The Meanings of Latin Names

Knowing the meanings of Latin names can improve learning, comprehension, and retention of dendrology. Below is an extensive glossary of Latin name meanings. Please note: In many cases, these are our best guesses. This is not meant to be an authoritative reference, but should be used as a learning aid. This list has been compiled from a number of sources, which are listed at the bottom. Clicking on the linked species name will open the factsheet for that species.

If interested in just the meanings of botanical epithets, then check out this dictionary: Dictionary of Botanical Epithets

Another good resource from Missouri Botanical Garden: A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Abelia xgrandiflora - glossy abelia after Dr. Clark Abel who introduced Abelia chinensis / large-flowered

Abies amabilis - Pacific silver fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / Latin "amare" (beautiful or lovely, to love)

Abies balsamea - balsam fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / balsam-producing

Abies bracteata - bristlecone fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / a reference to the exerted bracts

Abies concolor - white fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / one color (both needle surfaces)

Abies fraseri - Fraser fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / after John Fraser

Abies grandis - grand fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / large

Abies homolepis - Nikko fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / Greek "homo" (same) and "lepis" (scales), indicating all the cone scales are the size

Abies koreana - Korean fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / of Korea

Abies lasiocarpa - subalpine fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / rough fruit (cones)

Abies magnifica - California red fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / magnificent

Abies nordmanniana - Nordmann fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / after Finnish botanist Alexander von Nordmann

Abies pinsapo - Spanish fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / Spanish "pino" (pine) and "sapo" (fir)

Abies procera - noble fir ancient name - rising or tall tree, name for the European fir / tall

Abutilon palmeri - Palmer's Indian mallow Arabic for a similar plant / after botanist Edward Palmer

Acacia auriculiformis - earleaf acacia Greek "akakia" an ancient name for a thorny Egyptian tree / Latin "auricula" (ear), a reference to the ear-shaped seed pod

Acacia koa - koa Greek "akakia" an ancient name for a thorny Egyptian tree / the Hawaiian name

Acer buergerianum - trident maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / after botanist Heinrich Burger, assistant and successor to Philipp Franz von Siebold as botanist in Japan

Acer campestre - hedge maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / of fields

Acer circinatum - vine maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / rounded leaves

Acer floridanum - Florida maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / of Florida, or flowering

Acer ginnala - Amur maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / native name

Acer glabrum - Rocky Mountain maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / lacking hair

Acer grandidentatum - bigtooth maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / refers to big teeth on leaves

Acer griseum - paperbark maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / gray lower leaf surface

Acer japonicum - fullmoon maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / of Japan

Acer macrophyllum - bigleaf maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / large leaf

Acer miyabei - Miyabe maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / after Japanese botanist Kingo Miyabe

Acer negundo - boxelder Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / Latinized form of Malayan name - leaves resemble genus Vitex

Acer nigrum - black maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / black

Acer palmatum - Japanese maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / hand-like

Acer pensylvanicum - striped maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / of Pennsylvania

Acer platanoides - Norway maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / like Platanus

Acer pseudoplatanus - sycamore maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / false Platanus

Acer rubrum - red maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / red

Acer saccharinum - silver maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / sugary sap - Greek "sakcharon" (sweet or sugar)

Acer saccharum - sugar maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / name for sugar cane - Greek "sakcharon" (sweet or sugar)

Acer spicatum - mountain maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / Latin "spica" (a spike) - a spike of flowers

Acer tataricum - Tatarian maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / from Tartary (central Asia)

Acer truncatum - Shantung maple Latin name - sharp (leaves or used as lances) or Celtic "ac" (hard) / for the truncate (flattened) leaf base

Acer xfreemanii - Freeman maple Greek "akakia" (the Egyptian thorn-tree) and "akis" (thorn) / after Oliver M. Freeman of the National Arboretum

Acoelorrhaphe wrightii - Everglades palm without a coelium (hollow) or raphe (seed ridge) / after Wright, a botanical collector

Adenostoma fasciculatum - chamise Greek "aden" (gland) and "stoma" (mouth) / fascicle-like bundles of leaves

Adenostoma sparsifolium - redshanks Greek "aden" (gland) and "stoma" (mouth) / sparse foliage

Adonidia merrillii - cherry palm Latin "little Adonis" / after American botanist Elmer Merrill

Aesculus californica - California buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / of California

Aesculus flava - yellow buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / yellow

Aesculus glabra - Ohio buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / glabrous (lacking hair)

Aesculus hippocastanum - horsechestnut Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / Latin name from Greek "hippos" (horse) and "kastanon" chestnut

Aesculus parviflora - bottlebrush buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / small flowered

Aesculus pavia - red buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / After Peter Paaw (Petrus Pavius), Dutch botanist

Aesculus sylvatica - painted buckeye Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / of the woods - Latin "silva" (forest)

Aesculus xcarnea - red horsechestnut Latin for an oak with edible acorns (caution - many are poisonous) / flesh-colored

Afrocarpus gracilior - fern pine Greek "podos" (foot) and "carpus" (seed) / very slender or graceful

Agave parryi - artichoke agave Greek "agavo" (noble) / after British-American botanist Charles Christopher Parry

Ailanthus altissima - tree-of-Heaven Indonesian-Mollucan name "ailanto" for Ailanthus moluccana - reaching to Heaven / tallest Latin "altus" (high)

Akebia quinata - fiveleaf akebia Japanese name for this plant / Latin "quin" (five)

Albizia julibrissin - mimosa after del Albizzi / the native name

Alnus cordata - Italian alder Latin name for alder / for its cordate (heart-shaped) leaves

Alnus glutinosa - European black alder Latin name for alder / sticky (buds)

Alnus incana ssp. rugosa - speckled alder Latin name for alder / gray or hoary (apparently for the leaves)

Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia - thinleaf alder Latin name for alder / gray or hoary (apparently for the leaves)

Alnus oblongifolia - Arizona alder Latin name for alder / oblong (leaves)

Alnus rhombifolia - white alder Latin name for alder / leaves shaped like a rhombus

Alnus rubra - red alder Latin name for alder / red

Alnus serrulata - hazel alder Latin name for alder / finely serrate (leaves)

Alnus viridis ssp. crispa - green alder Latin name for alder / green (leaves)

Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata - Sitka alder Latin name for alder / green (leaves)

Ambrosia ambrosioides - canyon ragweed Greek "food of the gods" / like genus Ambrosia

Ambrosia chenopodiifolia - San Diego bursage Greek "food of the gods" / leaves like genus Chenopodium

Ambrosia deltoidea - triangleleaf bursage Greek "food of the gods" / triangle (leaves)

Ambrosia dumosa - white bursage Greek "food of the gods" / shrubby or small

Amelanchier alnifolia - Pacific serviceberry French Provencal name for Amelanchier ovalis - amelanquier / alder-like leaves

Amelanchier arborea - downy serviceberry French Provencal name for Amelanchier ovalis - amelanquier / tree-like

Amelanchier canadensis - shadblow serviceberry French Provencal name for Amelanchier ovalis - amelanquier / of Canada

Amelanchier laevis - Alleghany serviceberry French Provencal name for Amelanchier ovalis - amelanquier / Latin "laev" (smooth; nimble, light)

Amelanchier sanguinea - roundleaf serviceberry French Provencal name for Amelanchier ovalis - amelanquier / blood red (fruits)

Amelanchier utahensis - Utah serviceberry French Provencal name for Amelanchier ovalis - amelanquier / from Utah

Amelanchier xgrandiflora - serviceberry French Provencal name for Amelanchier ovalis - amelanquier / large flowers

Amorpha fruticosa - desert false indigo without form / bearing fruit

Andromeda polifolia - bog rosemary After the very beautiful Andromeda of Greek literature / gray leaves

Anisacanthus quadrifidus - desert honeysuckle Greek "anisos" (unequal) and "acanthos" (thorn) / four-parted (flowers)

Annona glabra - pond apple native Indian name / glabrous (lacking hair)

Aralia spinosa - Devil's walking stick French Canadian "aralei" / bearing spines

Araucaria araucana - monkeypuzzle tree from the Arauco region of Chile / from the Arauco region of Chile

Araucaria heterophylla - Norfolk pine from the Arauco region of Chile / Greek "hetero" (different) and "phylla" (leaves) for the difference between juvenile and mature leaves

Arbutus arizonica - Arizona madrone the Latin name / of Arizona

Arbutus menziesii - Pacific madrone the Latin name / after naturalist Archibald Menzies

Arbutus xalapensis - Texas madrone the Latin name / after Xalapa, Mexico

Arctostaphylos columbiana - hairy manzanita Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / of the Columbia region

Arctostaphylos densiflora - Vine Hill manzanita Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / dense flowers

Arctostaphylos glauca - bigberry manzanita Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / white

Arctostaphylos hookeri - Hooker's manzanita Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / after botanist William Jackson Hooker

Arctostaphylos patula - green manzanita Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / Latin wide-spreading (reference to form or leaves)

Arctostaphylos pungens - pointleaf manzanita Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / Latin "pungere" (to prick)

Arctostaphylos rudis - shagbark manzanita Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / Latin word for rude, raw, or rough (describing the bark)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - kinnikinick Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / bear's grape

Arctostaphylos viscida - whiteleaf manzanita Greek "arctos" (a bear) and "staphyle" (a bunch of grapes) / Latin "viscum" (thick, syrupy or sticky - flowers have sticky stems)

Argyroxiphium sandwicense - Hawaii silversword Greek "argyro" (silver) and / after the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands

Aristolochia macrophylla - Dutchman's pipe Greek "cristos" (noblest) and "locheia" (childbirth), for its early medicinal application / macro (large) phyllum (leaves)

Aronia arbutifolia - chokeberry Greek word for a species of Sorbus / Latin "arburi" (many) and "folia" (leaves)

Aronia melanocarpa - black chokeberry Greek word for a species of Sorbus / Latin "melan" (black or dark) and "carpa" (fruit)

Artemisia californica - coastal sagebrush after the Greek goddess Artemis / of California

Artemisia filifolia - sand sagebrush After the Greek goddess Artemis / filiform (threadlike), and folia (leaf)

Artemisia palmeri - San Diego sagewort after the Greek goddess Artemis / after botanist Edward Palmer

Artemisia tridentata - big sagebrush after the Greek goddess Artemis / leaves with three teeth

Asimina parviflora - dwarf pawpaw native Indian name (assimin) / small flower

Asimina triloba - pawpaw native Indian name (assimin) / 3-lobed calyx

Atriplex canescens - four-wing saltbush ancient Latin for this plant / covered in white, becoming hoary

Atriplex confertifolia - shadscale ancient Latin for this plant / crowded leaves

Avicennia germinans - black mangrove after Persian philosopher Avicinna (Ibn Sina) / Latin "germinare" (to sprout forth)

Baccharis emoryi - Emory's baccharis fragrant root / after Maj. William Hemsley Emory

Baccharis halimifolia - eastern baccharis fragrant root / leaves resemble Halimus (a saltbush)

Baccharis pilularis - coyotebrush fragrant root / having globules

Baccharis pteronioides - yerba de pasmo fragrant root / Greek "pteron" (winged) - for the fruit

Baccharis salicifolia - mule fat fragrant root / leaves like Salix (willows)

Baccharis sarothroides - desertbroom fragrant root / broom-like

Berberis canadensis - American barberry Arabic name / of Canada

Berberis julianae - wintergreen barberry Arabic name / unknown

Berberis thunbergii - Japanese barberry Arabic name / after Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg

Berberis vulgaris - common barberry Arabic name / common

Berchemia scandens - supplejack after Dutch botanist Berthout van Berchem / climbing

Betula alleghaniensis - yellow birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / of the Alleghany region

Betula glandulosa - dwarf birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / gland-bearing

Betula lenta - sweet birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / tough but pliable (twigs or ability to grow in rocky areas) or sweet

Betula nana - bog birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / Greek "nannos" (dwarf)

Betula nigra - river birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / black (bark)

Betula occidentalis - water birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)

Betula papyrifera - paper birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / paper bearing - Egyptian for reed - Greek "papyros" (paper) and Latin "ferre" (to bear)

Betula pendula - European weeping birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / pendulous

Betula populifolia - gray birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / poplar-leaved

Betula uber - roundleaf birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / fertile or rich, probably in reference to site requirements

Betula utilis - Himalayan white birch Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) / useful

Bignonia capreolata - crossvine after librarian Abbe Jean Paul Bignon / having tendrils

Bombax ceiba - red silk cottontree Latin "bambax" (cotton fiber) or Greek "bombax" (surprise or indeed!) / for its resemblance to Genus Ceiba

Borrichia arborescens - tree seaside tansy unknown, perhaps a local name / tree-like

Bougainvillea spp. - bougainvillea after French Admiral Louis de Bougainvillea / after French Admiral Louis de Bougainvillea

Broussonetia papyrifera - paper mulberry after Auguste Broussonet, French naturalist / paper-bearing (bark) - Egyptian for reed - Greek "papyros" (paper) and Latin "ferre" (to bear)

Bucida buceras - black olive like fenugreek, a medicinal herb or crooked horn, a reference to the fruit clusters / like fenugreek, a medicinal herb or crooked horn, a reference to the fruit clusters

Buckleya distichophylla - piratebush after American geologist Samuel Botsford Buckley / in two rows (leaves) Greek "di" (two) and "stichos" (rank)

Buddleja davidii - butterfly-bush after Adam Buddle / after Armand David

Bursera fagaroides - fragrant bursera after botanist Joachim Burser / similar to genus Fagara

Bursera hindsiana - copal after botanist Joachim Burser / after naturalist Richard Brinsley Hinds

Bursera microphylla - elephant tree after botanist Joachim Burser / small leaf

Bursera simaruba - gumbo-limbo after botanist Joachim Burser / perhaps an indication of the resemblance to simaroubaceae

