Property:Etymology

Usage2264

H

Greek holos, whole, and diskos, disc, alluding to entire floral disc +

Greek holos, whole or all, and osteon, bone, humorous allusion to frailty of the plant +

Greek holos, whole or entire, and zona, belt or girdle +, alluding to each phyllary fully (or mostly) investing a ray ovary (cypsela), in contrast to the half-invested cypselae of Hemizonia +

Homalia +

Greek homalos, even or level, alluding to strongly complanate leaves +

Homaliadelphus +

Genus Homalia and Greek adelphos, brother, alluding to similarity +

Homalotheciella +

Genus Homalothecium and Latin - ella, diminutive, alluding to resemblance +

Homalothecium +

Greek homalos, equal, even, and theke, case, alluding to straight, cylindric capsules of some species +

Homomallium +

Greek homos, similar, and mallos, wool, thus bending to one side, alluding to leaves slightly and uniformly curved +

Honckenya +

for Gerhard August Honckeny, 1724–1805, German botanist +

Hookeria +

For William Jackson Hooker, 1785 – 1865, British botanist and first Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew +

Horkelia +

For Johann Horkel, 1769–1846, German plant physiologist +

Horkeliella +

Genus Horkelia and Latin - ella, diminutive +

Hornungia +

For Ernst Gottfried Hornung, 1795–1862, German pharmacist in Schwarzburg +

Horsfordia +

For Frederick Hinsdale Horsford, 1855 – 1923, Vermont farmer and commercial seedsman, and probably also for Eben Norton Horsford, 1818 – 1893, chemist +

Hosta +

for Nicolaus Thomas Host, 1761–1834, Austrian botanist and physician to Emperor Frances II +

Hottonia +

For Petrus Hotton, 1648–1709, Dutch botanist +

Hovenia +

For David Hoven, 1724–1787, Dutch senator and botanical patron +

Howelliella +

For John Thomas Howell, 1903–1994, California botanist +

Hudsonia +

For William Hudson, 1730 – 1793 English botanist +

Hulteniella +

For Eric Hultén, 1894–1981, Swedish botanist, specialist of the circumpolar flora +

Humulus +

Latin humulus, applied to hop plant +

Huperzia +

for Johann Pete a German fern horticulturist +

Hura +

Native American word for poisonous sap, alluding to caustic latex +

Hyacinthoides +

genus Hyacinthus and Greek oides, resembling +

Hybanthus +

Greek hybos, hump, and anthos, flower, alluding to recurved pedicels +

Hydrangea +

Greek hydor, water, and angeion, diminutive of angos, vessel or container, alluding to shape of mature, dehisced capsule +

Hydrastis +

referring to superficial resemblance to some species of Hydrophyllum +

Hydrilla +

Greek hydr-, water, and -illa, diminutive +

Hydrocharis +

Greek hydr-, water, and chari, grace +

Hydrocleys +

Greek hydro, water, and clavis, club-shaped, presumably from shape of pistils +

Hygroamblystegium +

Greek hygros, wet, and genus Amblystegium +

Hygrohypnum +

Greek hygros, wet, and genus Hypnum, alluding to habitat +

Hylocereus +

Greek hyle, forest, and Cereus, the genus from which this segregate was removed +

Hylocomiastrum +

Genus Hylocomium and Latin - astrum, incomplete resemblance +

Hylocomium +

Greek hylokomos, forest inhabitant, alluding to habitat +

Hylotelephium +

Greek hyle, wood, and genus Telephium +

Hymenocallis +

Greek hymên, membrane, and kallos, beauty, in reference to the corona +

Hymenopappus +

Greek hymen, membrane, and pappos, pappus, alluding to membranous pappus scales +

Hymenophyllum +

Greek hymen, membrane, and phyllon, leaf +

Hymenostylium +

Greek hymen, membrane, and stylos, pillar, alluding to systylius capsule +

Hymenothrix +

Greek hymen, membrane, and thrix, hair, possibly alluding to scarious-aristate pappus scales +

Hymenoxys +

Greek hymen, membrane, and oxys, sharp, alluding to aristate pappus scales +

Hyophila +

Greek hyo, rain, and philia, fondness, alluding to wet habitats +

Hyophiladelphus +

Genus Hyophila and Greek adelphus, brother +

Hypericum +

Greek hyper, above, and eikon, image, alluding to ancient Greek custom of decorating religious figures with Hypericum species to ward off evil spirits +

Hypnum +

Greek hypnos, sleep, alluding to ancient use as filler for cushions +

Hypochaeris +

Greek hypo, beneath, and choiras, pig, alluding to pigs digging for roots +

Hypolepis +

Greek hypo, below, and lepis, scale, in reference to position of sori under the revolute leaf margin +

Hypopterygium +

Greek hypo, beneath, and pterygion, small wing, alluding to underleaves +

Hypoxis +

Greek hypo, under, and oxys, sharp, referring to the pointed bases of the ovaries +

I

Iberis +

Name used by Dioscorides for an Iberian plant +

Ibervillea +

Derivation unknown +

Idahoa +

For the state Idaho +

Iliamna +

Derivation uncertain +, perhaps after Lake Iliamna in Alaska +

Illicium +

Latin illicere, to allure +

Imbribryum +

Latin imbrex, roof tile, and Greek bryon, moss, alluding to strongly overlapping leaves +

Indusiella +

Latin indusium, tunic, and -ella, diminutive, alluding to inrolled hyaline leaf margins +

Inula +

Greek inaein, to clean, alluding to medicinal effects +, or Latin inula, an ancient name for elecampane +

Iodanthus +

Greek iodes, violet-colored, and anthos, flower +

Ionactis +

Greek ion, violet, and aktis, ray, alluding to colored ray florets +

Ionopsis +

Greek ion, violet, and opsis, having the appearance of +

Iresine +

Greek eiresione, a wreath or staff entwined with strips of wool, alluding to the long woolly hairs often encircling the calyx +

Iris +

Greek iris, rainbow +

Isatis +

Greek isatis, name used for a dye plant, most likely woad +

Ismelia +

Etymology unknown +

Isocarpha +

Greek iso -, same, and carphos, small dry body, evidently alluding to uniform receptacular paleae +

