Dictionary of Plant Names [Hardcover]

Allen J. Coombes (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0881922943 | ISBN-13: 978-0881922943 | Publication Date: August 15, 1994 | Edition: 1st US ed.

Wonderfully useful and complete, this little book includes common name cross-references, geographical distribution, and name origins, all at a bargain price. Pronunciations given are decidedly Britannic, but this seems a trivial matter in a book that fills so essential a need so conveniently.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A brilliant all-words/no-pictures handbook."—Cynthia Boyd, St. John's Express, February 28, 2004 (Cynthia Boyd St. John's Express )

"The real beauty of this incredible handbook is in its information."—Lynette Walther, Palatka Daily News, March 10, 1999 (Lynette Walther Palatka Daily News )

"The Timber Press small hardcover will fit in the glove compartment ... and be a take-it-with-you aid on every garden tour and visit to public gardens."—A. Carman Clark, Camden Herald, March 4, 1999 (Camden Herald )

Book Description

Wonderfully useful and complete, this little book includes common name cross-references, geographical distribution, and name origins, all at a bargain price. Pronunciations given are decidedly Britannic, but this seems a trivial matter in a book that fills so essential a need so conveniently.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 207 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press; 1st US ed. edition (August 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881922943
• ISBN-13: 978-0881922943
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #386,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Is the Origin of that Plant's Name?, March 11, 2000

By 

loretta tito - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dictionary of Plant Names (Hardcover)

Have you ever been curious about the origin of a plant's botanical name? How and why it got the name and what on earth it has to do with the plant? That's the type of information contained in this easy-to-use guide to botanical plant names.It lists the generic and common names in alphabetical order. The name of each plant genus is given, followed by the suggested pronunciation, the family in which it was placed and the derivation of the name.

For instance, 'rana' means frog in Latin (L), and the name ran unculus is the name given to a plant, which, in many cases, prefers wet places ... like frogs. Now do you think that you will forever more connect frogs with ranunculus? If the scientific name makes sense to you or makes an association for you, it may lock into your memory. By the way, the term, 'scientific name' is preferable to 'Latin (L.) name, since many plants derive from the Greek (Gk.) or are personal names. Here are some origins of names that caught my interest, of the over 1,000 plants listed:

CYMBIDIUM - from Greek 'kymbe' (a boat), referring to the hollowed lip. Greenhouse orchids. STOKESIA - was named after a person, Dr. Jonathan Stokes from Scotland. LAVANDULA - from L.'lavo' to wash, from it's use in soaps. Lavender. NICOTIANA - after Jean Nicot, (1530-1600), who introduced the tobacco plant to France. PRIMULA- from L. primus (first), referring to the early flowers of spring. Primrose.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful guide for beginners, November 7, 2007

By 

Erika Mitchell (E. Calais, VT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dictionary of Plant Names (Hardcover)

This book is a dictionary of common, especially those found in Europe. Common and Latin names are intermixed and cross-referenced in the entries. Pronunciation guides are provided for Latin names, and the meanings of the Latin names are also explained, noting for instance, who a plant is named after, or what part of the plant the Latin descriptive term refers to. A brief glossary of plant-related terms is also provided at the beginning of the book. This is a useful, brief guide for plant enthusiasts who want to learn the Latin names for the plants they work with. Originally written for European readers, its coverage of North American plants is not always complete. Nevertheless, it may prove adequate for general users throughout the English-speaking world.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fascinating and helpful, February 7, 2010

By 

K. Hughes (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dictionary of Plant Names (Hardcover)

I love this book because it provides information not available in most gardener's references. Origin of the plant's botanical name, the meaning of its name, where the plant originally came from, its family - all information that helps the gardener understand the plant and remember its botanical name. I was surprised to learn that many botanical names are not of Latin derivation, but are Greek or simply named after a person. The original nurserymen and plant hunters are named here and provide a reminder that our common garden and houseplants were once very exotic and hard-won. I refer to this book constantly as I'm getting to know my plants.