Buxus sempervirens - boxwood Latin name for Buxus sempervirens / evergreen - Latin "semper" (always) and "vivere" (live)

Caesalpinia gilliesii - bird-of-paradise shrub after botanist Andreas Caesalpini / after Scottish botanist John Gillies

Caesalpinia pulcherrima - pride-of-Barbados after botanist Andreas Caesalpini / most beautiful

Calliandra californica - Baja fairy duster Greek "kallos" (beautiful) and "andra" (stamens) / of California

Calliandra eriophylla - fairy duster Greek "kallos" (beautiful) and "andra" (stamens) / woolly leaf

Callicarpa americana - American beautyberry Greek "kallos" (beautiful) "carpa" (fruit) / of America

Callistemon spp. - bottlebrush tree Greek "kallos" (beautiful) and "stemon" (stamen) / Greek "kallos" (beautiful) and "stemon" (stamen)

Callitropsis nootkatensis - Alaska yellow-cedar Resembling Genus Callitris, Greek "calli" (beautiful) / of Nootka Sound

Calocedrus decurrens - incense-cedar Greek "kallos" (beautiful) and Cedrus / decurrent

Calycanthus floridus - common sweetshrub Greek "kalyx" (calyx) and "anthos" (a flower) referring to similar sepals and petals / flowering

Calycanthus occidentalis - sweet shrub Greek "kalyx" (calyx) and "anthos" (a flower) referring to similar sepals and petals / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)

Camellia japonica - Japanese camellia after Georg Josef Kamel / of Japan

Campsis radicans - trumpet creeper Greek "kampe" (something bent) refers to curved stamens / with rooting stems

Canotia holacantha - crucifixion thorn unknown / Greek "holos" (whole or all) and "akantha" (thorn)

Caragana arborescens - pea tree ancient Mongolian name for this genus / tree-like

Carica papaya - papaya Carica for its resemblance to Ficus carica / Papaya from the native Central American name

Carnegiea gigantea - saguaro cactus wax candle / large

Carpinus betulus - European hornbeam Latin name of European hornbeam / resembling a Betula (birch)

Carpinus caroliniana - hornbeam Latin name of European hornbeam/ of Carolina / Latin name of European hornbeam/ of Carolina

Carpinus japonica - Japanese hornbeam Latin name of European hornbeam / of Japan

Carya aquatica - water hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / of water

Carya cordiformis - bitternut hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / heart-shaped (fruit) Latin "cordis" (heart) and "forma" (shaped)

Carya glabra - pignut hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / glabrous (lacking hair)

Carya illinoinensis - pecan Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / of Illinois

Carya laciniosa - shellbark hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / Latin "lacinia" (shred - the bark)

Carya myristiciformis - nutmeg hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / Myristica is the nutmeg genus.

Carya ovalis - red hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / ovate or egg-shaped (leaflets)

Carya ovata - shagbark hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / ovate or egg-shaped (leaflets)

Carya pallida - sand hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / pallid (pale)

Carya tomentosa - mockernut hickory Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / tomentose (hairy)

Cassiope mertensiana - white mountain heather in Greek mythology Cassiope was the queen of Joppa and mother of the beautiful Andromeda / after Karl Mertens, German botanist

Castanea dentata - American chestnut after Castanea in northern Greece, Greek "kastanea" (chestnut) / refers to big teeth on leaves

Castanea mollissima - Chinese chestnut after Castanea in northern Greece, Greek "kastanea" (chestnut) / very soft-hairy

Castanea pumila - Alleghany chinkapin after Castanea in northern Greece, Greek "kastanea" (chestnut) / dwarf or small

Castela emoryi - crucifixion thorn after botanist Rene R.L. Castel / after Maj. William Hemsley Emory

Casuarina equisetifolia - Australian pine Malayan "casuar" (a cassowary) / Latin "equi" horse and "folium" (leaf)

Catalpa bignonioides - southern catalpa Cherokee name / like Bignonia

Catalpa speciosa - northern catalpa Cherokee name / Latin "species" (form) and "osus" (full of) - showy

Ceanothus americanus - New Jersey tea Greek name of a spiny shrub / american

Ceanothus cordulatus - whitethorn ceanothus Greek name of a spiny shrub / Greek "cordul" (club)

Ceanothus cuneatus - narrowleaf buckbrush Greek name of a spiny shrub / wedge-shaped (leaf tips)

Ceanothus fendleri - Fendler's ceanothus Greek name of a spiny shrub / after botanist Augustus Fendler

Ceanothus gloriosus - Point Reyes ceanothus Greek name of a spiny shrub / glorious (flowers)

Ceanothus greggii - desert ceanothus Greek name of a spiny shrub / After explorer Josiiah Gregg

Ceanothus impressus - Santa Barbara ceanothus Greek name of a spiny shrub / impressive

Ceanothus integerrimus - deerbrush Greek name of a spiny shrub / entire or uninjured - leaves are entire

Ceanothus prostratus - mahala mat Greek name of a spiny shrub / prostrate

Ceanothus sanguineus - redstem ceanothus Greek name of a spiny shrub / blood red

Ceanothus spinosus - greenbark ceanothus Greek name of a spiny shrub / spiny

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus - blueblossom Greek name of a spiny shrub / flowers in a thyrse

Ceanothus velutinus - snowbrush Greek name of a spiny shrub / velvety

Cedrus atlantica - Atlas cedar Latin name / of the Atlas Mountains

Cedrus deodara - Deodar cedar Latin name / Northern Indian name

Cedrus libani - cedar of Lebanon Latin name / of Lebanon

Celastrus orbiculatus - Asian bittersweet Greek "kelastros" the name for an evergreen tree / round leaves

Celastrus scandens - American bittersweet Greek "kelastros" the name for an evergreen tree / climbing

Celtis africana - white stinkwood Greek name or name applied to African lotus / of Africa

Celtis ehrenbergiana - spiny hackberry Greek name or name applied to African lotus / after German naturalist Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg

Celtis laevigata var. laevigata - sugarberry Greek name or name applied to African lotus / Latin "laevigat" (smooth or slippery) - the bark

Celtis laevigata var. reticulata - netleaf hackberry Greek name or name applied to African lotus / networked (veins in the leaf)

Celtis occidentalis - hackberry Greek name or name applied to African lotus / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)

Celtis pumila - dwarf hackberry Greek name or name applied to African lotus / dwarf or small

Cephalanthus occidentalis - buttonbush Head of anthers" / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)

Cephalotaxus fortunei - Chinese plum-yew Latin "cephalo" (head) and taxus (yews) / after Robert Fortune

Cercidiphyllum japonicum - katsuratree like Cercis and Greek "phyllon" (leaf) / of Japan

Cercis canadensis - eastern redbud Greek "kerkis" (a shuttle - fruit resembled instrument), ancient Greek name for this tree / of eastern North America

Cercis chinensis - Chinese redbud Greek "kerkis" (a shuttle - fruit resembled instrument), ancient Greek name for this tree / of China

Cercis orbiculata - western redbud Greek "kerkis" (a shuttle - fruit resembled instrument), ancient Greek name for this tree / round (leaves)

Cercocarpus intricatus - littleleaf mountain-mahogany Greek "kerkis" (a shuttle) and "karpon" (fruit) / Latin "intrico" (entangled)

Cercocarpus ledifolius - curlleaf mountain-mahogany Greek "kerkis" (a shuttle) and "karpon" (fruit) / Ledum (labrador tea)-like leaves

Cercocarpus montanus - mountain-mahogany Greek "kerkis" (a shuttle) and "karpon" (fruit) / of the mountains

Cereus hildmannianus - Andes organ pipe Latin "cera" (torch) for the resemblence to a torch / after cactus expert Hildegarda Winter

Chaenomeles speciosa - common floweringquince Greek "chaina" (to gape) and "melon" (apple) / showy

Chamaebatia foliolosa - mountain misery Greek chamae" (low) and "batos" (bramble) / leafy

Chamaebatiaria millefolium - fernbush Greek "chamae" (low) and "batos" (bramble) / "one thousand leaves"

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - Port-Orford-cedar Greek "chamai" (low growing) and "kuparissos" (cypress) / after Charles Lawson British nurseryman

Chamaecyparis obtusa - Hinoki falsecypress Greek "chamai" (low growing) and "kuparissos" (cypress) / blunt leaves

Chamaecyparis pisifera - Sawara-cedar Greek "chamai" (low growing) and "kuparissos" (cypress) / pea-bearing (referring to the small cones)

Chamaecyparis thyoides - Atlantic white-cedar Greek "chamai" (low growing) and "kuparissos" (cypress) / like Thuja

Chamaedaphne calyculata - leatherleaf from Greek "chamae" (dwarf) and "daphne" (laurel) / with a little calyx

Chilopsis linearis - desert-willow Greek "cheilos" (lip) - for the flowers / narrow, referring to the leaves

Chimaphila maculata - striped pipsissewa strange leaf / spotted

Chimaphila umbellata - prince's pine strange leaf / with an umbel

Chionanthus virginicus - fringetree Greek "chion" (snow) and "anthus" (flower) / of Virginia

Chrysobalanus icaco - cocoplum Greek "chryso" (golden) and "balanos" (acorn) / unknown - perhaps for the Ica River?

Chrysolepis chrysophylla - golden chinkapin Greek for golden scales / Greek for golden leaves

Chrysolepis sempervirens - bush chinquapin Greek for golden scales / Latin "semper" (always) and "vivere" (to live) - evergreen

Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus - yellow rabbitbrush Greek "chryso" (golden) and "thamnus" (shrub) / Latin "viscum" (thick, syrupy or sticky - flowers have sticky stems)

Cinnamomum camphora - camphortree Greek/Arabic "amomon" (spice plant) / camphor bearing

Cistus spp. - rockrose ancient Greek name / ancient Greek name

Citrus spp. - citrus ancient Greek name / ancient Greek name

Cladrastis kentukea - yellowwood Greek "kladros" (branch) and "thraustos or thrastos" (fragile) for fragile branches / from Kentucky

Clematis columbiana - rock clematis Greek for long, flexible branches, ancient name / of the Columbia region

Clematis crispa - swamp leather flower Greek for long, flexible branches, ancient name / closely curled (petals)

Clematis drummondii - virgin's bower Greek for long, flexible branches, ancient name / after Scotish naturalist Thomas drummond

Clematis ligusticifolia - white clematis Greek for long, flexible branches, ancient name / ligustrum (privet)-like (foliage)

Clematis terniflora - sweetautumn clematis Greek for long, flexible branches, ancient name / Latin (flowers in 3's)

Clematis virginiana - virgin's bower Greek for long, flexible branches, ancient name / of Virginia

Cleome isomeris - bladderpod spiderflower ancient name for a mustard plant / Greek "isos" (equal) and "meris" (part), for the fruit

Clethra acuminata - mountain pepperbush Greek "klethra" (alder) / long pointed leaf tip

Clethra alnifolia - summersweet clethra Greek "klethra" (alder) / alnus-leaved

Cliftonia monophylla - buckwheat tree after Georgia's first attorney general, William Clifton / one leaf

Coccoloba uvifera - seagrape Latin "coccum" (a berry) / grape

Cocos nucifera - coconut palm Portuguese for monkey (with three pores, coconuts resemble a monkey face) / Latin "nucis" (nut) and "fero" (I bear)

Coleogyne ramosissima - blackbrush Greek "koleos" (sheath) and "gyne" (ovary) / branched

Comptonia peregrina - sweetfern after English Bishop Compton / wanderer, or foreigner

Condalia globosa - bitter condalia after American Dr. A. Condal / rounded (fruits)

Conocarpus erectus - buttonwood "cono" (cone-shaped) and "karpos" (fruit) / upright

Cornus alba - Tatarian dogwood the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / white

Cornus alternifolia - alternate-leaf dogwood the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / alternate leaves

Cornus amomum - silky dogwood the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / Greek/Arabic "amomon" (spice plant)

Cornus canadensis - bunchberry the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / of Canada

Cornus controversa - giant dogwood the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / controversial

Cornus drummondii - roughleaf dogwood the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / after Scotish naturalist Thomas drummond

Cornus florida - flowering dogwood the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / flowering Latin "flos" (flower)

Cornus kousa - kousa dogwood the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / Japanese name

Cornus mas - Cornelian cherry dogwood the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / masculine, robust, non-delicate

Cornus nuttallii - Pacific dogwood the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / after Thomas Nuttall

Cornus racemosa - gray dogwood the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / flowers in upright racemes

Cornus sericea - red-osier dogwood the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / silky or Latin "serus" (late or tardy) (stolonifera means "bearing stolons")

Cornus unalaschkensis - Alaskan bunchberry the Latin name for Cornus mas from "cornu" (hard - for the wood) / of Unalaska, an Aleutian island

Corylopsis glabrescens - fragrant winterhazel like Corylus / lacking pubescens, glabrous

Corylopsis pauciflora - buttercup winterhazel like Corylus / few flowers

Corylopsis sinensis - Chinese winterhazel like Corylus / of China

Corylus americana - American hazel Greek "krylos" (hazelnut) / of America

Corylus avellana - common filbert Greek "krylos" (hazelnut) / Latin name for hazel nut

Corylus colurna - Turkish hazel Greek "krylos" (hazelnut) / Latin name for hazel nut

Corylus cornuta - beaked hazel Greek "krylos" (hazelnut) / horned, refers to bracts forming a beak at the apex of the nut

Corymbia torelliana - cadagi a reference to corymb flower structures / unknown - a surname?