Isocoma +

Greek isos, equal, and kome, hair of the head +, “so called from its equal flowers” (protologue) +

Isolepis +

Greek, isos, equal, similar, and lepis, a scale +

Isopterygiopsis +

Genus Isopterygium and Greek - opsis, resembling +

Isopterygium +

Greek isos, equal, and pteron, wing, alluding to complanate leaves +

Isothecium +

Greek isos, equal, and theke, case, alluding to symmetric capsule +

Isotria +

Greek iso, equal, and tri, 3 +, probably referring to 3 sepals of equal size and shape +

Isoëtes +

Greek isos, equal, and etos, year, referring to evergreen habit of some species +

Itea +

Greek itea, willow, alluding to willowlike leaves +

Iva +

Etymology uncertain +, perhaps for Ajuga iva, a mint with similar odor +

Ivesia +

For Eli Ives, 1779–1861, professor of pediatrics, materia medica, and botany at Yale University +

Iwatsukiella +

For Zennoske Iwatsuki, b. 1929, Japanese bryologist, and Latin -ella, diminutive +

Ixeris +

No etymology in protologue +

J

Jacquinia +

For Nicolaus Joseph von Jacquin, 1727–1817, Austrian botanist +

Jaegerina +

For August Jaeger, 1842 – 1877, Swiss bryologist +

Jaffueliobryum +

For Félix Jafuell, 1857–1931, clergyman who collected plants in South America, and Greek bryum, moss +

Jamesia +

For Edwin P. James, 1797–1861, American physician and naturalist on the Stephen Harriman Long expeditions of 1819 & 1820 +

Jamesianthus +

For Robert Leslie James, 1897–1977, American botanist and historian, and Greek anthos, flower +

Jatropha +

Greek iatros, physician, and trophe, food, alluding to use of J. curcas as purgative +

Jaumea +

For J. H. Jaume St. Hilaire, 1772–1845, French botanist +

Jefea +

Spanish jefe, chief +, for Billie Lee Turner, b. 1925, Texan, botanist +

Jeffersonia +

Named for Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third president of the United States +

Jensia +

For Jens Christian Clausen, 1891–1969, Californian botanist +

Jepsonia +

For Willis Linn Jepson, 1867–1946, California botanist +

Johanneshowellia +

for John Thomas Howell, 1903–1994, California botanist and Eriogonum scholar +

Jovibarba +

Latin Jovis, Jupiter, and barba, beard, alluding to fringed petals +

Juncus +

classical name for the genus +

Juncus drummondii +

for Thomas Drummond +

Juniperus +

Latin juniperus, name for juniper +

K

Kalanchoë +

Apparently from Chinese name for one of the species +

Kallstroemia +

Derivation obscure, perhaps for Anders Kallström, 1733–1812, a contemporary of Scopoli +

Kalmia +

For Peter Kalm, 1715–1779, Swedish botanist, pupil of Linnaeus, collector in eastern North America +

Kalmiopsis +

Genus Kalmia and Greek opsis, resemblance +

Karwinskia +

For Baron W. F. von Karvinsky, 1780–1855, botanical collector in Brazil and Mexico +

Keckiella +

For David Daniels Keck, 1903–1995, California botanist, and ella, honor +

Kelseya +

For Francis Duncan Kelsey, 1849 – 1905 Montana Botanist +

Kerria +

For William Kerr, d. 1814 collector in the far east, sponsored by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and superintendent of Botanic Garden, Peradinaya, Sri Lanka +

Kiaeria +

For Frantz Caspar Kiaer, 1835–1893, Norwegian bryologist +

Kickxia +

For Jean Jacques Kickx, 1842–1887, Belgian botanist +

Kindbergia +

For Nils Conrad Kindberg, 1832 – 1910, Swedish bryologist +

Koanophyllon +

Etymology unknown +, possibly an oblique reference to the leaves as a source of dye like indigo +

Kobresia +

for J. P. von Cobres, 1747–1823, German bibliophile +

Kochia +

For W. D. J. Koch, 1771–1849, German naturalist and physician +

Koeberlinia +

For Christoph Ludwig Koeberlin, 1794–1862, German clergyman and botanist +

Koenigia +

For Johann Gerhard König, 1827–1785, pupil of Linnaeus +

Kopsiopsis +

Genus Kopsia and Greek -opsis, resemblance +

Kosteletzkya +

For Vincenz Franz Kosteletzky, 1801 – 1887, Czech botanist +

Krameria +

For either Johann Georg Heinrich Kramer, 1684–1744, Austrian Army physician and botanist, or his son William Heinrich Kramer, d. 1765, Austrian physician and naturalist, or both +

Krapovickasia +

For Antonio Krapovickas, b. 1921 Argentinian botanist +

Krascheninnikovia +

for S. P. Krasheninnikova, 1711–1755, academician and professor in Saint Petersburg, author of the first flora of Saint Petersburg +

Krigia +

For David Krieg, 16??–1713, plant collector in Maryland and Delaware +

Krugiodendron +

For Carl Wilhelm Krug, 1833–1898, major collaborator with Urban on the West Indian flora, and Greek dendron, tree +

Kyhosia +

For Donald William Kyhos, b. 1929, Californian botanist +

Kyllinga +

for Peter Kylling, Danish botanist, d. 1696 +

L

Lachnanthes +

Greek lachne, wool, and anthos, flower, in reference to pubescent flowers +

Lachnocaulon +

Greek lachnos, wool, and chaulos, stem, in reference to the long, soft, upwardly pointed hairs on scapes of the type +

Lactuca +

No etymology in protologue +, traceable to Latin lac, milk, alluding to the milky sap +

Lagascea +

For Mariano Lagasca y Segura, Spanish botanist at the Madrid Botanical Garden +

Lagenaria +

Greek lagenos, flask, alluding to shape and use of fruit +

Lagerstroemia +

For Magnus Lagerstroem, 1696–1759, friend of Linnaeus and supporter of Uppsala University +

Lagophylla +

Greek lago, hare, and phyllon, leaf, alluding to sericeous leaves of original species +

