While Latin forms the basis of much of the English language, it’s rare to see words in their original Latin form, except in highly specific circumstances. For instance, lawyers use Latin terms in the courtroom, sculptors use the language for monument dedications, and someone might warn “caveat emptor” (“buyer beware”). The other place you’re most likely to see the dead language is from scientists who use Latin to name all living creatures, including plants.
In the mid-18th century, Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus popularized a Latin-based naming mechanism called binomial nomenclature. Though others studied it prior to him, Linnaeus helped develop and establish this standardized method for naming living creatures rooted in Latin, as outlined in his 1753 work Species Plantarum. Let’s take a look at the concept to better understand how Latin plant names are used today.
Under binomial nomenclature, all living things are given a two-part Latin name. The first part, the genus, is capitalized, and the second part is the lowercase specific epithet. Together, they form the scientific name of each species.In general, the genus is a noun that describes the type of plant, whereas the specific epithet is an adjective that relates to color, place of origin, shape, etc. For example, a common apple tree is named Malus domestica.
Prior to the standardized system, biologists used a polynomial system, which generated lengthy titles based on multiple descriptive terms. That same apple tree might be called Pyrus malus communis fructu albo dulci (meaning “the common apple tree with white sweet fruit”), or something entirely different by another scientist.
If you say Helianthus annuus to the average person, they might look at you as if you have four heads. But if you say “sunflower,” they’ll know exactly what you mean. This begs the question: Why should we use Latin names for plants when people are far more familiar with the common English alternatives?
Latin is important to botanists for conveying important details about similar plants that may look alike but have different characteristics. So while saying “sunflower” might help a florist pick out a bright yellow flower, it leaves out important details.
Helianthus annuus gives us important clues — Helianthus, from the Latin helio, meaning “sun,” tells us it’s in the sunflower family, and annuus indicates it grows annually instead of perennially. This helps differentiate it from Helianthus pauciflorus, which is a sunflower with fewer leaves, as the Latin prefix pauci- means “few,” and -florus means “having flowers.” As this shows, the Latin names reveal important details about plants that appear largely alike.
You don’t need to memorize Latin to understand plant names, and we’re not providing a botany dictionary here. Instead, know that these Latin-based names are there to guide you toward a clear understanding of the plant’s type, origin, and notable features.
As we touched on before, the first part of the name (the genus) is a Latin noun indicating a type of plant. Rosa refers to roses, Tulipa to tulips, Bellis to daisies, etc. This naming convention applies to trees, vegetables, and other plants, too.
The specific epithet is a more targeted term for details about the plant species. This Latin word may relate to the plant’s habitat — the Acer pensylvanicum, for example, is a maple tree that grows in and around parts of Pennsylvania. It can also relate to the shape of a plant, as with the Rotala rotundifolia — a plant with rounded flowers. Or it may have to do with its color, as in the case of a white tropical flower called Plumeria alba (alba being Latin for “white”).
If you’re curious to learn more about the scientific details of a specific plant species, consult the International Plant Names Index. And for etymology inquiries, the Online Etymology Dictionary is a useful source for understanding Latin root words.
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