Cotinus coggygria - European smoketree Greek name for olive / smoke tree

Cotinus obovatus - American smoketree Greek name for olive / obovate leaves

Cotoneaster spp. - cotoneaster Greek "kotoneon" (quince) and Latin "ad istar" (similarity) / Greek "kotoneon" (quince) and Latin "ad istar" (similarity)

Crataegus douglasii - black hawthorn Greek "kratos" (strength - for the wood) / after Scottish botanist David Douglas

Crataegus monogyna - oneseed hawthorn Greek "kratos" (strength - for the wood) / one ovary

Crataegus phaenopyrum - Washington hawthorn Greek "kratos" (strength - for the wood) / Greek "phaeno" (visible) and "Pyrus" (pear)

Crataegus spp. - hawthorn Greek "kratos" (strength - for the wood) / Greek "kratos" (strength - for the wood)

Crataegus viridis - green hawthorn Greek "kratos" (strength - for the wood) / green (leaves)

Croton alabamensis - Alabama croton Greek "kroton" (a tick) - for the seeds / of Alabama

Cryptomeria japonica - Japanese cryptomeria Greek "krypto" (to hide) and "meris" (part), referring to concealed flower parts / of Japan

Cunninghamia lanceolata - common Chinafir after James Cunningham / lanceolate (leaves)

Cupressus sempervirens - Italian cypress Greek name for this plant "kyparissos" / evergreen - Latin "semper" (always) and "vivere" (live)

Cycas revoluta - sago palm Latin name for this genus / curled (leaves)

Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa - buckhorn cholla Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / thorny fruit

Cylindropuntia arbuscula - pencil cholla Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / tree-like

Cylindropuntia bigelovii - Teddy bear cholla Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / after botanist Dr. John Milton Bigelow

Cylindropuntia fulgida - chain cholla Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / Latin for shining or glittering

Cylindropuntia imbricata - tree cholla Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / like shingles, overlapping

Cylindropuntia leptocaulis - Christmas cactus Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leave / Latin "lepto" (thin or fine) and "caulis" (stems)

Cylindropuntia prolifera - coastal cholla Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / proliferating, with offshoots

Cylindropuntia spinosior - cane cholla Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / spiny

Cylindropuntia tesajo - pencil cholla Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / perhaps a bastardization of Spanish "tasajo" (jerky) or for tesajo series soils

Cylindropuntia versicolor - staghorn cholla Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / Latin "versare" (to change) color

Cyrilla racemiflora - swamp cyrilla perhaps a reference to Cyril or Greek "cyri" (master of) / flowers in racemes

Cytisus scoparius - Scotch broom Greek name "kytisus" / broom-like

Dasiphora fruticosa - shrubby cinquefoil Greek "dasy" (wooly or shaggy) "phor" (carry), in reference to the hairy seeds / Latin "frut" (shrub)

Dasylirion leiophyllum - sotol Greek "dasy" (wooly or shaggy) and "leiron" (lily) / smooth leaves

Davidia involucrata - dove tree after French missionary Père Armand David / with an involucre

Decumaria barbara - woodvamp parts of the flower are in tens / foreign

Delonix regia - flamboyant tree Greek "delos" (notable) and "onus" (one) / Latin "regis" (king)

Dendromecon rigida - tree poppy Greek "dendron" (tree) and "mekon" (poppy) / stiff

Deutzia scabra - fuzzy deutzia after Johan van der Deutz / coarse hairs

Diervilla lonicera - northern bush-honeysuckle After Dr. Dierville, French surgeon who introduced the plant / from Lonicera

Diervilla rivularis - mountain bush-honeysuckle After Dr. Dierville, French surgeon who introduced the plant / found in small rivulets

Diervilla sessilifolia - southern bush-honeysuckle After Dr. Dierville, French surgeon who introduced the plant / stalkless leaf

Diospyros kaki - Japanese persimmon Greek "dios" (divine) and "pyros" (wheat) referring to the edible fruit / Japanese "kaki", the word for persimmon

Diospyros texana - Texas persimmon Greek "dios" (divine) and "pyros" (wheat) referring to the edible fruit / of Texas

Diospyros virginiana - common persimmon Greek "dios" (divine) and "pyros" (wheat) referring to the edible fruit / of Virginia

Diplacus puniceus - red bush monkeyflower two flat (petals?) / like Punica (pomegranate)

Dirca palustris - eastern leatherwood Greek "dirke" (a fountain), referring to moist habitat / of the swamps

Ditrysinia fruticosa - Gulf Sebastian-bush unknown - perhaps after Ditrysia, the butterflies / Latin "frut" (shrub)

Dodonaea viscosa - hopbush after botanist Rembert Dodoens / sticky

Dracaena draco - dragontree Greek "drakaina" (dragon) / Latin for dragon

Dypsis decaryi - triangle palm Greek "dypto" (to dive), a reference to the drooping fronds / Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia)

Ebenopsis confinis - ejoton ebony-like / crowded

Ebenopsis ebano - Texas ebony ebony-like / ebony like

Echinocereus triglochidiatus - Mojave hedgehog cactus Latin "echino" (spiny) and "cera" (torch) for the resemblence to a torch / bearing 3 glochids

Ehretia anacua - sandpaper tree after botanist George Ehret / local name

Elaeagnus angustifolia - Russian-olive the name originally applied to a willow Greek "helodes" (growing in marshes) and "hagnos" (pure) referring to white fruit / narrow-leaved

Elaeagnus commutata - silverberry the name originally applied to a willow Greek "helodes" (growing in marshes) and "hagnos" (pure) referring to white fruit / changeable

Elaeagnus pungens - thorny-olive the name originally applied to a willow Greek "helodes" (growing in marshes) and "hagnos" (pure) referring to white fruit / pointed or sharp

Elaeagnus umbellata - autumn-olive the name originally applied to a willow Greek "helodes" (growing in marshes) and "hagnos" (pure) referring to white fruit / flowers in umbel-like clusters

Empetrum nigrum - crowberry Greek "empetros" (growing on rocks) / black

Encelia californica - California brittlebrush after Pastor Christoph Entzelt / of California

Encelia farinosa - brittlebush after Pastor Christoph Entzelt / powdery (leaves)

Ephedra spp. - Mormon-tea ancient Greek name for Hipparus, which it resembles / ancient Greek name for Hipparus, which it resembles

Epigaea repens - trailing arbutus Latin "epi" (upon) and "gaea" (earth) / creeping or low

Ericameria laricifolia - turpentine bush heath-like leaves / larch-like (leaves)

Ericameria linearifolia - narrowleaf goldenbush heath-like leaves / narrow leaves

Ericameria nauseosa - gray rabbitbrush heath-like leaves / nauseating

Ericameria palmeri - Palmer's goldenbush heath-like leaves / after botanist Edward Palmer

Eriodictyon angustifolium - narrow-leaved yerba santa Greek "erio/erion" (wool) and "dikyton" (a thrown net), a reference to the wooly net leaf undersides / narrow-leaved

Eriogonum cinereum - coastal buckwheat Greek "erion" (wool) and "gonu" (joint or knee) / ashy gray

Eriogonum fasciculatum - flat-top buckwheat Greek "erion" (wool) and "gonu" (joint or knee) / fascicle-like bundles of leaves

Erythrina corallodendron - coral tree dark red / coral-like

Erythrina herbacea - coralbean dark red / herbaceous

Eubotrys racemosus - swamp doghobble From Greek for clustered / refers to flowers in racemes

Eucalyptus caesia - gungurru Greek "eu" (true) and "kalipto" (cover), a reference to the flowers which remain covered until they bloom / bluish-gray (leaves)

Eucalyptus camaldulensis - river red gum Greek "eu" (true) and "kalipto" (cover), a reference to the flowers which remain covered until they bloom / a reference to the Naples (Italy) garden of Camalduli

Eucalyptus cordata - silver gum Greek "eu" (true) and "kalipto" (cover), a reference to the flowers which remain covered until they bloom / heart-shaped (leaves)

Eucalyptus globulus - blue gum Greek "eu" (true) and "kalipto" (cover), a reference to the flowers which remain covered until they bloom / rounded

Eucalyptus nitens - shining gum Greek "eu" (true) and "kalipto" (cover), a reference to the flowers which remain covered until they bloom / shining or whitish

Eucalyptus polyanthemos - silver dollar gum Greek "eu" (true) and "kalipto" (cover), a reference to the flowers which remain covered until they bloom / many anthers

Eucalyptus sideroxylon - red ironbark Greek "eu" (true) and "kalipto" (cover), a reference to the flowers which remain covered until they bloom / Greek "hierro" (iron) and "xylon" (wood)

Eucalyptus woodwardii - lemon-flowered gum Greek "eu" (true) and "kalipto" (cover), a reference to the flowers which remain covered until they bloom / unknown - a surname?

Eucommia ulmoides - hardy rubber tree Greek "eu" (good, well) and Latin "commia" (gum) / elm-like (leaves)

Euonymus alatus - winged euonymus Latin name / winged

Euonymus americanus - strawberry bush Latin name / American

Euonymus atropurpureus - eastern wahoo Latin name / dark purple

Euonymus europaeus - spindletree Latin name / of Europe

Euonymus fortunei - wintercreeper Latin name / after Robert Fortune

Euonymus kiautschovicus - spreading euonymus Latin name / a Chinese district in the Schantung Province on the Yellow Sea

Euonymus occidentalis - western burning bush Latin name / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)

Euphorbia misera - cliff spurge after Greek physician Euphorbus or Greek "eu" (true or good) and "phorbe" (pasture or fodder) / miserable

Exochorda racemosa - common pearlbush Greek "Exo" (outside) and "chorde" (cord), a reference to fibers surrounding the placenta / flowers in upright racemes

Eysenhardtia orthocarpa - kidneywood after German botanist Karl Wilhelm Eysenhardt / straight fruit

Eysenhardtia texana - Texas kidneywood German botanist Karl Wilhelm Eysenhardt / of Texas

Fagus grandifolia - American beech Latin name from Greek "phagein" (to eat - edible nuts) / grand foliage

Fagus orientalis - Oriental beech Latin name from Greek "phagein" (to eat - edible nuts) / of the east

Fagus sylvatica - European beech Latin name from Greek "phagein" (to eat - edible nuts) / of the woods - Latin "silva" (forest)

Faidherbia albida - winter thorn Probably after the French Soldier and territorial governor, Louis Léon César Faidherbe / white

Fallugia paradoxa - Apache plume after botanist Abbot V. Fallugi / a paradox, unusual

Fendlera rupicola - cliff fendlerbush after German botanist Augustus Fendler / growing on cliffs

Ferocactus gracilis - fire barrel cactus Latin "ferus" (fierce) cactus / very slender or graceful

Ferocactus wislizeni - barrel cactus Latin "ferus" (fierce) cactus / after botanist A. Wislizenius

Ficus aurea - strangler fig Latin name for Ficus carica / golden, beautiful or splendid

Ficus carica - common fig Latin name for Ficus carica / leaves like carica (papaya)

Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay fig Latin name for Ficus carica / large leaves

Firmiana simplex - Chinese parasoltree After Lombardian (Italy) Governor Jose de Firmian / simple (leaves) or unbranched

Forestiera acuminata - eastern swampprivet after naturalist Charles Le Forestier / long pointed leaf tip

Forestiera pubescens - desert-olive after Dr. Andre Forestier / pubescent

Forsythia spp. - forsythia after William Forsyth, Scottish gardener / after William Forsyth, Scottish gardener

Fothergilla gardenii - dwarf fothergilla after naturalist Dr. John Fothergill / after botanist Dr. Alexander Garden

Fothergilla major - large fothergilla after naturalist Dr. John Fothergill / large

Fothergilla xintermedia - hybrid fothergilla after naturalist Dr. John Fothergill / a reference to the cross between gardenii and major

Fouquieria columnaris - boojum tree after naturalist Pierre Edouard Fouquier / columnar

Fouquieria splendens - ocotillo after naturalist Pierre Edouard Fouquier / splendid (flowers)

Frangula alnus - glossy buckthorn after Rhamnus frangula, which is a pre-Linnaen name / alder-like foliage

Frangula californica - California buckthorn after Rhamnus frangula, which is a pre-Linnaen name / of California

Frangula caroliniana - Carolina buckthorn after Rhamnus frangula, which is a pre-Linnaen name / of Carolina

Frangula purshiana - Cascara buckthorn after Rhamnus frangula, which is a pre-Linnaen name / after German botanist Friedrich Pursh

Franklinia alatamaha - Franklin tree after Benjamin Franklin / of the Altamaha River in Georgia

Fraxinus americana - white ash the Latin name / of America

Fraxinus angustifolia - narrowleaf ash the Latin name / narrow leaves

Fraxinus anomala - singleleaf ash the Latin name / strange or unusual, anomolous

Fraxinus caroliniana - Carolina ash the Latin name / of Carolina

Fraxinus dipetala - two-petal ash the Latin name / two petals

Fraxinus excelsior - European ash the Latin name / ever higher

Fraxinus gooddingii - Gooding ash the Latin name / after botanist Leslie Newton Goodding

Fraxinus latifolia - Oregon ash the Latin name / broad-leaved

Fraxinus nigra - black ash the Latin name / black

Fraxinus ornus - flowering ash the Latin name / the Latin name for mountain-ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica - green ash the Latin name / of Pennsylvania

Fraxinus profunda - pumpkin ash the Latin name / deep or profound

Fraxinus quadrangulata - blue ash the Latin name / four-angled

Fraxinus velutina - Arizona ash the Latin name / velvety hairy

Fremontodendron californicum - California fremontia after the Pathfinder politician, General John C. Fremont / of California

Fremontodendron mexicanum - Mexican fremontia after the Pathfinder politician, General John C. Fremont / of Mexico

Gambelia juncea - Baja bush snapdragon after Gambel / rush-like, stems with few leaves

Gardenia jasminoides - gardenia after Scottish naturalist Dr Alexander Garden / resembling jasmine

Garrya elliptica - wavyleaf silktassel after Nicholas Garry / elliptical (leaves)

Garrya flavescens - ashy silktassel after Nicholas Garry / becoming yellow

Garrya fremontii - bearbrush after Nicholas Garry / after the Pathfinder politician, General John C. Fremont

Garrya wrightii - Wright silktassel after Nicholas Garry / after Wright, a botanical collector

Gaultheria procumbens - teaberry after Gaulthier, Canadian botanist / prostrate

Gaultheria shallon - salal after Gaulthier, Canadian botanist / Indian name

Gaylussacia spp. - huckleberry after chemist Gay-Lussac / after chemist Gay-Lussac

Gelsemium rankinii - swamp jessamine Italian "gelsomino" (jasmine) / after botanist Henry Ashby Rankin

Gelsemium sempervirens - false jessamine Italian "gelsomino" (jasmine) / evergreen - Latin "semper" (always) and "vivere" (live)

Ginkgo biloba - ginkgo Japanese "ginkyo" (silver apricot) and Chinese ngin-ghang / two-lobed (leaves)

Gleditsia aquatica - waterlocust after Gottlieb Gleditsch, German botanist / water

Gleditsia triacanthos - honeylocust after Gottlieb Gleditsch, German botanist / Greek "treis" (three) and "akantha" (spine)

Gordonia lasianthus - loblolly bay after nurseryman James Gordon / rough anthers

Gossypium hirsitum - upland cotton Latin "gossypinus" (the name for cotton), from Arabic "goz" (silky/soft) / hairy

Grusonia invicta - dagger cholla after German engineer Hermann Gruson / unconquered

Guaiacum angustifolium - soapbush a local name / narrow leaves

Guaiacum coulteri - guayacan a local name / after Thomas Coulter

Guaiacum officinale - lignum-vitae a local name / Latin "officina" (workshop) for its use in producing medicines.