Lagotis +

Greek lagos, hare, and otos, ear, alluding to calyx of some species +

Lagunaria +

Genus Laguna, for Andrés de Laguna, 1499 – 1559 Spanish botanist and physician to Pope Julius III, and - aria, similarity +

Laguncularia +

Latin laguncula, flask or bottle, and aria, pertaining, alluding to fruit shape +

Laportea +

For F.L. de Laporte de Castelnau, leader of expeditions to South America +

Lapsana +

Greek lapsanae, a vegetable mentioned by Dioscorides, perhaps actually Raphanus, with lyrate leaves resembling those of Lapsana +

Lapsanastrum +

Lapsana, generic name, and Latin - astrum, indicating inferiority or an incomplete resemblance +

Larix +

Latin larix, name for larch +

Larrea +

For Juan Antonio Pérez Hernández de Larrea, 1730–1803, Catholic bishop of Valladolid, Spain +

Lasianthaea +

Alteration of genus name Lasianthus +, Greek lasios, hairy, and anthos, flower +

Lastarriaea +

For José Victorino Lastarria Santander, 1817–1888, lawyer and founder of the Liberal Party in Chile +

Lasthenia +

Greek, for a student of Plato, said to have been a woman who dressed as a man +

Launaea +

For J. Cl. M. Mordant de Launay, 1750–1816, lawyer, later librarian at Musée d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris +

Lavatera +

For Lavater family, 17th-century physicians and naturalists of Zurich +

Layia +

For George Tradescant Lay, a naturalist on Beechey’s voyage (1825–1828) +

Laënnecia +

For René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laënnec, 1781–1826, French physician, inventor of the stethoscope +

Leavenworthia +

For Melines Conkling Leavenworth, 1796–1862, American physician and botanist who collected in the southeastern United States +

Lechea +

For Johan Leche, 1704 – 1764, Swedish botanist +

Leibnitzia +

For G. W. Leibnitz, 1646–1716, philosopher, political advisor, mathematician, and scientist +

Leitneria +

named for Dr. Edward Frederick Leitner, 1812-1838, German physician, naturalist, and explorer of southern Florida +

Lemna +

Greek name of a water plant +

Lenophyllum +

Greek lenos, trough, and phyllon, leaf +

Leontodon +

Greek leon, lion, and odons, tooth, alluding to deeply toothed leaves +

Lepanthopsis +

Greek lepis, scale, and anthos, flower, referring to small, scalelike flowers +

Lepidium +

Greek lepidion or lepidos, scale, alluding to appearance of fruit +

Lepidospartum +

Greek lepidos, scale, and sparton, Spanish broom (the plant) +

Leptarrhena +

Greek leptos, slender, and arrhen, male, alluding to stamen filaments +

Leptobryum +

Greek leptos, narrow, and genus Bryum, alluding to leaf shape +

Leptodictyum +

Greek leptos, thin, alluding to fine outline of laminal cells +

Leptodon +

Greek leptos, delicate, and odon, tooth, alluding to peristome +

Leptodontium +

Greek leptos, slender, and odontos, tooth, alluding to narrow peristome teeth +

Leptohymenium +

Greek leptos, thin, and hymen, membrane, alluding to endostomial basal membrane +

Leptopterigynandrum +

Greek, leptos, slender, and genus Pterigynandrum y +

Leptospermum +

Greek leptos, slender or small, and sperma, seed, alluding to form and size +

Leptostomopsis +

Genus Leptostomum and Greek -opsis, resemblance +

Lepuropetalon +

Greek lepyron, scale, and petalon, petals, alluding to scalelike petals inserted into calyx +

Lepyrodiclis +

Greek lepyron, rind or husk, and diklis, double-folding, alluding to two-valved capsule +

Lescuraea +

For Charles Léo Lesquereux, 1806 – 1889, Swiss-American bryologist and paleontol o gist +

Leskea +

For Nathanael Gottfried Leske, 1751 – 1786, botanist of Lei p zig +

Leskeella +

Genus Leskea and Latin - ella, dimin u tive +

Lessingia +

For C. F. Lessing, 1809–1862, German-born botanist, his nephew K. F. Lessing, and grandfather G. E. Lessing +

Leucanthemella +

Leucanthemum, a genus name, plus Latin - ella, diminutive +

Leucanthemum +

Greek leuco- , white, and anthemon, flower +

Leuciva +

Greek leuc-, white, and Iva, a related genus, perhaps alluding to white indument of leaves +

Leucobryum +

Greek leukos, white, and bryon, moss +

Leucocrinum +

Greek leucos, white, and krinon, lily +

Leucodon +

Greek leukos, white, and odon, tooth, alluding to pale peristome teeth +

Leucojum +

Greek leukos, white, and ion, violet, alluding to the color and scent of the flowers +

Leucolepis +

Greek leucos, white, and lepis, scale, alluding to stem leaves +

Leucophyllum +

Greek leukos, white, and phyllon, leaf +

Leucospora +

Greek leucos, white or clear, and spora, seed, alluding to transparency of matured seeds +

Leucothoë +

Greek name for a princess of Babylon +

Lewisia +

For Meriwether Lewis, 1774–1809, American explorer +

Liatris +

Derivation unknown +

Libertia +

for Marie A. Libert, 1782–1863, Belgian botanist and student of liverworts +

Licania +

Misspelled anagram of local French Guiana name caligni +

Licaria +

local name in French Guiana +

Ligularia +

Latin, ligula, little tongue, and -aria, pertaining to or possession of +, alluding to corollas of radiate heads +

Lilaea +

for French botanist Alire Raffeneau-Delile, 1778–1850 +

Lilium +

Greek lirion, white lily +

Limbella +

Latin limbus, border, and -ella, diminutive, alluding to limbate leaf margins +

Limnanthes +

Greek limne, marsh, and anthe, flower, alluding to habitat +

Limnobium +

Greek limnobios, living in pools +

Limnophila +

Greek limne, pool, and philos, loving, alluding to habitat +

Limonium +

Greek leimon, meadow, referring to frequent occurrence of some species on salt meadows +

