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• Scientific Latin plant names are used as a means of classifying or identifying specific plants. Let’s learn more about the meaning of Latin plant names with this short but sweet botanical nomenclature guide. Unlike its common name (of which there may be several), the Latin name for a plant is unique to each plant.

• How to Learn Botanical Latin Plant Names Learning Botanical Latin Plant Names and Other Things No. 1: Break the names down into smaller words No. 2: Conjure up images/tell stories No. 3: Abbreviate words No. 4: Write the names down No. 5: Make phone notes or use a revision app No. 6: Repeat the words out loud No. 7: Visualise where the plant is

• The difference between the two nomenclatures being, that in Latin plant names the genus is listed first and is always capitalized. The species (or specific epithet) follows the genus name in lowercase and the entire Latin plant name is italicized or underlined. Why Do We Use Latin Plant Names?

Scientific Latin plant names are used as a means of classifying or identifying specific plants. Let’s learn more about the meaning of Latin plant names with this short but sweet botanical nomenclature guide. Unlike its common name (of which there may be several), the Latin name for a plant is unique to each plant.

As confusing as Latin plant names may seem, they can actually be less confusing than their commonplace counterparts. For example, the popular Monstera deliciosa is known in different locales as a Hurricane Plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Ceriman, Swiss Cheese Plant, Fruit Salad Tree, Window leaf, or Penglai Banana. It’s out of control.

All plants have two main names, in Italics, which are the genus and the species, such as Rosa rugosa, Helleborus niger and Alchemilla mollis. The genus starts with a capital letter. It represents a group of plants with similar characteristics – all the plants in the genus will share a recent common ancestor and look similar to each other.

The difference between the two nomenclatures being, that in Latin plant names the genus is listed first and is always capitalized. The species (or specific epithet) follows the genus name in lowercase and the entire Latin plant name is italicized or underlined. Why Do We Use Latin Plant Names?