Gymnocladus dioicus - Kentucky coffeetree Greek "gymnos" (naked) and "klados" (a branch) referring to leaves that grow following stem growth in spring / dioecious (two houses)

Halesia diptera - two-wing silverbell after English scientist Stephen Hales / two wings

Halesia tetraptera - silverbell after English scientist Stephen Hales / four wings

Hamamelis vernalis - vernal witch-hazel Greek name for a tree with pear-shaped fruits (the medlar) / of spring - flowers in spring

Hamamelis virginiana - witch-hazel Greek name for a tree with pear-shaped fruits (the medlar) / of Virginia

Hamamelis xintermedia - hybrid witch-hazel Greek name for a tree with pear-shaped fruits (the medlar) / intermediate

Hedera helix - English ivy Latin name / "winding around", referring to staff carried by Baccharus

Helianthus gracilentus - slender sunflower Greek "helios" (sun) and "anthos" (flower) / very slender or graceful

Heptacodium miconioides - seven sons flower Latin "hepta" (seven) and "codium" (head) for the 7 flowers in a flowerhead / like the Genus Miconia (after botanist Francisco Mico)

Hesperocyparis arizonica - Arizona cypress Greek "hesperos" (of the evening, western) / of Arizona

Hesperocyparis bakeri - Baker cypress Greek "hesperos" (of the evening, western) / after American botanist Milo Samuel Baker

Hesperocyparis forbesii - Tecate cypress Greek "hesperos" (of the evening, western) / after botanist Charles Noyes Forbes

Hesperocyparis macrocarpa - Monterey cypress Greek "hesperos" (of the evening, western) / Greek "makros" (large) and "karpos" (seed)

Heteromeles arbutifolia - toyon Greek "hetero" (different) and "melon" (apple) / arbutus-leaved

Hibiscus syriacus - rose-of-sharon Greek name for mallow / of Syria

Holodiscus discolor - oceanspray Greek "holos" (entire) and "diskos" (disk), referring to unlobed discs / two-colored (leaves green and gray)

Holodiscus dumosus - bush oceanspray Greek "holos" (entire) and "diskos" (disk), referring to unlobed discs / shrubby or small

Hovenia dulcis - Japanese raisintree after German David Hove, financier for Thunberg / sweet (fruits)

Hydrangea anomala - climbing hydrangea Greek "hydor" (water) and ""aggos" (jar) for cupped fruits / irregular, deviating from the norm - this hydrangea is a vine

Hydrangea arborescens - wild hydrangea Greek "hydor" (water) and ""aggos" (jar) for cupped fruits / tree-like

Hydrangea macrophylla - bigleaf hydrangea Greek "hydor" (water) and ""aggos" (jar) for cupped fruits / big leaves

Hydrangea paniculata - panicle hydrangea Greek "hydor" (water) and ""aggos" (jar) for cupped fruits / flowers in panicles

Hydrangea quercifolia - oakleaf hydrangea Greek "hydor" (water) and ""aggos" (jar) for cupped fruits / leaves oak-like

Hypericum spp. - Saint Johnswort Greek "hyper" (above) and "eikon" (picture) - it was hung above pictures to ward off evil spirits / Greek "hyper" (above) and "eikon" (picture) - it was hung above pictures to ward off evil spirits

Hyptis emoryi - desert lavender Greek "huptios"(turned back) - for the flowers / after Maj. William Hemsley Emory

Ilex amelanchier - sarvis holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / holly-like leaves

Ilex cassine - dahoon from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / Latin "casso" to destroy or Latin "cassi" (a helmet)

Ilex chinensis - Kashi holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / Latin "purpureus" (dark red)

Ilex coriacea - large gallberry from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / leathery (leaves)

Ilex cornuta - Chinese holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / horned (leaf spines)

Ilex crenata - Japanese holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / with shallow rounded teeth

Ilex decidua - deciduous holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / deciduous Latin "de" (down) and "cadere" (to fall)

Ilex glabra - inkberry from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / glabrous (lacking hair)

Ilex montana - mountain holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / of the mountains

Ilex mucronata - catberry Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / mucronate leaf tip

Ilex myrtifolia - myrtle holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / myrtle-like leaves

Ilex opaca - American holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / not glossy, shady, opaque

Ilex verticillata - winterberry holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / in circles around the stem, probably in reference to the lenticels

Ilex vomitoria - yaupon from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / inducing vomiting

Ilex xattenuata - Foster's holly from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / to make thin

Illicium floridanum - Florida anise tree Alluring / of Florida, or flowering

Illicium parviflorum - yellow anisetree Alluring (fragrance) / small flowered

Itea virginica - sweetspire Greek name for willow / of Virginia

Iva frutescens - marsh-elder the mint Ajuga iva has a similar odor / shrubby

Iva hayesiana - San Diego povertyweed the mint Ajuga iva has a similar odor / after naturalist Sutton Hayes

Jacaranda mimosifolia - jacaranda a native Brazilian name / mimosa-like foliage

Jamesia americana - fivepetal cliffbush after American botanist Edwin P. James / of America

Jasminum nudiflorum - winter jasmine Persian "Yasameen" (gift from God) / flowering before leaves

Jatropha cuneata - limberbush Greek "iatros" (physician) and "trophe" (food), for its medicinal properties / wedge-shaped (leaves)

Juglans ailantifolia - Japanese walnut Latin name for Juglans regia Latin "jovis" (Jupiter) and "glans" (nut) / leaves like Ailanthus

Juglans californica - California black walnut Latin name for Juglans regia Latin "jovis" (Jupiter) and "glans" (nut) / of California

Juglans cinerea - butternut Latin name for Juglans regia Latin "jovis" (Jupiter) and "glans" (nut) / ashy gray (bark)

Juglans hindsii - Hind's black walnut Latin name for Juglans regia Latin "jovis" (Jupiter) and "glans" (nut) / after naturalist Richard Brinsley Hinds

Juglans major - Arizona walnut Latin name for Juglans regia Latin "jovis" (Jupiter) and "glans" (nut) / large

Juglans microcarpa - little walnut Latin name for Juglans regia Latin "jovis" (Jupiter) and "glans" (nut) / small fruit

Juglans nigra - black walnut Latin name for Juglans regia Latin "jovis" (Jupiter) and "glans" (nut) / black (bark)

Juglans regia - English walnut Latin name for Juglans regia Latin "jovis" (Jupiter) and "glans" (nut) / regal, of kings

Juniperus californica - California juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / of California

Juniperus chinensis - Chinese juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / of China

Juniperus communis - common juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / common

Juniperus conferta - shore juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / crowded (leaves)

Juniperus deppeana - alligator juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen /

Juniperus horizontalis - creeping juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / horizontal (habit)

Juniperus monosperma - oneseed juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / "mono" (one) and "sperm" (seed)

Juniperus occidentalis - western juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)

Juniperus osteosperma - Utah juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / "osteo" (bone) and "sperm" (seed)

Juniperus pinchotii - redberry juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / after Gifford Pinchot

Juniperus procumbens - Ibuki juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / prostrate

Juniperus scopulorum - Rocky Mountain juniper Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / growing on cliffs

Juniperus virginiana - eastern redcedar Latin name from "junio" (young) and "parere" (to produce) - evergreen / of Virginia

Justicia californica - beloperone after Scottish horticultarilist James Justice / of California

Kalmia angustifolia - sheep laurel after Pehr Kalm, student of Linnaeus / narrow-leaved

Kalmia latifolia - mountain laurel after Pehr Kalm, student of Linnaeus / broad-leaved

Kalmia microphylla - alpine laurel after Pehr Kalm, student of Linnaeus / small leaves

Kalmia polifolia - bog laurel after Pehr Kalm, student of Linnaeus / gray leaves

Koeberlinia spinosa - allthorn after German botanist C.L. Koeberlin / bearing spines

Koelreuteria paniculata - goldenraintree after German botanist Joseph Koelreuter / flowers in panicles

Kolkwitzia amabilis - beautybush after Richard Kolkwitz, German botanist / beautiful

Krameria grayi - white ratany after botanist Johann Georg Heinrich Kramer / after botanist Asa Gray

Laburnum xwatereri - goldenchain tree Latin name / after the Waterer nursery that introduced this cross

Lagerstroemia indica - crapemyrtle after Magnus von Lagerstrom, friend of Linneus / Indian

Lagunaria patersonii - Norfolk Island hibiscus alluding to the similarity with Lagunaea, ancient name for a hibiscus / after botanist W. Paterson

Laguncularia racemosa - white mangrove Latin "laguncula" (little bottle) / flowers in racemes

Lantana carnara - lantana Latin name for a viburnum / climbing, as over an arch

Larix decidua - European larch Latin name / deciduous Latin "de" (down) and "cadere" (to fall)

Larix kaempferi - Japanese larch Latin name / after Engelbert Kaempfer, German botanist

Larix laricina - tamarack Latin name / pertaining to larch

Larix lyallii - subalpine larch Latin name / after botanist David Lyall

Larix occidentalis - western larch Latin name / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)

Larix xmarschlinsii - Dunkeld larch Latin name / after Swiss naturalist Carl Ulisses von Salis-Marschlins

Larrea tridentata - creosote bush after Juan Antonio de Larrea / three-toothed

Laurus nobilis - laurel Latin name for this tree / regal, renowned

Lavatera assurgentiflora - island mallow after the Lavater brothers / flowers in ascending clusters

Ledum groenlandicum - Labrador tea Greek "ledon", the name for Genus Cistus / of Greenland

Ledum palustre - marsh Labrador-tea Greek "ledon", the name for Genus Cistus / of the swamps

Leitneria floridana - corkwood after Dr. E. T. Leitner, German naturalist / of Florida

Leptospermum scoparium - manuka Latin "lepto" (thin or fine) and "sperm" (seed) / broom-like

Leucaena retusa - littleleaf leadtree white / notched at the tip

Leucothoe axillaris - coast leucothoe from Greek mythology Leucothoe was changed into a shrub by her lover, Apollo / refers to flowers in leaf axils

Ligustrum amurense - Amur privet the Latin name / of Amur

Ligustrum japonicum - Japanese privet the Latin name / of Japan

Ligustrum obtusifolium - border privet the Latin name / obtuse leaves

Ligustrum sinense - Chinese privet the Latin name / of China

Ligustrum vulgare - common privet the Latin name / common

Lindera benzoin - spicebush after Johann Linder, Swedish botanist / Arabic name - resinous balsams

Linnaea borealis - twinflower after Linnaeus / northern

Lippia alba - verbena after naturalist Dr. A Lippi / white

Liquidambar styraciflua - sweetgum Latin "liquidus" (liquid) and "ambar" (amber), referring to resin containing storax / flowing with styrax (an aromatic balsam)

Liriodendron tulipifera - yellow-poplar Greek "leiron" (lily) and "dendron" (tree) / tulip-bearing

Lonicera canadensis - American fly honeysuckle after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / of Canada

Lonicera ciliosa - western trumpet honeysuckle after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / fringed

Lonicera conjugialis - purpleflower honeysuckle after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / Latin "conjugatus" (united) - the fruits are paired

Lonicera hispidula - pink honeysuckle after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / bristly

Lonicera involucrata - twinberry after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / with an involucre

Lonicera japonica - Japanese honeysuckle after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / of Japan

Lonicera maackii - Amur honeysuckle after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / after a botanist named Mackay

Lonicera morrowii - Morrow honeysuckle after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / unknown - after a botanist named Morrow

Lonicera sempervirens - trumpet honeysuckle after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / Latin "semper" (always) and "vivere" (live)

Lonicera tatarica - Tatarian honeysuckle after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / from Tartary (central Asia)

Lonicera utahensis - red twinberry after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / of Utah

Lonicera xbella - Belle's honeysuckle after Adam Lonitzer, German naturalist / pretty

Ludwigia peruviana - Peruvian primrose-willow After German botanist Christian Gottlieb Ludwig / of Peru

Lupinus albifrons - silver lupine Latin "lupus" (wolf) - refers to belief Lupines rob the soil of nutrients / Latin "albus" (white) and "frons" (frond/leaf), for the white leaves

Lupinus arboreus - yellow bush lupine Latin "lupus" (wolf) - refers to belief Lupines rob the soil of nutrients / tree-like

Lupinus chamissonis - dune lupine Latin "lupus" (wolf) - refers to belief Lupines rob the soil of nutrients / after botanist Adelbert von Chamisso

Lycium andersonii - Anderson boxthorn ancient Greek name for a thorny tree / after naturalist Dr. Charles Lewis Anderson

Lycium barbarum - goji berry ancient Greek name for a thorny tree / foreign

Lycium brevipes - Baja desert-thorn ancient Greek name for a thorny tree / with a short stalk

Lycium fremontii - Fremont's desert-thorn ancient Greek name for a thorny tree / after the Pathfinder politician, General John C. Fremont

