquium stipulare, Rubus stipulatus | H | DS | |
stipularis | H | DS | ||||
stipulatus | H | D | ||||
stolonifer | L | stolon-bearing; stoloniferous | Drosera stolonifera | H | D | C |
stramineus | L | straw; straw-coloured | Parsonsia straminea | DS | ||
strangulatus | L | constricted, from strangulo | Trigonella strangulata* | DS | ||
strepens | L | rattling, from strepo | Ruellia strepens | D | ||
streptophyllus | G | twisted-leaf | Tillandsia streptophylla | H | D | |
striatus | L | striped; striate. (Also striatulus.) | Bletilla striata, Dendrobium striolatum | H | DS | C |
striolatus | H | DS | ||||
strictus | L | drawn tight; upright | Orthoceras strictum | H | DS | C |
strigosus | L | meagre; strigose | Caladenia strigosa | H | DS | |
strigillosus | D | |||||
strobilifer | L | cone-bearing | Deuterocohnia strobilifera | H | D | |
strongylophyllus | G | rounded-leaf | Acacia strongylophylla | D | ||
strumosus | L | swollen | Hakea strumosa | H | DS | C |
strumarius | D | |||||
stylosus | L | well-styled | Rhizophora stylosa | H | DS | C |
styracifluus | L | gummy | Liquidambar styraciflua | H | D | C |
suaveolens | L | sweet-scented | Brugmansia suaveolens | H | DS | C |
suavis | L | sweet | Cymbidium suave | H | DS | |
subacaulis | L | partly stemmed | Calystegia subacaulis | H | D | |
subalpinus | L | subalpine, from alpinus; lower-mountain | Jacaranda subalpina | H | DS | |
subauriculatus | L | partly eared, from auricula, ear | Pseuderanthemum subauriculatum | DS | ||
subcaeruleus | L | light blue, from caeruleus, sky blue | Acacia subcaerulea | DS | ||
subcanus | L | partly grey, from canus | Pavetta subcana* | DS | ||
subcarnosus | L | partly fleshy | Aizoon subcarnosum* | D | ||
subcordatus | L | almost heart-shaped | Alisma subcordatum | H | DS | C |
subdentatus | L | partly toothed, from dentatus | Epilobium subdentatum* | DS | ||
subdivaricatus | L | partly spreading, from divarico | Erica subdivaricata* | D | ||
subelongatus | L | partly elongated, from longus | Jasminum elongatum | DS | ||
suberectus | L | angled, from erectus | Atriplex suberecta | DS | ||
suberosus | L | partly erose | Boronia suberosa | H | DS | |
subfalcatus | L | almost sickle-shaped, from falcatus | Lysiana subfalcata | DS | ||
subglaucus | L | partly glaucous, from glaucus | Juncus subglaucus* | DS | ||
subhirtellus | L | slightly hairy, from hirtus | Drosera subhirtella | H | DS | C |
submersus | L | submerged, from submergo | Ceratophyllum submersum | H | DS | |
subpetiolatus | L | partly petiolate | Navia subpetiolata | D | ||
subscandens | L | likely to climb, from scando | Siparuna subscandens* | DS | ||
subterraneus | L | underground | Trifolium subterraneum | H | DS | |
subulatus | L | awl-shaped; subulate | Phlox subulata | H | DS | C |
subvillosus | L | partly shaggy, from villosus | Allium subvillosum | H | DS | |
succisus | L | severed below | Robiquetia succisa | DS | ||
succulentus | L | fleshy; succulent | Lupinus succulentus | H | DS | C |
suffrutescens | L | partly shrubby, from frutex, shrub | Portulaca suffrutescens, Dillenia suffruticosa | H | DS | C |
suffruticosus | H | DS | C | |||
sulcatus | L | furrowed, from sulcus; sulcate | Persoonia sulcata | H | DS | C |
sulphureus | L | sulphur-yellow. Stearn also lists sulfureus; (Also sulphureas.) | Pimelea sulphurea, Siphocampylus sulfureus | H | DS | C |
superbus | L | proud; superb. (Also superbiens.) | Calothamnus superbus | H | D | C |