Limosella +

Latin limosus, full of mud, and -ella, diminutive, alluding to habitat +

Linaria +

Latin linum, flax, and -aria, resemblance, alluding to leaf similarity +

Lindbergia +

For Sextus Otto Lindberg, 1835 – 1889, Scandinavian br y ologist +

Lindera +

for John Linder, 1676-1723, Swedish botanist +

Lindernia +

For Franz Balthasar von Lindern, 1682–1755, French botanist and physician +

Lindheimera +

For Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer, 1801–1879, German expatriate, botanist/intellect, settled in Texas +

Linum +

Latin lin, flax +

Liparis +

Greek liparos, fat, greasy, or shining, referring to the almost oily feel and luster of the leaves typical of plants in this genus +

Lipocarpha +

Greek, leipo, to fall, and carpha, chaff, referring to deciduous transparent inner secondary scale of the spikelet in many species +

Liquidambar +

Latin liquidus, fluid, liquid, and Arabic ambar, amber +

Liriodendron +

Greek lirion, lily, and dendron, tree +

Listera +

For Martin Lister (1638–1711), noted English physician and naturalist +

Lithocarpus +

Greek lithos, stone, and carpos, fruit, referring to the hard fruit wall +

Lithophragma +

Greek lithos, stone, and phragma, hedge or fence, alluding to rocky habitat +, or an unsuccessful attempt to render Saxifraga in Greek +

Litsea +

Litsé, the Chinese name for the plant +

Littorella +

Latin littora, shores, and -ella, small, alluding to small lakeshore habitat +

Livistona +

for Patrick Murray, Baron of Livingstone (d. 1671), whose collections formed the nucleus of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden +

Lloydia +

for Edward Lloyd (Lhwyd in Welsh), 1660–1709, curator of the Oxford Museum, who first found Lloydia serotina in the mountains of Wales +

Lobularia +

Latin lobulus, small lobe, alluding to small silicles +

Loeflingia +

For P. Loefling, 1729–1756, Swedish botanist and explorer +

Loeskeobryum +

For Leopold Loeske, 1865 – 1935, German bryologist and journalist, and Greek bryon, moss +

Loeskypnum +

For Leopold Loeske, 1865–1935, German botanist, and Greek hypnum, lichen or, by usage, pleurocarpous moss +

Logfia +

anagram of generic name Filago +

Lomariopsis +

Lomaria, a subgenus of Blechnum (Blechnaceae), plus Greek - opsis, like +

Lophiola +

Greek lophia, mane or crest, in reference to pubescence on adaxial sides of tepals +

Lophophora +

Greek lophos, crest, and phoreus, a bearer, in reference to tufts of hairs in areoles +

Lorandersonia +

For Loran Crittenden Anderson, b. 1936, fervent American enthusiast of Asteraceae, especially Chrysothamnus and related taxa +

Lorentziella +

For Paul Günter Lorentz, 1835–1881, German bryologist +

Ludwigia +

For Christian Gottlieb Ludwig, 1709–1773, botanist and physician of Leipzig +

Luetkea +

For Friedrich Benjamin Lütke (later russified to Count Fyodor Petrovich Litke), 1797 – 1882 Russian sea captain and Arctic explorer +

Luffa +

Arabic lufah, name for L. aegyptiaca +

Luina +

Anagram of Inula, name of another genus of Asteraceae +

Luisierella +

For Alphonse Luisier, 1872–1957, French bryologist +

Luma +

Chilean Native American (Mapuche) name for hardwood of Amomyrtus luma +

Lumnitzera +

For Istrán Lumnitzer, 1750–1806, Hungarian botanist +

Lunaria +

Latin luna, moon, alluding to persistent, silvery, large fruit septum +

Luzula +

possibly from Italian lucciola, to shine, sparkle, or Latin gramen luzulae or luxulae, diminutive of lux, light, because hairs of several species have shiny appearance when covered with dew +

Lycopodiella +

Lycopodium, a genus name, and - ella, diminutive +

Lycopodium +

Greek lykos, wolf, and pous, podes, foot +, in reference to the resemblance of the branch tips to a wolf's paw +

Lyellia +

For Sir Charles Lyell, 1767–1849 +

Lygodesmia +

Greek lygos, twig or stick, and desme, bundle, alluding to clumped, sticklike stems with reduced leaves +

Lygodium +

Greek lygodes, flexible, in reference to the twining rachis +

Lyonia +

For John Lyon, 1765–1814, Scottish-born, early American botanist and explorer of southern Appalachians +

Lyonothamnus +

For William Scrugham Lyon, 1851 – 1916 botanist, nurseryman, plant collector in California and Philippines, and Greek thamnos, bush or shrub +

Lyrocarpa +

Greek lyra, lyre, and karpos, fruit, alluding to fruit shape +

Lysichiton +

Greek lysis, dissolve, and chiton, a tunic, referring to the spathe, which withers soon after flowering +

Lysimachia +

Greek lysis, dissolve, and mache, strife, alluding to soothing properties +

Lythrum +

Greek lythron, gore, alluding to use of L. salicaria in arresting hemorrhages +

M

Mabrya +

For Tom J. Mabry, 1932–2015, American botanist and phytochemist +

Machaeranthera +

Latin machaera, sword, and anthera, anther, alluding to curved, sword-shaped anther appendages +

Macleaya +

for Alexander Macleay, 1767-1848, Scottish botanist, entomologist, and Secretary to the Colony of New South Wales +

Maclura +

for American geologist William Maclure, 1763-1840 +

Macradenia +

Greek makros, large, and aden, gland, probably referring to the prominent viscidium, which is often referred to as a “gland” +

Macranthera +

Greek macros, long, and antheros, anther, alluding to long-exserted stamens +

Macrocoma +

Greek macros, long, and kome, hair, alluding to long hairs on calyptrae of some species +

Macromitrium +

Greek macros, long, and mitra, cap, alluding to large calyptra +

Macrothelypteris +

Greek makros, large, thelys, female, and pteris, fern +

Madia +

From native name in Chile +

Magnolia +

For Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), professor and director of the botanical garden at Montpellier, France +