Lyonia ferruginea - staggerbush after John Lyon, Scottish gardener / rusty red, for the rusty hairs on the stem

Lyonia ligustrina - maleberry after John Lyon, Scottish gardener / ligustrum (privet)-like (foliage)

Lyonia lucida - fetterbush lyonia after John Lyon, Scottish gardener / bright, shining or clear - leaves are shiny

Lyonothamnus floribundus - lyon tree after William Scrugham Lyon and from "thamnus" (shrub) / abundunt flowers

Lysiloma candidum - palo blanco Latin "lys" (to unfasten or dissolve) and Greek "loma" (border or fringe) / white

Lysiloma watsonii - desertfern Latin "lys" (to unfasten or dissolve) and Greek "loma" (border or fringe) / after English botanist Sir William Watson

Maclura pomifera - Osage-orange after geologist William Maclure / "pommum" (apple) and "ferre" (to bear) - apple-bearing

Magnolia acuminata - cucumbertree after Pierre Magnol, French botanist / long pointed leaf tip

Magnolia ashei - Ashe magnolia after Pierre Magnol, French botanist / after American forester William Ashe

Magnolia fraseri - Fraser magnolia after Pierre Magnol, French botanist / after John Fraser

Magnolia grandiflora - southern magnolia after Pierre Magnol, French botanist / large flowering

Magnolia macrophylla - bigleaf magnolia after Pierre Magnol, French botanist / big leaves

Magnolia pyramidata - pyramid magnolia after Pierre Magnol, French botanist / pyramid-shaped (leaves)

Magnolia stellata - star magnolia after Pierre Magnol, French botanist / stellate or star-like (flowers)

Magnolia tripetala - umbrella magnolia after Pierre Magnol, French botanist / three petals

Magnolia virginiana - sweetbay magnolia after Pierre Magnol, French botanist / of Virginia

Magnolia xsoulangiana - saucer magnolia after Pierre Magnol, French botanist / after Etienne Soulange-Bodin, French horticulturalist

Mahonia aquifolium - tall Oregon-grape after horticulturist Bernard M. Mahen / holly-like leaves

Mahonia fremontii - Fremont barberry after horticulturist Bernard M. Mahen / after the Pathfinder politician, General John C. Fremont

Mahonia haematocarpa - red barberry after horticulturist Bernard M. Mahen / blood-red (fruit)

Mahonia nervosa - dwarf Oregon-grape after horticulturist Bernard M. Mahen / veined or nerved (leaves)

Mahonia nevinii - Nevin's barberry after horticulturist Bernard M. Mahen / after botanist Reverand Joseph C. Nevin

Mahonia repens - creeping mahonia after horticulturist Bernard M. Mahen / creeping or low

Malosma laurina - laurel sumac apple-like fragrance / laurel-like foliage

Malus angustifolia - southern crab apple Latin name for apple, Greek "melon" / small leaf

Malus fusca - Oregon crabapple Latin name for apple, Greek "melon" / dark brown

Malus prunifolia - plumleaf crab apple Latin name for apple, Greek "melon" / plum-like foliage

Malus spp. - apple Latin name for apple, Greek "melon" / Latin name for apple, Greek "melon"

Mangifera indica - mango Local name of the fruit plus Latin "ferre" (to carry) / of India

Melaleuca linariifolia - flaxleaf paperbark Greek "melas" (black) and "leukos" (white) for the contrast between bark and leaves / narrow leaves

Melaleuca quinquenervia - melaleuca Greek "melas" (black) and "leukos" (white) for the contrast between bark and leaves / Latin "quinqu" (five) and "nervus" (nerve or tendon)

Melia azedarach - Chinaberry Greek name for ash (similar leaves) / Native name

Menziesia ferruginea - false azalea after naturalist Archibald Menzies / rusty red, for its copper-colored flowers

Menziesia pilosa - minniebush after naturalist Archibald Menzies / hairy or shaggy

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - dawn redwood Greek "meta" (changed) and sequoia (a relative) / glypto (carved) and stroboides (overlapping scales)

Metopium toxiferum - poisonwood he gum of an African tree, probably because the trunk yields a (poisonous) black sap / bearing poison, Greek "toxikon" (poison) and "fera" (to bear)

Metrosideros polymorpha - 'ohi'a lehua Greek "metra" (heartwood) and "sidero" (iron) / many forms

Mimosa aculeaticarpa - catclaw mimosa Spanish "mimoso" (sensitive) / Latin "aculeata" (prickly) and "carpa" (fruit)

Mitchella repens - partridgeberry after botanist John Mitchell / creeping

Morella californica - Pacific waxmyrtle unknown, perhaps a town in Italy or Spain / of California

Morella caroliniensis - southern bayberry unknown, perhaps a town in Italy or Spain / of Carolina

Morella cerifera - waxmyrtle unknown, perhaps a town in Italy or Spain / wax bearing

Morella inodora - odorless bayberry unknown, perhaps a town in Italy or Spain / lacking odor

Morella pensylvanica - northern bayberry unknown, perhaps a town in Italy or Spain / of Pennsylvania

Morus alba - white mulberry Latin name for Morus nigra from Greek "morea" (mulberry tree) / white

Morus microphylla - Texas mulberry Latin name for Morus nigra from Greek "morea" (mulberry tree) / small leaves

Morus rubra - red mulberry Latin name for Morus nigra from Greek "morea" (mulberry tree) / red

Musa spp. - banana bananas are similar to Heliconia spp., which grow on Mount Helicon, the home of the Muses / bananas are similar to Heliconia spp., which grow on Mount Helicon, the home of the Muses

Myrica gale - sweetgale Greek "myrike" (Tamarix) / old English "gagel"

Myrsine cubana - colicwood From the Greek word for myrtle (Myrtus communis) / of Cuba

Myrtillocactus geometrizans - blue myrtle-cactus fruit resembling Vaccinium myrtillus / geometric, patterned

Myrtus communis - myrtle ancient word for this tree / common, growing as a community

Nandina domestica - heavenly bamboo Japanese name "nanten" / cultivated

Nerium oleander - oleander from the old Greek name "oleon" for this tree / olive tree, for the resemblence of the leaves to olive leaves

Nesothamnus incanus - Guadalupe Island rock daisy Greek "neso" (island) and "thamnus" (shrub) / hoary

Neviusia alabamensis - Alabama snow-wreath after botanist/reverend Reuben Nevius / of Alabama

Nicotiana tomentosa - tobacco after Jean Nicot, who introduced tobacco to the French / hairy

Nolina texana - beargrass after French agronomist C.P. Nolin / of Texas

Notholithocarpus densiflorus - tanoak Latin "nothus" (false) and Greek "lithos" (stone) and "karpos" (fruit) for its hard fruit / densely flowered

Nyssa aquatica - water tupelo Greek "Nysa" - a water nymph / of water

Nyssa biflora - swamp tupelo Greek "Nysa" - a water nymph / two-flowered

Nyssa ogeche - Ogeechee tupelo Greek "Nysa" - a water nymph / after the Ogeechee River, in Georgia

Nyssa sylvatica - blackgum Greek "Nysa" - a water nymph / of the woods - Latin "silva" (forest)

Oemleria cerasiformis - Indian-plum after German botanist Augustus Oemler / cherry bearing

Olea europaea - olive ancient name for an olive tree / of Europe

Olneya tesota - desert ironwood after naturalist Stephen Thayer Olney / after the Spanish "tieso" (stiff)

Oplopanax horridus - Devilsclub Greek "oplo" (armed) and "panax" (a plant that heals all diseases) - it was originally described as a member of the Panax genus / frightful, rough, bristly, horrible

Opuntia aurea - golden pricklypear Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / golden, beautiful or splendid

Opuntia engelmannii - Engelmann's pricklypear Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / after Dr. George Engelmann

Opuntia polyacantha - Plains pricklypear Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / Latin "poly" (many) and "acantha" (thorn)

Opuntia rufida - blind pricklypear Greek name for an edible plant that could be rooted from leaves / rusty red

Osmanthus americanus - devilwood Greek "osme" (odor) and "anthos" (flower) / of America

Osteomeles anthyllidifolia - Hawai'i hawthorn Greek "osteon" (bone) and "malus" (apple), a reference to the fruit / Greek "anthemon" (flower) and "folia" (leaf)

Ostrya virginiana - hophornbeam Greek "ostrya or ostrua" (a tree with hard wood) / of Virginia

Oxydendrum arboreum - sourwood Greek "oxys" (acid) and "dendron" (tree) - refers to acid-tasting leaves / tree-like

Pachycereus pringlei - cardón Greek "pachys" (thick) and Latin "cera" (torch) for the resemblence to a torch / after Quaker naturalist Cyrus Guernsey Pringle

Pachycereus schottii - senita cactus Greek "pachys" (thick) and Latin "cera" (torch) for the resemblence to a torch / after naturalist Arthur Schott

Pachycormus discolor - torote blanco Greek "pachys" (thick) and "kormos" (stump) / one color

Pachysandra terminalis - Japanese pachysandra Greek "pachys" (thick) and "andra" (male) / terminal (flowers)

Parkinsonia aculeata - Jerusalem thorn after English naturalist J. Parkinson / prickly

Parkinsonia florida - blue paloverde after English naturalist J. Parkinson / flowering

Parkinsonia microphylla - yellow paloverde after English naturalist J. Parkinson / small leaves

Parrotia persica - Persian ironwood after German naturalist F.W. Parrot / of Persia

Parthenium argentatum - guayule Greek "Parthenion" (Genus Matricaria), which is similar / / silvery (leaves)

Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia creeper Greek "parthenos" (a virgin) and "kissos" (ivy) / five leaflets

Parthenocissus tricuspidata - Boston ivy Greek "parthenos" (a virgin) and "kissos" (ivy) / three-pointed (leaves)

Paulownia fortunei - dragon tree After Princess Paulowna of Russia / after Robert Fortune

Paulownia tomentosa - royal paulownia After Princess Paulowna of Russia / hairy (leaves)

Paxistima myrsinites - false box Greek for thick stigma / resembles myrtles

Penstemon ellipticus - rocky ledge penstemon Greek "pente" (five) and "stemon" (stamen) / elliptical (leaves)

Persea americana - avocado Greek name of a tree / of America

Persea borbonia - redbay Greek name of a tree / after the Duke of Orleans Gaston de Bourbon, a patron of botanists.

Persea palustris - swampbay Greek name of a tree / of the swamps

Petrophytum caespitosum - rockmat Greek "petra" (rock) and "phyton" (plant) / dense clumps, in patches

Phellodendron amurense - Amur corktree Greek "phellos" (cork) and "dendron" (tree) / of Amur

Phellodendron japonicum - Japanese corktree Greek "phellos" (cork) and "dendron" (tree) / of Japan

Philadelphus coronarius - European mockorange once considered a Syringa, Linnaeus arbitrarily dedicated it to Ptolemaic pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus / used in garlands

Philadelphus inodorus - scentless mockorange once considered a Syringa, Linnaeus arbitrarily dedicated it to Ptolemaic pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus / without odor

Philadelphus lewisii - mockorange once considered a Syringa, Linnaeus arbitrarily dedicated it to Ptolemaic pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus / after Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clark)

Philadelphus pubescens - hoary mockorange once considered a Syringa, Linnaeus arbitrarily dedicated it to Ptolemaic pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus / pubescent

Phoenix canariensis - Canary Island date palm Greek name for this Genus / of the Canary Islands

Phoenix roebelenii - pygmy date palm Greek name for this Genus / of the Canary Islands

Photinia xfraseri - red tips Greek "photos" (light), referring to shiny leaves / After Fraser nurseries

Physocarpus capitatus - ninebark Greek "physa" (bladder) and "karpon" (fruit) / having or forming a head

Physocarpus malvaceus - mallow ninebark Greek "physo" (bladder) and "karpos" (fruit) / mallow-like (leaves)

Physocarpus monogynus - mountain ninebark Greek "physo" (bladder) and "karpos" (fruit) / one ovary

Physocarpus opulifolius - common ninebark Greek "physa" (bladder) and "karpon" (fruit) / / Latin name for a kind of maple

Picea abies - Norway spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / fir (needles flattened like a fir)

Picea alcoquiana - Alcock's Spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / after Sir Rutherford Alcock, British minister to Tokyo

Picea breweriana - Brewer spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / after William Brewer, American botanist

Picea chihuahuana - Chihuahua spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / of the Mexican State of Chihuahua

Picea engelmannii - Engelmann spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / after Dr. George Engelmann

Picea glauca - white spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / waxy whitish bloom

Picea mariana - black spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / of Maryland

Picea omorika - Serbian spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / Serbian name for this tree

Picea orientalis - Oriental spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / of the east

Picea pungens - blue spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / sharp (leaves) - Latin "pungere" (to prick)

Picea rubens - red spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / blushed with red (buds and bark) - Latin "rubere" (red)

Picea sitchensis - Sitka spruce Latin "pix" (pitch-producing) from Greek "pissa" (pitch) / of Sitka, Alaska

Pieris floribunda - mountain pieris from Pierides, a Muse / abundantly flowering

Pieris japonica - Japanese pieris from Pierides, a Muse / flowering profusely

Pinckneya bracteata - fevertree after Charles Cotesworth Pinckney / a reference to the flower bracts

Pinus albicaulis - whitebark pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / white-stemmed

Pinus aristata - Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / bristle, thorn, awned (armed cone) Latin "arista" (bristle)

Pinus attenuata - knobcone pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / drawn-out (cones)

Pinus banksiana - jack pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after botanist Joseph Banks

Pinus brutia - Turkish pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / probably after Bruttii (an Italian tribe) or Bruttium (an ancient name for the Calabria region in southern Italy)

Pinus bungeana - lacebark pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after Alexander von Bunge, Russian botanist

Pinus cembra - Swiss stone pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / the Italian name for this species

Pinus clausa - sand pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / Latin "clausus" (shut - cones remain closed)

Pinus contorta - lodgepole pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / twisted Latin "torque" (to twist)