superciliaris | L | eyebrow, from supercilium | Begonia superciliaris* | D | ||
supinus | L | supine | Asperula supina* | H | DS | |
supranubius | L | above the clouds, from nubes, cloud | Genista supranubia* | D | ||
surculosus | L | shoot-bearing, from surculus, a shoot | Mammillaria surculosa | H | DS | |
suspensus | L | suspended | Forsythia suspensa | H | DS | C |
sylvaticus | L | woodland, from sylva. See silv-, above. | Nyssa sylvatica, Angelica sylvestris, Caladenia sylvicola, Aruncus sylvester | H | DS | C |
sylvester | H | D | ||||
sylvestris | H | DS | C | |||
sylvicola | H | DS | ||||
tabuliformis | L | flat, from tabula, board | Aeonium tabuliforme | H | DS | C |
taediger | L | torch-bearing, from taeda, torch. (Also taeda.) | Raphia taedigera | D | ||
tanastylus | G | long-styled | Rhododendron tanastylum* | D | ||
tapetiformis | L | woven (like tapestry or carpet), from tapes | Rhododendron tapetiforme* | D | ||
tardus | L | tardy; late. | Tulipa tarda, Allium tardiflorum | H | DS | |
tardivus | D | |||||
tectorum | L | of roofs, from tectum | Sempervivum tectorum | H | DS | C |
tectus | L | covered | Genoplesium tectum | DS | ||
telmateius | G | of soggy ground | Equisetum telmateia | DS | ||
temenius | G | of sacred places | Rhododendron temenium* | D | ||
temulentus | L | drunk | Lolium temulentum | H | DS | |
temulus | D | |||||
tenax | L | tenacious | Sideroxylon tenax | H | DS | C |
tenebrosus | L | gloomy | Cattleya tenebrosa* | H | DS | |
tenellulus | L | tender; delicate | Felicia tenella | D | ||
tenellus | H | DS | C | |||
tener | L | delicate | Sticherus tener | H | ||
tentaculatus | L | tentacled | Caladenia tentaculata | H | ||
tenuis | L | thin. (Also tenuissimus, thinnest.) | Cystopteris tenuis | H | DS | C |
teres | L | rounded or circular; terete | Dampiera teres | H | DS | |
terminalis | L | at the end, from terminus; terminal | Persoonia terminalis | H | DS | C |
ternatus | L | triple, from ternus; ternate | Sedum ternatum | H | DS | C |
terrestris | L | ground-dwelling; terrestrial | Lysimachia terrestris | H | DS | |
tessellatus | L | tessellated, from tessella, a small cube | Thamnocalamus tessellatus | H | DS | C |
testaceus | L | brick-coloured, from testa, brick | Caladenia testacea | H | DS | C |
testicularis | L | testicular, from testiculus | Aglaia testicularis* | H | D | |
testiculatus | DS | |||||
testudo | L | tortoise | Durio testudinarius | D | ||
testudinarius | H | D | ||||
tetracanthus | G | four-spined | Barleria tetracantha | D | ||
tetragonus | G | four-angled; tetragonal | Dendrobium tetragonum | H | DS | C |
tetrandrus | G | four-anthered | Myoporum tetrandrum | H | DS | |
tetranthus | G | four-flowered | Lactuca tetrantha | D | ||
tetraphyllus | G | with four leaves | Polycarpon tetraphyllum | H | D | |
tetrapterus | G | four-winged | Eucalyptus tetraptera | H | DS | C |
textilis | L | woven | Juncus textilis | H | DS | |
thermalis | L | warm springs, from thermae | Azima tetracantha | DS | ||
thurifer | L | incense-bearing | Anisoptera thurifera | D | ||
thyrsiflorus | L | thyrse-flowered, from thyrsus, stalk or vined staff. (Also thyrsoideus and thyrsoides.) | Ceanothus thyrsiflorus | H | DS | C |
tigrinus | L | striped; spotted. From tigris, tiger. | Cymbidium tigrinum | H | DS | |
tinctorum | L | of dyers, from tinctus, dyed | Indigofera tinctoria | DS | ||