Maianthemum +

Latin Maius, May, and Greek anthemon, flower +

Malachra +

Ancient name, perhaps from Greek malache, mallow +

Malacomeles +

Greek malakos, soft, and melon, apple +

Malacothamnus +

Greek malakos, soft, or malache, mallow, and thamnos, shrub, alluding to habit +

Malacothrix +

Greek malakos, soft, and thrix, hair +

Malaxis +

Greek malaxis, softening, in reference to soft and tender texture of leaves +

Malephora +

Greek malle, arm-hole, and pherein, to bear, in reference to the seed pockets of the fruits +

Malperia +

based on anagram of his surname +, For Edward Palmer, 1831–1911, American field botanist who collected the type material +

Malpighia +

For Marcello Malpighi, 1628–1694, Italian anatomist +

Malus +

Latin malus, apple tree +

Malva +

Latin name derived from Greek malacho, to soften, alluding to emollient qualities of some species +

Malvastrum +

Genus Malva and Latin -astrum, incomplete resemblance +

Malvaviscus +

Latin, malva mallow, and viscidus, sticky, alluding to sap +

Malvella +

generic name Malva and Latin -ella, diminutive +

Mammea +

Latin mamma, breast or teat, alluding to fruit +

Mammillaria +

Latin mamilla, nipple, in reference to shap e of tubercles, which produce “milky” white latex in some species +

Manfreda +

For Manfredus de Monte Imperiale, fourteenth-century Italian writer on medical simples +

Manihot +

From Brazilian vernacular name mani oca, wood spirit root, alluding to use +

Manilkara +

Malabar Manil, from Portuguese Manilhas Insulas (Manila, Philippines), and kara, edible fruit +

Mantisalca +

Anagram of specific epithet salmantica +

Maranta +

for Bartolomea Maranti, Venetian physician and botanist who lived during the mid 1500s +

Marshallia +

For Moses Marshall, 1758–1813, American botanist, nephew of and assistant to Humphrey Marshall +

Marsilea +

for Count Luigi Marsigli (1656–1730), Italian mycologist at Bologna +

Matricaria +

Greek matrix, womb, and - aria, pertaining to +, alluding to reputed medicinal properties +

Matteuccia +

for Car 1863, physicist at the University of Florence, Italy +

Matthiola +

For Pietro Andrea Matthioli, 1500–1577, Italian artist and botanist +

Maurandella +

Genus Maurandya and Latin -ella, diminutive, alluding to presence of personate corolla in Maurandella +

Mauranthemum +

Latin Mauros, a native of North Africa, and Greek anthemon, flower +

Maxillaria +

Latin maxilla, jawbone +, apparently an allusion to the open-mouth appearance of the flower when viewed laterally +

Maxonia +

for William R. Maxon, (1877–1948), American pteridologist +

Maytenus +

Vernacular Chilean mayten, name for type species +

Mazus +

Greek mazos, breast, alluding to two ridges on abaxial lip of corolla or to nipplelike tubercles at inner throat of corolla in M. pumilus +

Mecardonia +

For Antoni de Meca-Caçador-Cardona i de Beatrin, 1726–1788, benefactor of Royal College of Surgery of Barcelona +

Meconella +

Greek mekon, poppy, and ella, diminutive +

Medeola +

for Medea, mythical sorceress +

Meesia +

For David Meese, 1723 – 1770, Dutch gardener +

Meiotrichum +

Greek meio-, fewer, and trichos, hair, alluding to calyptra +

Melaleuca +

Greek melas, black, and leukos, white, alluding to colors of tree trunk and branches, respectively, in M. leucadendron, the type species +

Melampodium +

Often said (erroneously) to be from Greek melampodion, blackfoot +, evidently traceable to Melampus, a soothsayer of renown in Greek mythology +

Melampyrum +

Greek melam- (combining form of melas before b and p), black, and pyros, wheat, alluding to color of seeds +

Melanthera +

Greek melan, black, and Latin, anthera, anther +

Melanthium +

Greek melas, black, and anthos, flower, alluding to the black perianth in some species +

Melastoma +

Greek melas, black, and stoma, opening, alluding to stained mouth, especially of children, when fruits of some species are eaten +

Melochia +

Arabic melóchich, name for Corchorus olitorius Linnaeus, a salad plant in the East +

Melothria +

Greek melothron, ancient name for some fruiting vine, probably Bryonia +

Menispermum +

Greek mene, moon, and sperma, seed +

Mentzelia +

For Christian Mentzel, 1622–1701, German botanist +

Menziesia +

For Archibald Menzies, 1754–1842, Scottish physician and naturalist with Vancouver Expedition 1790–1795, whobrought the type species from the Northwest Coast +

Mercurialis +

Latin Mercurius, Roman mythological deity, and -alis, belonging to, alluding to belief that it was discovered by him +

Mesadenus +

Greek (Latinized) meso, middle, and aden, gland +

Mesembryanthemum +

Greek mesembria, midday, and anthemum, blo oming +

Mespilus +

Greek mesos, half, and pilos, felt or ball, perhaps alluding to shape of medlar fruit resembling half a ball +

Meximalva +

Country name Mexico and Latin malva, mallow +

Micranthemum +

Greek micros, small, and anthemom, flower +

Micranthes +

Greek mikros, small, and anthos, flower +

Microbryum +

Greek mikros, small, and bryon, moss +

Microgramma +

Greek mikros, small, and gramme, line +, the sori are elongate in the type species +

Micromitrium +

Latin micro-, small, and mitra, headband, alluding to small calyptra +

Micromonolepis +

Greek micros, little, and Monolepis, the genus in which this ta xon is often placed +

Micropsis +

Generic name Micropus and Greek - opsis, resembling +

Micropus +

Greek micros, small, and pous, foot, perhaps alluding to tiny receptacles +

Microseris +

Greek micro -, small, and seris, endive or chicory +

Microstachys +

Greek mikros, small, and stachys, spike, alluding to inflorescence +

Microthlaspi +

Greek micro- , small, and genus Thlaspi +

Mielichhoferia +

For Mathias Mielichhofer, 1772 – 1847, Austrian collector of generitype specimen +

Mikania +

For Josef Gottfried Mikan, 1743–1814, professor, University of Prague +

Mimetanthe +

Greek mimos, imitator, and anthe, flower, alluding to Mimulus-like corolla +

Mimulus +

Latin mimulus, diminutive of mimus, comic or mimic actor, alluding to monkey-faced corolla of some species +