Pinus coulteri - Coulter pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after Thomas Coulter

Pinus densiflora - Japanese red pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / densely flowered

Pinus echinata - shortleaf pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / Greek "echinos" (a hedgehog, prickly - a reference to the cone scales)

Pinus edulis - pinyon pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / edible (seeds)

Pinus elliottii - slash pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after American botanist Stephen Elliott

Pinus engelmannii - Apache pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus"/ after Dr. George Engelmann / Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus"/ after Dr. George Engelmann

Pinus flexilis - limber pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / flexible

Pinus glabra - spruce pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / glabrous (lacking hair)

Pinus halepensis - Aleppo pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after Aleppo, because it grows near Aleppo and in other parts of Syria

Pinus jeffreyi - Jeffrey pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after John Jeffrey

Pinus lambertiana - sugar pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after Aylmer Lambert

Pinus leiophylla - Chihuahua pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / smooth leaves

Pinus longaeva - Great Basin bristlecone pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / Latin "longaevus" (ancient or aged)

Pinus monophylla - singleleaf pinyon Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / one leaf

Pinus monticola - western white pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / growing on mountains

Pinus mugo - mugo pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / Tyrolese name

Pinus muricata - Bishop pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / roughened with hard points

Pinus nigra - Austrian pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / black

Pinus palustris - longleaf pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / of swamps - Latin "palus" (swamp)

Pinus parviflora - Japanese white pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / small-flowered

Pinus pinea - Italian stone pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / ancient Greek name for this genus

Pinus ponderosa - ponderosa pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / ponderous or heavy (wood) - Latin "pondus" (weight or size)

Pinus pungens - Table Mountain pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / sharp (cones) - Latin "pungere" (to prick)

Pinus quadrifolia - Parry pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / four-leaved

Pinus radiata - Monterey pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / Latin "radi" (a spoke or ray) or "radian" (shining)

Pinus resinosa - red pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / resinous

Pinus rigida - pitch pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / rigid (leaves)

Pinus roxburghii - chir pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after Scottish botanist William Roxburgh

Pinus sabiniana - gray pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after British naturalist Joseph Sabine

Pinus serotina - pond pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / Latin "serus" (late) - cones are slow to open

Pinus strobiformis - southwestern white pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / like Pinus strobus

Pinus strobus - eastern white pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / incense-bearing or a gum-yielding tree (pitchy) or Greek "strobus" (cone)

Pinus sylvestris - Scots pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / of the woods - Latin "silva" (forest)

Pinus taeda - loblolly pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / a torch of pine wood - resinous

Pinus thunbergii - Japanese black pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg

Pinus torreyana - Torrey pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after botanist John Torrey

Pinus virginiana - Virginia pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / of Virginia

Pinus wallichiana - Himalaya pine Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / after Danish botanist Nathaniel Wallich

Pinus xrigitaeda - pitchlob hybrid Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / hybrid of rigida x taeda

Pistacia chinensis - Chinese pistache ancient Greek name for this genus / of China

Pittosporum tobira - Japanese mockorange Greek "pitta" (pitch) and "spora" (seed), for the sticky pulp surrounding the seeds / Initially Japanese "tobera" (door tree) - probably for its use as a front door ornamental tree

Planera aquatica - water elm after German botanist Johann Planer / of water

Platanus occidentalis - American sycamore Greek "platanos" (broad or flat) / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)

Platanus racemosa - California sycamore Greek "platanos" (broad or flat) / racemes

Platanus wrightii - Arizona sycamore Greek "platanos" (broad or flat) / after Wright, a botanical collector

Platanus xhispanica - London plane tree Greek "platanos" (broad or flat) / origin

Platycladus orientalis - Oriental arborvitae Greek "platy" (broad or flat) and "cladus" (branch) / of the east

Pluchea sericea - arrow-weed after French naturalist N.A. Pluche / silky or Latin "serus" (late or tardy)

Podocarpus macrophyllus - shrubby yew Greek "podos" (foot) and "carpus" (seed) / large leaves

Poliomintha incana - rosemary mint Greek "polios" (hoary) and "mintha" (mint) / hoary

Poncirus trifoliata - trifoliate orange French name of a citron / three leaflets

Populus alba - European white poplar Latin name / white

Populus angustifolia - narrowleaf cottonwood Latin name / narrow leaves

Populus balsamifera ssp. balsamifera - balsam poplar Latin name / balsam bearing

Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa - black cottonwood Latin name / balsam bearing

Populus deltoides - eastern cottonwood Latin name / triangular (leaf)

Populus fremontii - Fremont cottonwood Latin name / after the Pathfinder politician, General John C. Fremont

Populus grandidentata - bigtooth aspen Latin name / with large teeth

Populus heterophylla - swamp cottonwood Latin name / Greek "hetero" (different) "phylla" (leaf) - with variable leaves

Populus nigra var. italica - Lombardy poplar Latin name / black

Populus tremuloides - quaking aspen Latin name / named for its resemblance to Populus tremula

Prosopis glandulosa - honey mesquite Greek name for burdock / gland-bearing

Prosopis pubescens - screwbean mesquite Greek name for burdock / fuzzy

Prosopis velutina - velvet mesquite Greek name for burdock / Latin "velutum" (velvety)

Prunus alleghaniensis - Allegheny plum Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / from Alleghany region

Prunus americana - American plum Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of America

Prunus angustifolia - Chickasaw plum Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / narrow-leaved

Prunus avium - sweet cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of birds (distribute seeds), where birds are found Latin "avis" (bird)

Prunus caroliniana - Carolina laurelcherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Carolina

Prunus cerasifera - purple leaf plum Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / cherry-bearing

Prunus cerasus - sour cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / Latin word for a cherry

Prunus emarginata - bitter cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / out or away from

Prunus fasciculata - desert almond Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / fascicle-like bundles of leaves

Prunus fremontii - desert apricot Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / after the Pathfinder politician, General John C. Fremont

Prunus ilicifolia - hollyleaf cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / holly-like leaves

Prunus laurocerasus - cherrylaurel Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / laurel-like (leaves) and the Latin word for a cherry

Prunus maritima - beach plum Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / maritime, near the ocean

Prunus mexicana - Mexican plum Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Mexico

Prunus pensylvanica - fire cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Pennsylvania

Prunus persica - peach Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Persia

Prunus salicina - Asian plum Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / Latin word for a willow

Prunus sargentii - Sargent cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / after Sargent

Prunus serotina - black cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / Latin "serus" (late) - late maturing fruit

Prunus serrula - birch bark cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / serrate (leaves)

Prunus serrulata - Kwanzan cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / small teeth (leaves)

Prunus subcordata - Klamath plum Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / somewhat heart-shaped

Prunus subhirtella - Higan cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / somewhat hairy

Prunus virginiana - choke cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Virginia

Prunus xyedoensis - Yoshino cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Tokyo (Yedo)

Pseudocydonia sinensis - Chinese-quince resembling Cydonia / of China

Pseudotsuga macrocarpa - bigcone Douglas-fir false Tsuga / large cones

Pseudotsuga menziesii - Douglas-fir false Tsuga / after naturalist Archibald Menzies

Pseudotsuga sinensis - Chinese Douglas-fir false Tsuga / of China

Psilostrophe cooperi - paper-daisy from Greek "psilo" (naked) and "trophe" (loving, or to turn) / after Dr. James Graham Cooper

Psorothamnus fremontii - Fremont's dalea Greek for scabshrub / after the Pathfinder politician, General John C. Fremont

Psorothamnus schottii - Schott indigobush Greek for scabshrub / after naturalist Arthur Schott

Psorothamnus spinosus - desert smoke tree Greek for scabshrub / spiny

Ptelea trifoliata - hoptree Greek name for an elm (elm-like fruits) / three-leaved

Pueraria montana - kudzu after Swiss botanist M.N.Puerari / of the mountains

Punica granatum - pomegranate Latin "punicus" (red) / Latin "granatum" (grained, or seeded)

Purshia stansburiana - Stansbury cliffrose after German botanist Friedrick Pursh / after American surveyor Howard Stansbury

Purshia tridentata - bitterbrush After German botanist Friedrick Pursh / three teeth (leaves)

Pyracantha coccinea - scarlet firethorn Greek "pyr" (fire) and "akantha" (thorn) / scarlet (fruit), Greek "kakkos" (a berry)

Pyrularia pubera - buffalo nut small pear / minutely pubescent

Pyrus calleryana - Callery pear Latin name / after J. Callery, French missionary

Pyrus communis - common pear Latin name / common

Pyrus pyrifolia - Asian pear Latin name / Pear-like foliage

Quercus acutissima - sawtooth oak Latin name / sharply pointed leaves

Quercus agrifolia - coast live oak Latin name / with spiny or rough leaves

Quercus alba - white oak Latin name / white

Quercus arizonica - Arizona white oak Latin name / of Arizona

Quercus austrina - bluff oak Latin name / of the south, southern

Quercus berberidifolia - scrub oak Latin name / with Berberis-like foliage

Quercus bicolor - swamp white oak Latin name / 2-colored

Quercus chrysolepis - canyon live oak Latin name / Latin "chryso" (golden)

Quercus coccinea - scarlet oak Latin name / scarlet, Greek "kakkos" (a berry)

Quercus cornelius-mulleri - Muller oak Latin name / after ecologist Cornelius Herman Muller

Quercus douglasii - blue oak Latin name / after Scottish botanist David Douglas

Quercus dumosa - Nuttall's scrub oak Latin name / shrubby or small

Quercus durata - leather oak Latin name / Latin "durateus" (wooden, hard)

Quercus ellipsoidalis - northern pin oak Latin name / elliptical, for the shape of the fruit

Quercus emoryi - Emory oak Latin name / after Maj. William Hemsley Emory

Quercus engelmannii - Engelmann oak Latin name / after Dr. George Engelmann

Quercus falcata - southern red oak Latin name / sickle-shaped (leaves)

Quercus fusiformis - Texas live oak Latin name / spindle-shaped

Quercus gambelii - Gambel oak Latin name / after Gambel

Quercus garryana - Oregon white oak Latin name / after Nicholas Garry, friend of David Douglas

Quercus georgiana - Georgia oak Latin name / of Georgia

Quercus grisea - gray oak Latin name / gray

Quercus hemisphaerica - Darlington oak Latin name / hemispherical - perhaps a reference to the dome-shaped crown when open-grown

Quercus hypoleucoides - silverleaf oak Latin name / white below (the leaves)

Quercus ilicifolia - bear oak Latin name / holly-like leaves

Quercus imbricaria - shingle oak Latin name / Latin "imbrex" (tile) - was used for shingles

Quercus incana - bluejack oak Latin name / gray or hoary

Quercus kelloggii - California black oak Latin name / after Kellogg

Quercus laevis - turkey oak Latin name / Latin "laev" (smooth; nimble, light)

Quercus laurifolia - laurel oak Latin name / laurel-like leaves

Quercus lobata - valley oak Latin name / lobed leaves

Quercus lyrata - overcup oak Latin name / Greek "lyra" (lute) - lyre-shaped seed

Quercus macrocarpa - bur oak Latin name / Greek "makros" (large) and "karpos" (seed)

Quercus margaretta - sand post oak Latin name / perhaps Greek "margarit" (a pearl) or Latin "marg" (a border or edge)

Quercus marilandica - blackjack oak Latin name / of Maryland

Quercus michauxii - swamp chestnut oak Latin name / after F. A. Michaux

Quercus minima - running oak Latin name / small

Quercus montana - chestnut oak Latin name / of the mountains

Quercus muehlenbergii - chinkapin oak Latin name / after G.H.E. Muehlenberg

Quercus nigra - water oak Latin name / black

Quercus oblongifolia - Mexican blue oak Latin name / oblong leaves

Quercus oglethorpensis - Oglethorpe oak Latin name / after James Edward Oglethorpe

Quercus pagoda - cherrybark oak Latin name / leaf shaped like a pagoda

Quercus palustris - pin oak Latin name / of swamps - Latin "palus" (swamp)

Quercus phellos - willow oak Latin name / Greek "phellos" (corky - bark has rough, corky ridges)

Quercus prinoides - dwarf chinquapin oak Latin name / resembling Q. prinus (syn Q. montana), prinus referred to a Greek name of an oak

Quercus robur - English oak Latin name / Latin for hard wood or strength

Quercus rubra - northern red oak Latin name / red

Quercus rugosa - netleaf oak Latin name / wrinkled

Quercus sadleriana - deer oak Latin name / after botanist John Sadler

Quercus shumardii - Shumard oak Latin name / after Shumard

Quercus sinuata - Durand white oak Latin name / sinuous or wavy (leaves)

Quercus stellata - post oak Latin name / stellate (covered with stars), referring to hairs on leaf undersides

Quercus suber - cork oak Latin name / Latin for cork

Quercus texana - Nuttall oak Latin name / of Texas

Quercus tomentella - island live oak Latin name / densely hairy

Quercus toumeyi - Toumey oak from Latin name for Quercus ilex (holly oak) / after botanist James Toumey

Quercus turbinella - shrub live oak Latin name / shaped like a top (the acorns)

Quercus vacciniifolia - huckleberry oak Latin name / Vaccinium-like

Quercus velutina - black oak Latin name / Latin "velutum" (velvety, in reference to the buds)

Quercus virginiana - live oak Latin name / of Virginia

Quercus wislizeni - interior live oak Latin name / after botanist A. Wislizenius

Quillaja saponaria - soapbark unknown, probably a local/Chilean name / soap-bearing

Rhamnus cathartica - common buckthorn Greek name for buckthorn "rhamnos" / purgative

Rhamnus crocea - redberry Greek name for buckthorn "rhamnos" / saffron-colored (the inner bark)

Rhamnus ilicifolia - hollyleaf redberry Greek name for buckthorn "rhamnos" / holly-like leaves

Rhapidophyllum hystrix - needle palm Greek "rhapis" (needle) and "phyllum" (leaf) / Greek word for porcupine, many thorns