tinctorius | H | DS | C | |||
tinctus | L | dyed | Fuchsia tincta* | DS | ||
tingens | L | tingeing, from tingo | Marsdenia tingens* | DS | ||
titanius | G | titanic. (Also titanus.) | Amorphophallus titanum | D | ||
tomentosus | L | matted, from tomentum, cushion-filling; tomentose | Alectryon tomentosus | H | DS | C |
tonsus | L | shaved | Dischidia tonsa* | DS | ||
torminalis | L | (for) colic, from tormina | Sorbus torminalis | D | C | |
torosus | L | muscular; cylindrical with constrictions | Mandevilla torosa | DS | ||
torridus | L | parched | Coccothrinax torrida | DS | ||
tortilis | L | twisted. (Also tortuosus.) | Prasophyllum tortilis, Corymbia torta | H | DS | |
tortus | H | DS | ||||
toxicarius | L | toxic, from toxicum, poison | Antiaris toxicaria | H | DS | |
toxicus | D | |||||
toxifer | D | |||||
trachyspermus | G | rough-seeded | Kewa trachysperma* | H | S | |
transitorius | L | short-lived, originally from transeo, to pass through briefly | Caladenia transitoria | H | S | |
translucens | L | translucent, from transluceo | Acacia translucens | DS | ||
transparens | L | transparent, from trans + pareo | Pteris transparens* | D | ||
trapeziformis | L | irregularly four-sided; trapeziform | Chiloglottis trapeziformis | H | DS | |
tremulus | L | shaking. (Also tremuloides.) | Pteris tremula | H | DS | C |
triacanthus | L | three-spined. (Also triacanthos.) | Opuntia triacantha | D | ||
triandrus | G | three-anthered | Salix triandra | H | DS | |
triangularis | L | triangular, from triangulus | Prasophyllum triangulare | H | DS | C |
triangulatus | H | D | ||||
tricaudatus | L | three-tailed | Aristolochia tricaudata | D | ||
tricephalus | L | three-headed | Coussarea tricephala* | D | ||
trichophorus | G | hairy | Triglochin trichophora | D | ||
trichotomus | G | three-branched | Clerodendrum trichotomum | H | D | C |
tricoccus | G | three-lobed | Allium tricoccum | DS | ||
tricolor | L | three-coloured, from color | Viola tricolor | H | DS | C |
tricornis | L | three-horned | Delphinium tricorne | DS | ||
tricuspidatus | L | three-pointed, from tricuspis | Parthenocissus tricuspidata | H | DS | C |
tridens | L | three-toothed | Larrea tridentata | D | ||
tridentalus | DS | C | ||||
trifidus | L | split into three; trifid | Galium trifidum | H | DS | C |
triflorus | L | three-flowered | Geum triflorum | H | D | C |
trifolius | L | with three leaflets; trifoliate | Coptis trifolia | H | D | C |
trifoliatus | H | D | C | |||
trifurcatus | L | three-forked, from furca | Hakea trifurcata | H | DS | |
trifurcus | DS | |||||
trigonophyllus | G | with triangular leaves | Acacia trigonophylla | H | D | |
trilobatus | L | three-lobed | Malus trilobata | H | DS | C |
trimestris | L | three-month, from mensis, month | Lavatera trimestris | H | DS | |
trinervis | L | with three nerves (veins), originally from nervus | Conothamnus trinervis | H | DS | |
trinotatus | L | triple-marked | Palmorchis trinotata* | D | ||
tripetalus | G | three-petaled | Magnolia tripetala | H | DS | C |
triphyllus | G | three-leaved | Gladiolus triphyllus | H | D | C |
tripterus | G | three-winged. (Also tripteris.) | Acacia triptera | H | D | C |
trispermus | G | three-seeded | Reutealis trisperma | DS | ||
tristachyus | G | three-spiked | Diphasiastrum tristachyum | D | ||
tristis | L | sad; dull | Pterostylis tristis | H | DS | C |
triternatus | L | with three groups of leaflets in threes, from ternus, triple | Lomatium triternatum | H | DS | C |