Mimusops +

Greek mimo, ape, and ops, face, alluding to appearance of flower +

Minuartia +

for J. Minuart, 1693–1768, Spanish botanist and pharmacist +

Mirabilis +

Latin mirabilis, wonderful +

Misopates +

Greek plant name used by Dioscorides +, probably misos, to hate, and pateo, to trample, alluding to erect stems (in contrast to low lying habit of Orontium aquaticum) +

Mitella +

ella, diminutive, alluding to cap-shaped fruit +

Mnium +

Greek mnion, moss +

Modiola +

Latin modiolus, wheel hub, alluding to fruit shape +

Moehringia +

for P. H. G. Moehring, 1710–1791, Danzig naturalist +

Moenchia +

for Conrad Moench, 1744–1805, professor at Marburg, Germany +

Mohavea +

Alluding to Mohave River +

Molendoa +

For Ludwig Molendo, 1833–1902, German muscologist +

Mollugo +

from Galium mollugo, probably because of similarity of whorled leaves +, Latin mollis, soft or pliant +

Momordica +

Latin mordicus, biting, alluding to sculptured seed surfaces and margins, appearing as though bitten +

Moneses +

Greek monos, one, single, and hesis, delight, alluding to attractive, solitary flower +

Monnina +

For Josephus Monninus (José Moñino y Redondo), eighteenth-century Spanish Count of Florida-Blanca, administrator, and patron of botany +

Monolepis +

Greek monos, solitary, and lepis, scale, for the typically solitary sepal +

Monolopia +

Greek monos, single, and lopos, husk, alluding to phyllaries +

Monoptilon +

Greek monos, one, and ptilon, soft feather, alluding to pappus of M. bellidiforme, a solitary plumose bristle +

Monotropa +

Greek monos, one, and tropos, turn or direction, alluding to flowers all turned in one direction on inflorescence axis +

Monotropsis +

opsis, resemblance +

Montia +

for Giuseppe Monti, 1682–1760, Italian botanist +

Moringa +

Tamil murungai, twisted pod, alluding to young fruit +

Mortonia +

For Samuel George Morton, 1799–1851, North American naturalist +

Morus +

Latin morum, mulberry +

Mosiera +

For Charles A. Mosier, 1871–1936, first superintendent of Royal Palm State Park, Florida’s first state park (now Everglades National Park) +

Mucronea +

Latin mucronis, sharp point, alluding to awns of bracts and involucres +

Muehlenbeckia +

for H. G. Muehlenbeck, 1798–1845, Swiss physician +

Muilla +

Anagram of Allium +

Mulgedium +

Latin mulgere, to milk, alluding to milky sap +

Muntingia +

For Abraham Munting, 1626 – 1683 Dutch botanist +

Munzothamnus +

For P. A. Munz, 1892–1974, American botanist, and Greek thamnos, shrub +

Murdannia +

In honor of Murdan Aly, plant collector and keeper of the herbarium at Saharunpore +

Musa +

Arabic mouz +

Muscari +

Greek moschos, musk, alluding to the scent of the flowers +

Myagrum +

Greek muagron, name used by Dioscorides and Pliny for a species of mustard +

Mycelis +

Greek mycel-, fungus or mass of threads, and -is, association, alluding to tuft of long fine hairs at junction of corolla tube and limb +

Myoporum +

Greek myo, to shut, and poros, hole, alluding to transparent spots on leaves closed with pellucid substance +

Myosoton +

Greek myos, mouse, and otos, ear, alluding to leaves +

Myosurus +

Greek mus, mouse, and oura, tail, from shape and texture of the fruiting head of M. minimus. +

Myrcianthes +

Genus Myrcia and Greek anthos, flower, alluding to resemblance +

Myrica +

Greek my for tamarisk or another aromatic shrub +, possibly from myrizein, to perfume +

Myrinia +

For Claes Gustav Myrin, 1803 – 1835, Swedish bryologist +

Myriophyllum +

Greek myrios, countless, and phyllon, leaf, alluding to capillary segments of lower and/or submersed leaves +

Myrsine +

Greek name for a kind of myrtle +

Myrtus +

Classical name for a species of myrtle +

Myurella +

Greek myos, mouse, and oura, tail, alluding to appearance of branches +

Myuroclada +

Greek mys, mouse, oura, tail, and clados, branch, alluding to resemblance +

N

Najas +

Greek Nnaias, a water-nymph +

Nandina +

Chinese name meaning "plant from the south" +

Napaea +

Greek napaea, wood nymph, alluding to woodland habitat +

Narcissus +

from Greek Narkissos, mythological youth who fell in love with his own reflection and changed into a flower +

Narthecium +

Greek Narthex, rod, alluding to appearance of stems +

Nasturtium +

Latin nasus, nose, and tortus, distortion, alluding to pungency of plants +

Neckera +

For Noel Martin Joseph de Necker, 1730 – 1793, French botanist +

Neckeropsis +

Genus Neckera and Greek -opsis, resemblance +

Nectandra +

Latin nectar, from Greek nektar, and Greek andro, male +

Neillia +

For Patrick Neill, 1776 – 1851 Scottish printer, naturalist, and secretary of the Caledonian Horticultural Society +

Nekemias +

Etymology uncertain +, perhaps Latin nec, not, and Greek mya, unknown plant, alluding to segregation from Ampelopsis and Vitis +

Nelumbo +

Ceylonese vernacular name +

Nemacaulis +

Greek nema, thread, and Greek kaulos, stem +

Nemastylis +

Greek nema, thread, and stylos, pillar or rod, alluding to the style with threadlike arms +

Neogaerrhinum +

Greek neo-, new, gaea, earth or world, and rhinum, nose, alluding to being native to the New World +

Neoholmgrenia +

For the Holmgren family: Arthur Hermann Holmgren, 1912–1992, Noel Herman Holmgren, b. 1937, and Patricia Kern Holmgren, b. 1940 +

Neolloydia +

Greek neos, new, and the genus name Lloydia, for Francis Ernest Lloyd, 1868–1947, Canadian botanist +