Rhizophora mangle - red mangrove Greek "rhiz" (a root) and "phor" (carry) / Portuguese "mang" (mongo)

Rhododendron albiflorum - white rhododendron Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / white flowers

Rhododendron atlanticum - dwarf azalea Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / atlantic

Rhododendron austrinum - Florida azalea Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / of the south, southern

Rhododendron calendulaceum - flame azalea Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / like Calendula, referring to the flower color

Rhododendron canadense - rhodora Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / of Canada

Rhododendron canescens - swamp azalea Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / covered in white, becoming hoary

Rhododendron catawbiense - Catawba rhododendron Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / refers to the Catawba River

Rhododendron macrophyllum - Pacific rhododendron Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / large leaves

Rhododendron maximum - great rhododendron Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / the largest

Rhododendron occidentale - western azalea Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / western

Rhododendron periclymenoides - pink azalea Rose tree - Greek "rhodo" (red) and "dendron" (tree) / resembling a honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)

Rhodotypos scandens - jet blackbead Greek "rhodo" (rose) and "typos" (type) / climbing

Rhus aromatica - fragrant sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / fragrant

Rhus copallinum - shining sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / Mexican name - yields copal gum

Rhus glabra - smooth sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / glabrous (lacking hair)

Rhus integrifolia - lemonade sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / entire leaf margins

Rhus kearneyi - Kearney's sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / after botanist Thomas Henry Kearney

Rhus lancea - African sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / narrow or slender leaves

Rhus lanceolata - prairie sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / lance-shaped (leaves)

Rhus lentii - lentisco Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) /

Rhus michauxii - Michaux's sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / after A. Michaux

Rhus microphylla - littleleaf sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / small leaves

Rhus ovata - sugar sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / ovate leaves

Rhus trilobata - skunkbush sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / three-lobed leaves

Rhus typhina - staghorn sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / rough hairy

Rhus virens - New Mexico evergreen sumac Latin name from Greek name for sumac "rhous" from Greek "reo" (to flow) / Latin "vivere" (to live) - evergreen

Ribes acerifolium - mapleleaf currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / with maple-like leaves

Ribes alpinum - mountain currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / alpine

Ribes aureum - golden currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / golden

Ribes bracteosum - stink currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / a reference to floral bracts

Ribes cereum - wax currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / waxy or wax-bearing

Ribes cynosbati - prickly gooseberry Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / dog-thorn from Greek "kyon" (dog) and "bati" (thorn)

Ribes divaricatum - spreading gooseberry Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / Latin "divarico" (to spread apart)

Ribes hirtellum - wild gooseberry Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / hairy

Ribes lacustre - prickly currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / of lakes

Ribes laxiflorum - trailing black currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / flowers in loose clusters

Ribes montigenum - mountain gooseberry Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / mountain-borne

Ribes niveum - snow gooseberry Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / snowy white

Ribes roezlii - Sierra gooseberry Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / after Czech botanist Benedikt Roezl

Ribes rotundifolium - Appalachian gooseberry Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / round leaf

Ribes sanguineum - red-flowering currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / blood red (flowers)

Ribes viburnifolium - evergreen currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / with Viburnum-like leaves

Ribes viscosissimum - sticky currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / Latin "viscosus" (sticky) and "issimus" (to the highest degree), the stickiest

Ribes wolfii - Wolf's currant Arabic "ribas" (acidic tasting (fruit)) / after botanist John Wolf

Robinia hispida - bristly locust after Jean Robin, French Herbalist / bristly

Robinia neomexicana - New Mexican locust after Jean Robin, French Herbalist / of New Mexico

Robinia pseudoacacia - black locust after Jean Robin, French Herbalist / false acacia, Greek "akakia" (the Egyptian thorn-tree) and "akis" (thorn)

Rosa canina - dog rose Latin name / with sharp teeth or thorns

Rosa carolina - Carolina rose Latin name / of Carolina

Rosa gymnocarpa - little wood rose Latin name / Greek "gymnos" (naked) and "karpos" (fruit)

Rosa minutifolia - small-leaved rose Latin name / tiny leaves

Rosa multiflora - multiflora rose Latin name / many flowers

Rosa nutkana - Nootka rose Latin name / after the Nootka sound

Rosa pisocarpa - cluster rose Latin name / pea-like fruit

Rosa rubiginosa - sweetbriar rose Latin name / rust-red, a reference to the red hairs on the leaves and calyx

Rosa rugosa - rugosa rose Latin name / wrinkled (leaves)

Rosa virginiana - common wild rose Latin name / of Virginia

Rosa woodsii - Woods' rose Latin name / after English botanist Joseph Woods

Roystonea regia - royal palm After General Roy Stone / Latin "regis" (king)

Rubus allegheniensis - Alleghany blackberry Latin name for blackberry / from Alleghany region

Rubus argutus - prickly Florida blackberry Latin name for blackberry / sharply toothed

Rubus armeniacus - Himalaya blackberry Latin name for blackberry / of Armenia

Rubus flagellaris - dewberry Latin name for blackberry / lash, thresh or flail

Rubus hayata-koidzumii - creeping raspberry Latin name for blackberry / after Japanese botanists Bunzo Hayata and Gen-ichi Koidzumi

Rubus idaeus - raspberry Latin name for blackberry / of Mt. Ida

Rubus laciniatus - evergreen blackberry Latin name for blackberry / deeply cut (leaves)

Rubus leucodermis - whitebark raspberry Latin name for blackberry / white bark

Rubus occidentalis - black raspberry Latin name for blackberry / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)

Rubus odoratus - purple flowering raspberry Latin name for blackberry / scented

Rubus parviflorus - thimbleberry Latin name for blackberry / small-flowered

Rubus pedatus - trailing raspberry Latin name for blackberry / like a bird foot, radiating from one point

Rubus phoenicolasius - wine raspberry Latin name for blackberry / with purple hairs (stems)

Rubus spectabilis - salmonberry Latin name for blackberry / spectacular

Rubus ursinus - wild blackberry Latin name for blackberry / of bears - bears eat the fruits

Sabal minor - bush palmetto Latin "sab" (sand), possibly a native term / smaller or slight

Sabal palmetto - cabbage palmetto Latin "sab" (sand), possibly a native term / palm grove

Salix alba - white willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / white

Salix arctica - Arctic willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / of the arctic

Salix babylonica - weeping willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / of Babylon

Salix bebbiana - Bebb's willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / after Michael Bebb

Salix caprea - goat willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / Latin "capricorn" (relating to goats)

Salix discolor - pussy willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / two colors (leaf)

Salix exigua - sandbar willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / little or weak

Salix gooddingii - Goodding's willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / after botanist Leslie Newton Goodding

Salix herbacea - dwarf willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / herb-like

Salix hookeriana - dune willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / after William Jackson Hooker

Salix lasiolepis - arroyo willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / hairy or wooly

Salix lemmonii - Lemmon's willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / after American botanist John Gill Lemmon

Salix lucida - shining willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / bright, shining or clear - leaves are shiny

Salix lutea - yellow willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / yellow

Salix matsudana - corkscrew willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / after Japanese botanist Sadahisa Matsuda

Salix nigra - black willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / black

Salix prolixa - MacKenzie's willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / Latin "prolixa" (drawn-out)

Salix purpurea - purpleosier willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / purple

Salix scouleriana - Scouler willow LaLatin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / after naturalist Dr. John Scouler

Salix sitchensis - Sitka willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / of Sitka, Alaska

Salvia apiana - white sage Latin "salvio" (I am well), in reference to the curative properties of this genus / attractive to bees

Salvia clevelandii - fragrant sage Latin "salvio" (I am well), in reference to the curative properties of this genus / after botanist Daniel Cleveland

Salvia leucophylla - purple sage Latin "salvio" (I am well), in reference to the curative properties of this genus / white leaves

Salvia mellifera - black sage Latin "salvio" (I am well), in reference to the curative properties of this genus / bearing honey

Salvia officinalis - common sage Latin "salvio" (I am well), in reference to the curative properties of this genus / officinalis is a reference to the "officina", the medicinal storeroom of monastaries (a drug store)

Salvia rosmarinus - rosemary Latin "salvio" (I am well), in reference to the curative properties of this genus / Latin "ros" (dew) and "marinus" (sea) - the dew of the sea

Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis - American elderberry Greek "Sambuca" a stringed instrument made from elder wood / black, of Canada

Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea - blue elderberry Greek "Sambuca" a stringed instrument made from elder wood / black, Latin "cera" (waxy - leaves)

Sambucus racemosa - red elderberry Greek "Sambuca" a stringed instrument made from elder wood / in racemes

Sapindus saponaria - soapberry Latin "sapindus" (soap of the Indies) / soap bearing

Sarcobatus vermiculatus - greasewood Greek "sarko" (flesh), referring to succulent leaves and "batos" (bramble) / Latin "vermiculor" (worm-eaten or full of worms), referring to leaves(?)

Sassafras albidum - sassafras American Indian name or from Spanish "saxafrax" / white (leaf undersides)

Schinus molle - peppertree ancient Greek name for Pistacia / a Peruvian name

Schinus terebinthifolius - Brazilian peppertree ancient Greek name for Pistacia / With leaves resembling a terebith tree (Pistacia terebinthus)

Sciadopitys verticillata - umbrella pine Greek "sciados" (umbrella) and "pitys" (pine) / Latín "verticillatus (vertical) - referring to the leaf orientation

Senegalia berlandieri - guajillo after Senegal / after Swiss botanist Jean Louis Berlandier

Senegalia greggii - catclaw acacia after Senegal / after explorer Josiiah Gregg

Senna hebecarpa - American senna Arabic "sana" (mountaintop) / Latin "hebe" (young man) and "carpa" (fruit) for its hairy fruits

Sequoia sempervirens - redwood after Sequoiah, son of a British merchant and Cherokee woman / Latin "semper" (always) and "vivere" (to live) - evergreen

Sequoiadendron giganteum - giant sequoia from sequoia and Greek "dendron" (tree) / large

Serenoa repens - saw palmetto after botanist Sereno Watson / creeping or low

Sesbania punicea - rattlebox an old Arabic name for a Sesbania / dark red (flowers)

Shepherdia argentea - silver buffaloberry after botanist John Shepherd / silvery (leaves)

Shepherdia canadensis - buffaloberry after botanist John Shepherd / of Canada

Shepherdia rotundifolia - roundleaf buffaloberry after botanist John Shepherd / round leaves

Sibbaldiopsis tridentata - three-toothed-cinquefoil after Scottish physician Sir Robert Sibbald / leaves with three teeth

Sideroxylon lanuginosum - gum bumelia Greek "sidero" (iron) and "xylon" (wood) / woolly

Sideroxylon lycioides - buckthorn bumelia Greek "sidero" (iron) and "xylon" (wood) / similar to lycium

Simmondsia chinensis - jojoba after botanist Thomas William Simmonds / of China

Smilax bona-nox - saw greenbrier Greek name / Latin name (good night), an ancient name for a morning glory

Smilax glauca - catbrier Greek name / waxy whitish bloom

Smilax laurifolia - laurel greenbrier Greek name / laurel-like leaves

Smilax rotundifolia - common greenbrier Greek name / round-leaved

Smilax smallii - lanceleaf greenbrier Greek name / after American botanist John Small

Smilax tamnoides - bristly greenbrier Greek name / bristly (stems)

Soehrensia thelegona - sprawling torch unknown / Greek "thele" (breast), and Latin "gona" (birth)

Solanum dulcamara - bitter nightshade Latin name / sweet and injurious

Sophora chrysophylla - mamani Arabic name / Greek for golden leaves

Sophora secundiflora - mescal bean Arabic name / side-flowering

Sorbus alnifolia - Korean mountain-ash Latin name for Sorbus domestica / alder-like leaves

Sorbus americana - American mountain-ash Latin name for Sorbus domestica / of America

Sorbus aucuparia - European mountain-ash Latin name for Sorbus domestica / Latin "avis" (bird) and "capere" (to catch) - birds eat the fruits, tree used as bait

Sorbus decora - showy mountain-ash Latin name for Sorbus domestica / showy

Sorbus scopulina - Greene's mountain-ash Latin name for Sorbus domestica / growing on cliffs

Sorbus sitchensis - Sitka mountain-ash Latin name for Sorbus domestica / of Sitka, Alaska

Sphaeralcea ambigua - desert globemallow Latin "sphaera" (a globe or a sphere) / Latin "ambig" (in doubt or uncertain)

Spiraea alba var. alba - narrowleaf spiraea Greek "speiraira" (plant used in garlands) / white

Spiraea alba var. latifolia - meadowsweet Greek "speiraira" (plant used in garlands) / broad-leaved

Spiraea douglasii - Douglas spiraea Greek "speiraira" (plant used in garlands) / after Scottish botanist David Douglas

Spiraea japonica - Japanese spiraea Greek "speiraira" (plant used in garlands) / of Japan

Spiraea lucida - shinyleaf spiraea Greek "speiraira" (plant used in garlands) / shining

Spiraea splendens - rose meadowsweet Greek "speiraira" (plant used in garlands) / splendid (flowers)

Staphylea trifolia - bladdernut Greek "staphyle" (cluster - of flowers) / three leaflets

Stenocereus stellatus - Baja organ pipe cactus Greek "stenos" (narrow) and Latin "cera" (torch) for the resemblence to a torch / Latin "stella" (star)

Stenocereus thurberi - organpipe cactus Greek "stenos" (narrow) and Latin "cera" (torch) for the resemblence to a torch / after US botanist George Thurber

Stewartia ovata - mountain-camellia after John Stuart / ovate leaves

Stewartia spp. - stewartia after John Stuart / after John Stuart

Styphelia tameiameiae - pukiawe Greek for tough or harsh / after King Kamehameha

Styphnolobium affine - Texas sophora Latin "stypticus" (to contract), probably a reference to constrictions of the fruit / similar to (?)