trivialis | L | common | Alisma triviale | H | DS | C |
tropicus | G | tropical | Acacia tropica | DS | ||
truncatus | L | truncated, from truncus, dismembered or deprived of branches; truncate | Lupinus truncatus, Telopea truncata | H | DS | C |
tubatus | L | trumpet, from tuba | Oxypetalum tubatum* | DS | ||
tubaeformis | DS | |||||
tuberculatus | L | bumpy; tuberculate | Diospyros tuberculata, Eleocharis tuberculosa | H | DS | |
tuberculosus | H | D | ||||
tuberosus | L | swollen, from tuber, a swelling; tuberous | Thysanotus tuberosus | H | DS | C |
tubulosus | L | tubular | Leichhardtia tubulosa | H | DS | C |
tubifer | H | D | ||||
tuguriorum | L | of hut-dwellers, from tugurium, hut | Calystegia tuguriorum | D | ||
tumidus | L | tumid | Verticordia tumida | DS | ||
turbinatus | L | shaped like a top, from turbineus; turbinate | Stylidium turbinatum | H | DS | |
turgidus | L | swollen; turgid | Kali turgidum | DS | ||
typicus | G | typical | Arthraxon typicus* | DS | ||
tytthocarpus | G | small-fruited | Cotoneaster tytthocarpus* | DS | ||
uliginosus | L | of marshes; from uligo, dampness | Salvia uliginosa | H | DS | C |
umbellatus | L | umbelled, from umbella, umbrella | Ornithogalum umbellatum | H | DS | C |
umbonatus | L | with a central knob, from umbo, knob; umbonate | Corymbia umbonata | DS | ||
umbraculifer | L | sunshade-bearing, from umbraculum, sunshade | Corypha umbraculifera | DS | ||
umbrella | L | umbrella, from umbra, shade | Soroseris umbrella* | DS | ||
umbrosus | L | shady; shade-tolerant | Scrophularia umbrosa | H | DS | C |
uncinatus | L | hooked; uncinate | Hemiphora uncinata, Chamelaucium uncinatum | H | DS | C |
undulatus | L | wavy, from unda; undulate | Nerine undulata | H | DS | C |
undatus | H | DS | ||||
unguiculatus | L | clawed, from unguis | Bulbophyllum unguiculatum | H | DS | C |
unguicularis | H | DS | ||||
uniflorus | L | one-flowered | Monotropa uniflora, Ipheion uniflorum | H | D | C |
urbanus | L | town. (Also urbius.) | Geum urbanum | H | DS | C |
urbicus | H | D | ||||
urceolatus | L | flask, from urceolus; urceolate | Gastrodia urceolata | H | DS | C |
urens | L | burning, from uro | Caryota urens | H | DS | |
urniger | L | urn, from urna | Pogonatum urnigerum | DS | ||
ursinus | L | bear, from ursus | Allium ursinum | H | D | C |
usitatissimus | L | most useful, from usitatus | Linum usitatissimum | DS | C | |
ustulatus | L | (apparently) scorched, from uro | Neotinea ustulata | D | ||
utilis | L | useful | Brosimum utile | H | DS | C |
utriculatus | L | bladder-like; with utricles | Tillandsia utriculata | H | DS | |
utriculosus | DS | |||||
vacillans | L | variable, from vacillo | Vaccinium vacillans | DS | ||
vagans | L | widely distributed; wandering. From vagor, to wander. | Erica vagans | H | DS | C |
vaginatus | L | sheathed | Cyperus vaginatus | H | DS | |
vaginalis | H | DS | ||||
vaginifer | D | |||||
validus | L | strong; well-developed | Yucca valida | DS | ||
vallicola | L | valley-dweller | Carex vallicola | D | ||
variabilis | L | variable, from vario | Pseuderanthemum variabile | H | DS | C |
varians | H | DS | ||||
variatus | H | D | ||||
varicosus | L | with enlarged veins or vessels | Oncidium varicosum | H | S | |
variegatus | L | variegated | Codiaeum variegatum | H | DS | C |
varius | L | diverse | Hakea varia | H | DS | |