Neomacounia +

For John Macoun, 1831 – 1920 Canadian botanist and explorer +

Neonesomia +

For Guy L. Nesom, b. 1945, American botanist, avid researcher of Asteraceae +

Nephrolepis +

Greek nephros, kidney, and lepis, scale, in reference to shape of the indusia +

Nerisyrenia +

Greek neros, flowing, and genus Syrenia, presumably alluding to resemblance +

Neslia +

For J. A. N. de Nesle, eighteenth-century French gardener at Poitiers +

Nestotus +

anagram of generic name Stenotus, wherein these species have previously resided +

Nestronia +

Greek knestron, name for Daphne +

Neurodium +

Greek neuron, nerve, and -ium, resemblance +, veinlets are embossed +

Nevada +

For the state of Nevada, where endemic +

Neviusia +

For Reuben Denton Nevius, 1827 – 1913 clergyman and amateur botanist +

Nicolletia +

For Jean Nicholas Nicollet, 1786–1843, “…who spent several years in exploring the country watered by the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and who was employed by the United States Government in a survey of the region….” Quoted from protologue. +

Nigella +

Latin niger, black, and ella, diminutive +, pertaining to seeds +

Niphotrichum +

Greek nipha, snow, and trichos, hair, alluding to hoary appearance owing to hyaline hair-pointed leaves +

Nipponanthemum +

Japanese Nippon, name of Japan, and Greek anthemon, flower +

Nitrophila +

Greek nitron, native soda, and philios, loving, for the habitat preference of the plants +

Noccaea +

For Domenico Nocca, 1758–1841, Italian clergyman, botanist, director of botanic garden at Pavia +

Nogopterium +

Anagram of genus name Pterogonium +

Nolina +

for Abbé C. P. Nolin, eighteenth-century French arboriculturist and director of the royal nurseries +

Nopalea +

Mexican Spanish nopal, name for pricklypear cactus and their edible stems +

Nothocalaïs +

Greek notho -, false, and Calaïs, a synonym of Microseris +

Nothochelone +

Greek notho-, spurious, and generic name Chelone +

Notholaena +

Greek notho, false, and chlaena, coat, in reference to the reflexed leaf segment margins that form false indusia +

Nothoscordum +

Greek nothos, false, and scordon, garlic +

Nuphar +

ancient Arabic or Persian name +

Nuttallanthus +

For Thomas Nuttall, 1786–1859, British naturalist and plant collector, and Greek anthos, flower +

Nyctaginia +

Greek nyct, night, in reference to noctural flowering +

Nymphaea +

Greek nymphaia and Latin nymphaea, water-lily, from Latin (nympha) or Greek (nymphe) mythology, goddess of mountains, waters, meadows, and forests +

Nyssa +

Classical Greek name for a water nymph, alluding to habitat +

O

Oclemena +

Derivation unknown +

Octoblepharum +

Greek okto, eight, and blepharis, eyelash, alluding to peristome teeth +

Odontites +

Greek odontos, tooth, and -ites, connection or association, alluding to traditional use to treat toothaches +

Odontosoria +

Greek odous, tooth, and soros +, the sori are at the tips of toothed segments +

Odontostomum +

Greek odontos, tooth, and stoma, mouth, alluding to the erect, subulate filaments at the flower throat +

Oeceoclades +

Greek oikeios, of a household (Latin oeceos), and Latin clades, destruction, possibly alluding to breaking up of existing classification +

Oedipodium +

Greek oidema, swelling or tumor, and Latin podium, platform, alluding to capsule neck +

Oemleria +

For Augustus Gottlieb Oemler, 1773 – 1852 Savannah pharmacist and entomologist +

Oenothera +

Greek oinos, wine, and thera, seeking or catching, alluding to roots of some unknown plants possessing perfume of wine, perhaps misapplied by Linnaeus +

Okenia +

For Lorenz Oken, 1779–1851, German naturalist +

Oligomeris +

Greek oligos, few, and meros, part, alluding to fewer stamens and petals than in other genera of family +

Oligotrichum +

Greek oligo-, few, and trichos, hair, alluding to calyptra +

Olsynium +

said by Rafinesque to mean hardly united, alluding to the stamens +

Omalotheca +

Greek omalo, even or equal, and theke, container, envelope, or sheath, perhaps alluding to involucres +

Oncidium +

Greek oncos, swelling, and - idium, diminutive, in reference to prominent lip callus +

Oncophorus +

Greek onkos, tumor, and phoros, bearing, alluding to goiterlike swelling (struma) at base of capsule +

Oncosiphon +

Greek onkos, swelling, and siphon, tube +, allusion unclear +

Onoclea +

Greek onos, vessel, and kleiein, to close, in reference to the sori, which are enclosed by the revolute fertile leaf margins +

Onopordum +

Greek onopordon, name for cotton thistle +

Ophioglossum +

Latin ophis, snakelike, and glossa, tongue, in reference to the sporophore tip +

Opuntia +

origin uncertain +, possibly based on name of Greek town (Opus perhaps) where a cactus-like plant grew +

Oreas +

Greek Oread, mythological nymph of hills and mountains, alluding to alpine habitat +

Oreochrysum +

Greek oreios, of mountains, and chrysos, gold +

Oreostemma +

Greek oreo, mountain, and stemma, crown +

Ornithogalum +

Greek, ornis, bird, and gala, milk, alluding to the color of the flowers +

Ornithostaphylos +

Greek ornithos, bird, and staphyle, cluster of grapes, allusion obscure +

Orobanche +

Greek orobos, a kind of vetch, and anchein, to strangle, alluding to host plant and parasitic habit +

Orochaenactis +

Greek horos, mountain, and generic name Chaenactis +

Orontium +

ancient Greek name for plant that grew on River Orontes +

Orthilia +

Greek orthos, straight, and ilium, side or flank, possibly alluding to secund inflorescence +

Orthocarpus +

Greek orthos, straight, and carpos, fruit, alluding to distinctness from Melampyrum, which has oblique fruits +