Styphnolobium japonicum - Japanese pagoda tree Latin "stypticus" (to contract), probably a reference to constrictions of the fruit / of Japan

Styrax americanus - American snowbell Greek name of Styrax officinalis / of America

Styrax japonicus - Japanese snowbell Greek name of Styrax officinalis / of Japan

Styrax obassia - fragrant snowbell Greek name of Styrax officinalis / a Japanese name

Swietenia mahagoni - West Indies mahogany after Dutch physician and botanist Baron Gerald von Swieten / Latinized version of a local name

Syagrus romanzoffiana - queen palm Used by Pliny for a palm / after Russian Count Romanzoff, sponsor of exploration

Symphoricarpos albus - snowberry Greek "symphorein" (bear together) and "karpos" (fruit) refers to clustered fruits / white

Symphoricarpos mollis - creeping snowberry Greek "symphorein" (bear together) and "karpos" (fruit) refers to clustered fruits / soft or silky form

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus - coralberry Greek "symphorein" (bear together) and "karpos" (fruit) refers to clustered fruits / orbicular fruits

Symplocos tinctoria - common sweetleaf Greek "symploke" (connection") - stamens are connected / dye or medical solution

Syringa reticulata - Japanese tree lilac Greek "syrinx" (a pipe) for its hollow stems / networked (veins in the leaf)

Syringa villosa - late lilac Greek "syrinx" (a pipe) for its hollow stems / hairy

Syringa vulgaris - common lilac Greek "syrinx" (a pipe) for its hollow stems / common

Syzygium nervosum - sugargum Greek "syn" (together) and "zygon" (yoke), perhaps a reference to fruits / veined or nerved (leaves)

Tabebuia aurea - Caribbean trumpet-tree A Latinized local/indigenous name / golden, beautiful or splendid

Tamarix aphylla - athel tamarisk Latin name / without leaves

Tamarix chinensis - saltcedar Latin name / of China

Tamarix gallica - tamarisk Latin name / of France

Tamarix parviflora - smallflower tamarisk Latin name / small flowers

Taxodium ascendens - pondcypress from Taxus and Greek "eidos" (resemblence to Taxus) / ascending

Taxodium distichum - baldcypress from Taxus and Greek "eidos" (resemblence to Taxus) / in two rows (leaves) Greek "di" (two) and "stichos" (rank)

Taxus baccata - English yew Latin name / berry-bearing

Taxus brevifolia - Pacific yew Latin name / short foliage

Taxus cuspidata - Japanese yew Latin name / with a cusp, coming to a sharp and rigid point (leaves)

Taxus xmedia - Anglo-Jap yew Latin name / intermediate

Tecoma stans - yellow bells Aztec name / upright

Tectona grandis - teak from the Malabar name "tekka" / large

Tetradium daniellii - Korean evodia Greek "tetra" (four) / after Willaim Daniell, who introduced the plant to western horticulture

Thuja occidentalis - northern white-cedar Greek "thyia" (for a juniper or a fragrant-wooded tree) from "thyo" (perfume) / western - Latin "occidere" (to set, as the sun)

Thuja plicata - western redcedar Greek "thyia" (for a juniper or a fragrant-wooded tree) from "thyo" (perfume) / plaited (leaves, branches) - Latin "plicare" (to fold)

Thujopsis dolabrata - false arborvitae Like a Thuja - Greek "thyia" (for a juniper or a fragrant-wooded tree) from "thyo" (perfume) / Latin "dolabra" (pick-axe (leaf shape))

Tilia americana - American basswood Latin name of Linden / of America

Tilia cordata - littleleaf linden Latin name of Linden / of Europe

Tilia petiolaris - silver linden Latin name of Linden / conspicuous petioles

Tilia xeuchlora - Crimean linden Latin name of Linden / Greek "eu" (true) and "chloros" (green)

Tilia xeuropaea - European linden Latin name of Linden / of Europe

Torreya californica - California nutmeg after John Torrey / of California

Torreya taxifolia - Florida torreya after John Torrey / with yew-like foliage

Toxicodendron diversilobum - Pacific poisonoak Greek "toxikon" (poison) and "dendron" (tree) / variable leaves

Toxicodendron pubescens - poison-oak Greek "toxikon" (poison) and "dendron" (tree) / hairy

Toxicodendron radicans - poison-ivy Greek "toxikon" (poison) and "dendron" (tree) / with rooting stems

Toxicodendron vernix - poison sumac Greek "toxikon" (poison) and "dendron" (tree) / Latin for varnish

Trachycarpus fortunei - Chinese windmill palm Latin "trachy" (rough) and "carpus" (fruit) / after Robert Fortune

Triadica sebifera - Chinese tallow tree three-parted (fruits) / Latin "sebum" (tallow, fat) and "fera" (to bear)

Tsuga canadensis - eastern hemlock Japanese name / of Canada

Tsuga caroliniana - Carolina hemlock Japanese name / of Carolina

Tsuga chinensis - Chinese hemlock Japanese name / of China

Tsuga heterophylla - western hemlock Japanese name / Greek "hetero" (different) "phylla" (leaf) - with variable leaves

Tsuga mertensiana - mountain hemlock Japanese name / after Karl Mertens, German botanist

Ulex europaeus - common gorse Latin name / of Europe

Ulmus alata - winged elm Latin name / winged (twigs)

Ulmus americana - American elm Latin name / of America

Ulmus crassifolia - cedar elm Latin name / thick-leaved

Ulmus parvifolia - Chinese elm Latin name / small leaves

Ulmus procera - field elm Latin name / smaller or slight (leaves)

Ulmus pumila - Siberian elm Latin name / dwarf or small

Ulmus rubra - slippery elm Latin name / red

Ulmus thomasii - rock elm Latin name / after horticulturist David Thomas

Ulmus xspp. - elm hybrids Latin name / --

Umbellularia californica - California-laurel Latin "umbella" (umbel) / of California

Ungnadia speciosa - Mexican buckeye after Austrian Barón David von Ungnad / Latin "species" (form) and "osus" (full of) - showy

Vaccinium arboreum - sparkleberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / tree-like

Vaccinium cespitosum - dwarf bilberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / having a densely clumped growth form

Vaccinium corymbosum - highbush blueberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / with flat-topped flower clusters

Vaccinium deliciosum - Cascade bilberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / delicious

Vaccinium elliottii - Elliott's blueberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / after American botanist Stephen Elliott

Vaccinium fuscatum - black highbush blueberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / dark, obscured (fruits)

Vaccinium macrocarpon - cranberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / large fruits

Vaccinium membranaceum - big huckleberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / like a membrane - thin leaves

Vaccinium myrtilloides - velvet-leaf blueberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / myrtle-like leaves

Vaccinium myrtillus - bilberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / myrtle-like leaves

Vaccinium ovalifolium - ovalleaf huckleberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / oval leaves

Vaccinium ovatum - evergreen huckleberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / ovate leaves

Vaccinium oxycoccos - small cranberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / Greek "oxus" (acid), and "kokkos" (berry)

Vaccinium pallidum - lowbush blueberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / pale

Vaccinium parvifolium - red huckleberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / small leaves

Vaccinium scoparium - grouse whortleberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / broom-like

Vaccinium stamineum - deerberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / a reference to prominent stamens

Vaccinium uliginosum - bog blueberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / of swamps

Vaccinium vitis-idaea - lingonberry the Latin name for Vaccinium myrtillus or hyacinth / a reference to the grape genus and raspberries, for the fruit

Vachellia constricta - whitethorn acacia after Reverand George Harvey Vachell / constricted, a reference to the fruits

Vachellia farnesiana - sweet acacia after Reverand George Harvey Vachell / after Cardinal Farnese

Vauquelinia californica - Arizona rosewood perhaps in honor of French cheist Louis Nicolas Vauquelin / of California

Vernicia fordii - tungoil tree Italian "vernice" (varnish) / after Charles Ford, superintendant of the Hong Kong Botanic Gardens

Viburnum acerifolium - mapleleaf viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / maple-leaved

Viburnum carlesii - Koreanspice viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / after British Vice-Consul in Korea, W.R. Carles

Viburnum dentatum - arrowwood Latin name for Viburnum lantana / referring to the teeth on the leaves

Viburnum dilatatum - linden viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / spread out or wide-spreading

Viburnum edule - squashberry Latin name for Viburnum lantana / edible (fruit)

Viburnum ellipticum - western viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / elliptical leaves

Viburnum lantana - wayfaringtree viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / Italian name, perhaps after Latin "lentus" (light or flexible)

Viburnum lantanoides - hobblebush Latin name for Viburnum lantana / similar to Viburnum lantana

Viburnum lentago - nannyberry Latin name for Viburnum lantana / tough but pliable

Viburnum nudum - possumhaw viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / Latin for bare or naked (hairless)

Viburnum opulus var. americanum - highbush-cranberry Latin name for Viburnum lantana / Latin name for a kind of maple

Viburnum opulus var. opulus - European cranberrybush viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / Latin name for a kind of maple

Viburnum plicatum - doublefile viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / pleated leaves

Viburnum prunifolium - blackhaw Latin name for Viburnum lantana / plum-leaved

Viburnum recognitum - smooth arrowwood Latin name for Viburnum lantana / Latin "recognitus" (recognized)

Viburnum rhytidophyllum - leatherleaf viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / wrinkled leaves

Viburnum rufidulum - rusty blackhaw Latin name for Viburnum lantana / Latin "rufi" (red - probably a reference to rusty red hairs)

Viburnum xburkwoodii - Burkwood viburnum Latin name for Viburnum lantana / after English nurserymen Albert Burkwood and Geoffrey Skipwith

Viguiera laciniata - San Diego sunflower after French botanist Alexandre Viguier / deeply cut (leaves)

Vinca minor - periwinkle Latin "Vincio" (to bind) - the shoots / small

Vitex agnus-castus - lilac chastetree Latin name for the Grape genus / chaste

Vitex negundo - chastetree Latin name for the Grape genus / Latinized form of Malayan name

Vitex rotundifolia - beach vitex Latin name for the Grape genus / round-leaved

Vitis aestivalis - summer grape Latin name / of summer

Vitis rotundifolia - muscadine grape Latin name / round leaves

Washingtonia filifera - California fan palm after George Washington / "bearing threads or filaments" (filamentous leaf edges)

Washingtonia robusta - Mexican fan palm after George Washington / "of hard wood" or "strong"

Weigela florida - old fashioned weigela after von Weigel, German botanist / flowering Latin "flos" (flower)

Wisteria floribunda - Japanese wisteria after Caspar Wistar, American anatomy professor / flowering profusely

Wisteria frutescens - American wisteria after Caspar Wistar, American anatomy professor / shrubby

Wisteria sinensis - Chinese wisteria after Caspar Wistar, American anatomy professor / of China

Wollemia nobilis - Wollemi-pine After the Wollemi Australian National Park, where it was discovered in 1994. / Usually regal, renowned - but in this case after David Noble, discoverer of the tree.

Xanthorhiza simplicissima - yellowroot Greek "xanthos" (yellow) and "rhiza" (root) / Latin for most simple (unbranched)

xHesperotropsis leylandii - Leyland cypress Latin name for Cupressus sempervirens and Greek "kuparissos" (cypress) / crossed by Leyland

Yucca angustissima - narrowleaf yucca from the Carib name for cassava / narrow leaves

Yucca baccata - banana yucca from the Carib name for cassava / berry-like fruits

Yucca brevifolia - Joshua tree from the Carib name for cassava / short leaves

Yucca elata - soaptree yucca from the Carib name for cassava / Latin "elat" (high or lofty; proud)

Yucca filamentosa - yucca from the Carib name for cassava / filamented

Yucca gigantea - giant yucca from the Carib name for cassava / large

Yucca glauca - soapweed yucca from the Carib name for cassava / white

Yucca schidigera - Mojave yucca from the Carib name for cassava / bearing a splinter of wood - a reference to leaf fibers

Yucca torreyi - Torrey's yucca from the Carib name for cassava / after botanist John Torrey

Zanthoxylum americanum - common pricklyash Greek "zanthos" (yellow) and "xulon" (wood) / of America

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis - pricklyash Greek "zanthos" (yellow) and "xulon" (wood) / Latin "clava" (club-shaped) and Hercules - another common name for this is Hercules club.

Zelkova serrata - Japanese zelkova Caucasian name / serrate (leaves)

Ziziphus obtusifolia - lotebush an Arabic name / blunt-leaves

Ziziphus zizyphus - jujube an Arabic name / an Arabic name

Sources:

• Alcock, R.H. 1876. Botanical Names for English Readers. Grand River Books, Detroit. 236 pages.
• Bailey, L.H. 1933. How Plants Get Their Names. The MacMillan Company, NY. 209 pages.
• Bold, H.C. 1977. The Plant Kingdom, 4th ed. Prentice Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, NJ. 310 pages.
• Borror, D.J. 1988. Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms. Mayfield Publishing Company, Mountain View California. 134 pages.
• Brummitt, R.K. 1992. Vascular Plant Families and Genera. Whitstable Litho Ltd, Kent. 804 pages.
• Coombes, Allen J. 1993. Dictionary of Plant Names. Timber Press, Portland OR, 1993, 207 pages.
• Gledhill, D. 1985. The Names of Plants. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 159 pages.
• Harlow, W.M., E.S. Harrar, F.M. White. Textbook of Dendrology. 7th ed. McGraw-Hill, Inc. NY 501 pages.
• Mabberly, D.J. 1987. The Plant Book. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 706 pages.
• New Pronouncing Dictionary of Plant Names 1964. Florists' Publishing Co., Chicago IL. 63 pages.
• Stearn, W.T. 1992. Botanical Latin. David and Charles Publishers, England. 546 pages.


• Michael L. Charters has assembled the most thorough compilation of the meanings of botanical binomials that I have encountered. Learn Greek, Latin, and history (yes - history - as some of the mini biographies are quite well researched) when you scroll through the botanical names of California and Virginia plants:
• - California Plant Names, Word Meanings and Name Derivations
• - Virginia Plant Names, Word Meanings and Name Derivations