vegetus | L | vigorous | Astragalus vegetus* | H | DS | |
vellereus | L | fleecy, from vellus, fleece | Ballota vellerea* | DS | ||
velox | L | quick; quick-growing | Rubus velox | D | ||
velutinus | L | velvety, from French and Latin | Myoporum velutinum | H | DS | C |
venator | L | hunter | Rhododendron venator* | D | ||
venenatus | L | poisonous, from venenum | Alstonia venenata | DS | ||
venenosus | L | very poisonous | Toxicoscordion venenosum | H | DS | |
venosus | L | heavily veined, from vena | Haworthiopsis venosa | H | DS | |
ventricosus | L | ventricose (swollen, often on one side), from venter, belly | Ensete ventricosum | H | DS | |
venustus | L | pretty | Calochortus venustus | H | DS | C |
verecundus | L | shy | Boronia verecunda | H | D | |
vermiculatus | L | wormlike; having waving lines | Caroxylon vermiculatum | D | ||
vermicularis | DS | |||||
vernicosus | L | varnished | Eucalyptus vernicosa | H | DS | C |
vernix | L | varnish. (Also vernicifluus.) | Acacia verniciflua | D | ||
vernus | L | of spring | Ficaria verna, Leucojum vernum | H | DS | C |
vernalis | H | DS | ||||
verrucosus | L | warty, from verruca; verrucose | Sesuvium verrucosum, Berberis verruculosa | H | DS | |
verruculosus | H | DS | C | |||
versicolor | L | variably coloured | Iris versicolor | H | DS | C |
verticillatus | L | whorled, from vertex, a whorl; verticillate | Banksia verticillata | H | DS | C |
verticillaris | D | |||||
verus | L | true | Aloe vera | H | DS | C |
vescus | L | small; feeble; edible | Fragaria vesca | H | D | |
vesicarius | L | bladder, from vesica | Carex vesicaria | H | DS | C |
vesiculosus | L | vesicle, from vesicula, seed vesicle | Aldrovanda vesiculosa | H | DS | |
vespertilionis | L | (wings) of a bat | Christia vespertilionis* | D | ||
vespertinus | L | (flowering) in the evening | Asplenium vespertinum | H | DS | |
vestitus | L | covered | Leucospermum vestitum | H | DS | |
vexans | L | troublesome, from vexo | Buddleja vexans | H | D | |
vexillaris | L | with a flag, from vexillum | Pachycarpus vexillaris* | DS | ||
viarum | L | by the side of the road or path, from via. (Also vialis.) | Solanum viarum | DS | ||
victorialis | L | victorious, from victoria | Allium victorialis | D | ||
vigilis | L | vigilant, from vigilo | Diascia vigilis | H | ||
villosus | L | hairy; villous | Vicia villosa | H | DS | C |
vinealis | L | vineyard, from vinea | Allium vineale | D | ||
vinifer | L | yielding wine, from vinum | Vitis vinifera | H | D | |
vinosus | L | wine-red | Schefflera vinosa | DS | ||
violaceus | L | violet-coloured, from viola, a violet | Banksia violacea | H | DS | C |
violascens | L | light violet. (Also violescens.) | Pitcairnia violascens | D | ||
virens | L | green | Rhus virens | H | DS | |
viridis | L | fresh-green | Veratrum viride | H | DS | C |
viridescens | L | light green | Ferocactus viridescens, Nassella viridula | H | DS | |
viridulus | H | DS | ||||
viridissimus | L | greenest | Forsythia viridissima | H | D | C |
virgatus | L | twiggy | Homoranthus virgatus, Panicum virgatum | H | DS | C |
virginalis | L | virginal; white. (Also virgineus.) | Disa virginalis | H | D | |
virgultorum | L | hedge, from virgulta | Solanum virgultorum* | D | ||
viscidus | L | sticky; viscid | Phacelia viscida | H | DS | |
viscosus | L | sticky | Dittrichia viscosa | H | DS | C |
vitaceus | L | vine, from vitis. (Also viticella.) | Piper vitaceum* | H | DS | |
