Dictionary of Latin Botanical Terms

abbreviatus -- short

acuminatus -- long tapering point

acutifolius -- with sharp leaves

adpressus -- pressed together, pressed against

adscendens -- going up

aerius -- of the air, as air-roots

affinus -- related, with an affinity

africanus -- from Africa

alatus -- winged

albescens -- pale, whitish

albidus, albus -- white

albiflorus -- with white flowers

alpinus -- of the alpines, mountains

alternus -- alternating, usually means NOT directly

opposite

altus -- altitude, tall

amabilis -- pretty

amphibius -- adaptable either to land or water

angulosus -- angled, turning every which way

angustifolius -- with narrow leaves (seldom used, more

commonly nerifolius)

aquaticus -- of the water, water-loving

arborescens -- growing like a tree, woody like a tree

arenatius -- found in sandy places

argenteus, argentus -- silvery

aristatus -- bearded

arrectus -- straight up, erect

ascendens -- going up, ascending

asiaticus, asiatus -- from asia

atlanticus -- Atlantic

atropurpureus, atropurpurea -- purple, sometimes dark red

atrosanguineus -- dark blood-red

atroviolaceus -- dark violet

atrovirens -- dark green

augustus -- important in size or appearance, imposing

aurantiacus -- orange-red

aureus -- golden

azureus -- light blue, azure

babylonicus -- Babylonian, from Babylon

balticus -- from the Baltic

bengalinis -- from Bengal

biennis -- biennial

biflorus -- two flowered

bifolius -- two leaved

brefolius -- with short leaves

brevis -- short

brevisimus -- very short

brillian -- brilliant

brittanicus -- from Britain

brunneus -- brown

bulgarius -- Bulgarian

buxifolius -- with leaves like a boxwood, box-leaved

calamifolius -- with reed-like leaves

californicus -- from California

campestris -- found in fields

candelabrum -- having the form of a candelabra

candicans -- white or frosty looking

catitatus -- headed

carneus -- flesh-colored

cerefolius -- with waxy leaves

coccineus -- bright red

coloratus -- colored

columnaris -- having the form of a column

concolor -- similar coloring

conglomeratus -- all close together

contortus -- twisted, contorted

cordatus -- heart-shaped

cornutus, cornuta -- horned

crassifolius -- with thick leaves

crenatus -- serrated

cuspidatus -- sharp tooth, or hard point

deformis -- deformed

deliciosus, deliciosa -- delicious

dendroideus -- like a tree

densatus -- dense

densifolius -- with dense leaves

densiflorus -- with dense flowers

dentatus -- toothed, with a series of points

dipterus -- two-winged

discolor -- of two or several colors

dissectus -- deeply cut leaves, an in fern-leaved maple

divaricatus -- spreading

domesticus -- domesticated

edulis -- can be eaten

elatus, elata -- tall

elegans -- elegant, graceful

elongatus -- long

erectus -- upright

excelsius, excelsus -- tall

exoticus, exotica -- from another country

fastigiatus -- having nearly vertical, close-together

branches

ferox -- fierce, thorny

flaccidus -- soft, limp

flammeus -- flame-colored

flexilis -- bendable, flexible

florepleno -- with double flowers

florebundus -- with many flowers

foetidus -- bad-smelling, having a fetid odor

fragrans -- sweet-smelling, fragrant

fragrantissimus very sweet-smelling

frutescens -- bushy, shrubby, twiggy

gallicus -- from Gaul (France), may also pertain to a

rooster

giganticus -- large, gigantic

glaucus -- with a frost-like bloom, as on a grape

gloriosus, gloriosa -- great, superb

gracilis -- slender, graceful, lissome

grandifolius -- with large leaves

gutatus -- freckled

haemanthus -- bright red flowers

humilis -- dwarf, low

ilicifolius holly-like leaves

japonicus -- from Japan

lancifolius -- with lance-like leaves

latifolius -- with broad leaves

leptolepis -- with thin scales

leptophyllus -- with thin leaves

leucodermis -- with white skin

lobularuis -- lobed

luteus -- yellow

macranthus -- with large flowers

nacro -- big, long, large

maximus -- the largest

medius -- medium

megalophyllus -- with very large leaves

microphyllus -- with very small leaves

minimus -- very small

mollis -- hairy, fuzzy

myriophyllus -- with many leaves

nanus, nana -- dwarf, small

nerifolius, nerifolia, -- with narrow leaves

niger -- black

nodulosa -- with small nodes

nudifolia -- deciduous, naked of leaves

oblongatus -- oblong, oval

officinalis -- medicinal

parviflorus -- with small flowers

parvifolia -- with small leaves

patens -- spreading

pinous -- line-like

podocarpus -- with stalked fruits

polydactylus -- with many fingers

porphyreus -- purple

praecox -- very early

procumbens -- procumbent, lying down

pumilus -- dwarf, small

pygmaeus -- pygmy

pyramidalis -- pyramidal

repens -- creeping, low

reticulatus -- with a netted pattern

robustus -- strong, robust

roseaflorus -- with rose-like flowers

rotundifolius -- with round leaves

scandens -- climbing

semperflorens -- everblooming

sempervirens -- always green

serpens -- creeping

serpyllifolius -- with thyme-like leaves

serratus -- with a saw tooth edge

stolenifera -- with runners that root and send up

another plant

strictus -- erect

sylvaticus -- of the forest

tenuifolius -- with slender leaves

tomentosus -- very wooly

tridens -- with three teeth or points

variegatus -- variegated

verrucosus -- warty

virens -- green

virginianus -- of Virginia, first defined in Virginia

viridis -- green

vulgaris -- common, vulgar, ordinary

xanthinus -- yellow