Orthodontium +

Greek, ortho- , straight, and odon, tooth, alluding to peristome teeth +

Orthothecium +

Greek orthos, straight, and theke, case, alluding to erect capsule +

Orthotrichum +

Greek, orthos, straight, and trichos, hair, alluding to straight, erect calyptral hairs in many species +

Orychophragmus +

Greek oryche, pit, and phragmos, partition, alluding to fruit septum +

Osmadenia +

Greek osma, odor, and aden, gland, alluding to strong-scented, glandular herbage +

Osmunda +

Saxon, Osmunder, name for Thor, god of war +

Osteospermum +

Greek osteon, bone, and sperma, seed, alluding to hard fruits of original species +

Ostrya +

Latin ostrya, hop-hornbeam, from Greek ostryos, scale, in reference to the scaly infructescences +

Ottelia +

Malay am ottelambel, apparently from otta, to stick to, in reference to thin leaves that stick to body, and am bel, nymphaea +

Oxalis +

Greek oxys, acid, and -alis, with the nature of, alluding to supposed medicinal use +

Oxycaryum +

Greek oxys, sharp, and carya, nut +

Oxydendrum +

Greek oxys, sour, and dendron, tree, alluding to taste of twigs and leaves +

Oxyria +

Greek oxys, sour, and -aria, possession, alluding to acidic leaves +

Oxyrrhynchium +

Greek oxys, acute, and rhynchos, nose, alluding to beaked operculum +

Oxystylis +

Greek oxys, sharp, and stylos, pillar, alluding to style +

Oxytenia +

Greek oxytenes, acuminate, “in allusion to the rigid narrow foliage” +

Oxytheca +

Greek oxys, sharp, and theke, case, alluding to awned involucre +

Oönopsis +

Greek oön, egg, and - opsis, likeness, alluding to a perceived egglike appearance of heads +

P

Pachycereus +

Greek pachys, thick, and Cereus, a genus of cacti +

Pachysandra +

Greek pachys, stout, and pachys, man, alluding to thickness of staminal filaments +

Packera +

For John G. Packer, b. 1929, Canadian botanist +

Paeonia +

Greek Paeon, physician to the gods, who supposedly used the plant medicinally +

Palafoxia +

For General José Palafox, 1776–1847, Spanish patriot +

Palamocladium +

Greek palame, palm, and clados, branch, alluding to spreading branches, although inappropriately +

Palhinhaea +

for R. T. Palhinha (1871–1950), a Portuguese botanist +

Paliurus +

Classical Greek name, perhaps derived from pálin, again or once more, and oúron or oureó, urine or to make water, alluding to diuretic properties of roots and leaves of P. spina-christi +

Paludella +

Latin palus, marsh, and - ella, diminutive, alluding to habitat +

Palustriella +

Latin palustris, marshy, and -ella, diminutive, alluding to habitat +

Papaver +

classical Latin name for poppy +, perhaps from Greek papa (pap), alluding to the thick, sometimes milky sap +

Papillaria +

Latin papula, nipple, alluding to leaf cell papillae +

Paraleucobryum +

Greek para-, near, and genus Leucobryum, alluding to resemblance +

Parasenecio +

Greek para, beside or near, and generic name Senecio +

Parietaria +

Latin paries, wall, referring to habitat of original species +

Parnassia +

Greek Parnassos, alluding to fabled origin on slopes of Mount Parnassus +

Paronychia +

Greek para- , beside, and onyx or onychos, fingernail, alluding to use for treating whitlow or felon, a disease of the fingernails +

Parrya +

For William E. Parry, 1790–1855, arctic explorer during whose first expedition to the North American Arctic (1819–1820) specimens of the genus were first collected +

Parthenice +

No etymology in protologue +, evidently alluding to similarities to members of genus Parthenium +

Parthenium +

Greek parthenos, virgin, or parthenion, ancient name of a plant +, allusion unclear +

Parthenocissus +

Greek parthenos, virgin, and kissos, ivy +, equivalent of vigne vierge, French name for type species, P. quinquefolia +

Pascalia +

For D. B. Pascal, French/Italian physician/botanist, once director of royal garden at Parma +

Passiflora +

Latin passio, passion or suffering, and flos, flower, alluding to floral morphology perceived to symbolize Christ’s crucifixion +

Paulownia +

For Anna Paulowna Romanov, 1795–1865, Grand Duchess of Russia and daughter of Czar Paul I, Hereditary Princess of the Netherlands +

Pavonia +

For José Antonio Pavón, 1754 – 1844, Spanish physician and botanist +

Paxistima +

Greek pachos, thick, and stigma, alluding to slightly enlarged stigma +

Paysonia +

For Edwin Blake Payson, 1893–1927, American botanist and first monographer of Lesquerella +

Pecluma +

Latin pectinatus, in the form of a comb, and plumula, feathery, for the leaf blades +

Pectis +

Greek pecten, comb, alluding to ciliate leaf margins +

Pedicularis +

Latin pediculus, louse, alluding to belief that livestock feeding on P. palustris developed lice +

Pediocactus +

Greek pedio, a plain, referring to its supposed habitat, and Cactus, an old genus name +

Pelexia +

Greek pelex, helmet, in reference to dorsal sepal, which is united with petals to form narrow hood +

Pellaea +

Greek pellos, dark, possibly referring to bluish gray leaves +

Peltandra +

Greek pelte, small shield, and andros, male, referring to the shield-shaped tops of the staminate flowers +

Peniocereus +

Greek penios, thread, and Cereus, a genus of cacti +

Pennellia +

For Francis Whittier Pennell, 1886–1952, American botanist +

Penstemon +

Greek pente, five, and stemon, stamen, alluding to the conspicuous nature of the staminode +

Pentachaeta +

Greek pente, five, and chaite, long hair, alluding to 5 pappus bristles of type species, Pentachaeta aurea +

Pentagramma +

Greek penta, five, and gramma, lines (as in written characters), for the pentagonal leaf blades +

Penthorum +

Greek pente, five, and horos, limit or landmark, alluding to 5-merous flower +

Pentzia +

For Hendrik Christian Pentz, 1738–1803, Swedish plant collector +

Peraphyllum +

Genus Pera and Greek phyllon, leaf, alluding to resemblance to leaves of P. arborea +