vitellinus | L | yolk-coloured, from vitellus | Xanthophyllum vitellinum | H | DS | |
vittatus | L | striped, from vitta, a (worn) band | Hakea vittata | H | DS | |
vittiger | D | |||||
vivax | L | long-lived | Phyllostachys vivax | H | ||
viviparus | L | viviparous | Bistorta vivipara | H | S | |
volubilis | L | circling around | Comesperma volubile | H | DS | |
volutus | L | with rolled leaves, from voluto | Epidendrum volutum* | DS | ||
vomitorius | L | causing vomiting, from vomo | Ilex vomitoria | H | D | C |
vulcanicus | L | of volcanos | Peperomia vulcanica | DS | ||
vulgaris | L | common | Marrubium vulgare | H | DS | C |
vulpinus | L | of foxes, from vulpes | Vitis vulpina | D | ||
xanthinus | G | yellow | Acacia xanthina | H | D | C |
xylonacanthus | G | woody-spined | Agave xylonacantha | D | ||
zaleucus | G | very white | Rhododendron zaleucum* | D | ||
zebrinus | L | zebra-striped, from Portuguese and Neo-Latin | Tradescantia zebrina | H | DS | |
zibethinus | L | (stinking) like a civet | Durio zibethinus | H | D | |
zonatus | L | banded, from zona, belt; zonate | Cryptanthus zonatus | H | DS | |
zonalis | H | D |
See also
- Glossary of botanical terms
- List of Greek and Latin roots in English
- List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names
- List of plant genus names with etymologies: A–C, D–K, L–P, Q–Z
- List of plant genera named for people: A–C, D–J, K–P, Q–Z
- List of plant family names with etymologies
Notes
- ^ Words in the third column following "from" are related words from Classical Latin. The Latin and Latinised Greek words in the first column have masculine endings. If the genus is feminine, the -us ending generally becomes -a, -is is unchanged, and -er becomes -era, or occasionally -ra, as noted; other endings remain unchanged. For a neuter genus, -us becomes -um, -is becomes -e and -er becomes -erum, or occasionally -rum.
- ^ The arrow provides a link to the table row that describes the species epithet.
- ^ Since all of the references cited in the table except Coombes arrange their species epithets alphabetically, citations with page numbers are provided only for Coombes, and each source in the table except for Coombes is always represented by the same superscript.
- ^ Red links for species are followed by an asterisk linking to the genus.
- ^ The suffix -ulus and other diminutives can mean, among other things, "little" or "a little"; the exact meanings are beyond the scope of this list.
- ^ "j" was always written as "i" in Classical Latin.
- ^ Harrison and Bayton often list -ferus in place of -fer and -gerus in place of -ger.
- ^ The -um ending on officinarum denotes a genitive plural noun.
Citations
- ^ Cullen, p. 38.
- ^ The Linnean Society.
- ^ Stearn, p. ix, x.
- ^ Harrison.
- ^ Bayton.
- ^ Stearn 2004.
- ^ Lewis.
- ^ Stearn.
- ^ POWO.
- ^ Gledhill.
- ^ Coombes, p. 113.
- ^ Coombes, p. 42.
- ^ Coombes, p. 249.
- ^ Coombes, p. 141.
- ^ Coombes, p. 253.
- ^ Coombes, p. 119.
- ^ Coombes, p. 86.
- ^ Coombes, p. 33.
- ^ Coombes, p. 84.
- ^ Coombes, p. 54.
- ^ Coombes, p. 245.
- ^ Coombes, p. 79.
- ^ Coombes, p. 71.
- ^ Coombes, p. 195.
- ^ Stearn 2004, p. 301.
- ^ Coombes, p. 120.
- ^ Coombes, p. 121.
- ^ Coombes, p. 262.
- ^ Coombes, p. 277.
- ^ Coombes, p. 76.
- ^ Coombes, p. 169.
- ^ Coombes, p. 220.
- ^ Coombes, p. 70.
- ^ Coombes, p. 259.
- ^ Coombes, p. 108.
- ^ Coombes, p. 82.
- ^ Coombes, p. 41.
- ^ Coombes, p. 87.
