Customer Reviews

Dictionary of Plant Names

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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.

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.

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.

This "dictionary" is extremely non-descriptive. It supplies the latin names, but will define them only as a deciduous tree, or a flowering shrub. That does not explain to me what it looks like compared to other plants. It also has no pictures, so there is no help there. If you want to really learn the latin names of plants, spend the extra money for an illustrated and more desciptive reference dictionary.