- ^ Coombes, p. 96.
- ^ Coombes, p. 60.
- ^ Coombes, p. 158.
- ^ Coombes, p. 92.
- ^ Coombes, p. 43.
- ^ Coombes, p. 241.
- ^ Coombes, p. 209.
- ^ Coombes, p. 203.
- ^ Coombes, p. 59.
- ^ Coombes, p. 66.
- ^ Coombes, p. 221.
- ^ Coombes, p. 88.
- ^ Coombes, p. 77.
- ^ Coombes, p. 251.
- ^ Coombes, p. 51.
- ^ Coombes, p. 165.
- ^ Coombes, p. 114.
- ^ Coombes, p. 115.
- ^ Coombes, p. 47.
- ^ Coombes, p. 229.
- ^ Coombes, p. 55.
- ^ Coombes, p. 63.
- ^ Coombes, p. 144.
- ^ Coombes, p. 27.
- ^ Coombes, p. 227.
- ^ Coombes, p. 53.
- ^ Coombes, p. 24.
- ^ Coombes, p. 58.
- ^ Coombes, p. 102.
- ^ Coombes, p. 159.
- ^ Coombes, p. 129.
- ^ Coombes, p. 243.
- ^ Coombes, p. 93.
- ^ Coombes, p. 104.
- ^ Coombes, p. 166.
- ^ Coombes, p. 157.
- ^ Coombes, p. 139.
- ^ Coombes, p. 156.
- ^ Coombes, p. 91.
- ^ Coombes, p. 29.
- ^ Coombes, p. 32.
- ^ Coombes, p. 295.
- ^ Coombes, p. 289.
- ^ Coombes, p. 296.
- ^ Coombes, p. 35.
- ^ Coombes, p. 26.
- ^ Coombes, p. 85.
- ^ Coombes, p. 110.
- ^ Coombes, p. 34.
- ^ Coombes, p. 23.
- ^ Coombes, p. 151.
- ^ Coombes, p. 254.
- ^ Coombes, p. 44.
- ^ Coombes, p. 40.
- ^ Coombes, p. 167.
- ^ Coombes, p. 46.
- ^ Coombes, p. 238.
- ^ Coombes, p. 38.
- ^ Coombes, p. 117.
- ^ Coombes, p. 150.
- ^ Coombes, p. 72.
- ^ Coombes, p. 90.
- ^ Coombes, p. 171.
- ^ Coombes, p. 67.
- ^ Coombes, p. 163.
- ^ Coombes, p. 219.
- ^ Coombes, p. 107.
- ^ Coombes, p. 125.
- ^ Coombes, p. 212.
- ^ Coombes, p. 300.
- ^ Coombes, p. 128.
- ^ Coombes, p. 302.
- ^ Coombes, p. 78.
- ^ Coombes, p. 267.
- ^ Coombes, p. 57.
- ^ Coombes, p. 138.
- ^ Coombes, p. 45.
- ^ Coombes, p. 36.
- ^ Coombes, p. 97.
- ^ Coombes, p. 25.
- ^ Coombes, p. 192.
- ^ Coombes, p. 137.
- ^ Coombes, p. 235.
- ^ Coombes, p. 140.
- ^ Coombes, p. 303.
- ^ Coombes, p. 31.
- ^ Coombes, p. 175.
- ^ Coombes, p. 193.
- ^ Coombes, p. 274.
- ^ Coombes, p. 172.
- ^ Coombes, p. 132.
- ^ Coombes, p. 164.
- ^ Coombes, p. 250.
- ^ Coombes, p. 153.
- ^ Coombes, p. 75.
- ^ Coombes, p. 196.
- ^ Coombes, p. 231.
- ^ Coombes, p. 61.
- ^ Coombes, p. 183.
- ^ Coombes, p. 206.
- ^ Coombes, p. 135.
- ^ Coombes, p. 200.
- ^ Coombes, p. 294.
- ^ Coombes, p. 118.
- ^ Coombes, p. 50.
- ^ Coombes, p. 48.
- ^ Coombes, p. 207.
- ^ Coombes, p. 122.
- ^ Coombes, p. 95.
- ^ Coombes, p. 255.
- ^ Coombes, p. 131.
- ^ Coombes, p. 49.
- ^ Coombes, p. 224.
- ^ Coombes, p. 80.
- ^ Coombes, p. 286.
- ^ Coombes, p. 98.
- ^ Coombes, p. 293.
- ^ Coombes, p. 189.
- ^ Coombes, p. 105.
- ^ Coombes, p. 180.
- ^ Coombes, p. 205.
- ^ Coombes, p. 123.
- ^ Coombes, p. 152.
- ^ Coombes, p. 154.
- ^ Coombes, p. 103.
- ^ Coombes, p. 308.
- ^ Coombes, p. 257.
- ^ Coombes, p. 223.
- ^ Coombes, p. 214.
- ^ Coombes, p. 28.
- ^ Coombes, p. 190.
- ^ Coombes, p. 62.
- ^ Coombes, p. 260.
- ^ Coombes, p. 130.
- ^ Coombes, p. 263.
- ^ Coombes, p. 112.
- ^ Coombes, p. 39.
- ^ Coombes, p. 240.
- ^ Coombes, p. 177.
- ^ Coombes, p. 271.
- ^ Coombes, p. 307.
- ^ Coombes, p. 106.
- ^ Coombes, p. 292.
- ^ Coombes, p. 69.
- ^ Coombes, p. 258.
- ^ Coombes, p. 188.
- ^ Coombes, p. 182.
- ^ Coombes, p. 124.
- ^ Coombes, p. 201.
- ^ Coombes, p. 68.
- ^ Coombes, p. 194.
- ^ Coombes, p. 37.
- ^ Coombes, p. 198.
- ^ Coombes, p. 217.
- ^ Coombes, p. 146.
- ^ Coombes, p. 269.
- ^ Coombes, p. 236.
- ^ Coombes, p. 272.
- ^ Coombes, p. 246.
- ^ Coombes, p. 181.
- ^ Coombes, p. 94.
- ^ Coombes, p. 176.
- ^ Coombes, p. 83.
- ^ Coombes, p. 184.
- ^ Coombes, p. 99.
- ^ Coombes, p. 52.
- ^ Coombes, p. 309.
- ^ Coombes, p. 81.
- ^ Coombes, p. 202.
- ^ Coombes, p. 155.
- ^ Coombes, p. 264.
- ^ Coombes, p. 73.
- ^ Coombes, p. 297.
- ^ Coombes, p. 134.
- ^ Coombes, p. 244.
- ^ Coombes, p. 65.
- ^ Coombes, p. 161.
- ^ Coombes, p. 127.
- ^ Coombes, p. 30.
References
- Bayton, Ross (2020). The Gardener's Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-20017-0.
- Coombes, Allen (2012). The A to Z of Plant Names: A Quick Reference Guide to 4000 Garden Plants. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. ISBN 9781604691962.
- Cullen, Katherine E. (2006). Biology: The People Behind the Science. New York, New York: Infobase Publishing. ISBN 9780816072217.
- Gledhill, David (2008). The Names of Plants. New York, New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453.
- Harrison, Lorraine (2012). Latin for Gardeners: Over 3,000 Plant Names Explained and Explored. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226009193.
- Lewis, Charlton (1891). An Elementary Latin Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199102051. Available online at the Perseus Digital Library.
- The Linnean Society (August 1992). "Publications by William T. Stearn on bibliographical, botanical and horticultural subjects, 1977–1991; a chronological list". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 109 (4): 443–451. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1992.tb01443.x. ISSN 0024-4074.
- POWO (2019). "Plants of the World Online". London: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2021. See terms of use.
- Stearn, William (2004). Botanical Latin. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. ISBN 9780881926279.
- Stearn, William (2002). Stearn's Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners. London: Cassell. ISBN 9780304364695.
Further reading
- Brown, Roland (1956). Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 9781560988489.
- Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (2013). An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon. Mansfield Centre, Connecticut: Martino Fine Books. ISBN 9781614273974. Reprint of the 1888/1889 edition. Available online at the Perseus Digital Library.