Property:Etymology

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C
Cochlearia +
Latin cochlear, spoon, alluding to leaf shape of some species  +
Cocos +
derivation of name uncertain  +
Codriophorus +
Distorted Greek kodon, bell, and phoras, bearing, alluding to capsules with bell-shaped calyptrae  +
Coeloglossum +
Greek koilos, hollow, and glossa, tongue  +
Coelophragmus +
Greek kilos (Latin coelus), hollow, and phragmos, partition, alluding to deep pits on sides of fruit septum where seeds are located  +
Coincya +
For Auguste Henri Cornut de Coincy, 1837–1903, Spanish botanist, discoverer of first species described  +
Coleogyne +
Greek koleos, sheath, and gyne, female, alluding to thin staminal tubelike sheath surrounding ovary and style  +
Collinsia +
For Zaccheus Collins, 1764–1831, Philadelphia botanist  +
Colocasia +
classical Greek name derived from an old Middle Eastern name colcas or culcas  +
Colubrina +
Latin coluber, racer snake, perhaps alluding to twisting of deep furrows on stems of some species  +
Columbiadoria +
Columbia (River), and doria, an early name for goldenrods  +
Comandra +
Greek kome, hair, and andros, male, alluding to petal hairs that attach to anthers  +
Comarostaphylis +
Greek komaros, arbutus, and staphyle, cluster of grapes, alluding to resemblance of fruit clusters to those of Arbutus unedo  +
Comarum +
Greek komaros, strawberry-tree (Arbutus unedo Linnaeus), alluding to similarity of fruit  +
Combretum +
Latin, derived from a name applied by Pliny the Elder to a climbing plant of uncertain identity  +
Commelina +
for the two Dutch botanists Jan and Kaspar Commelijn, because of the two showy petals  +
Commicarpus +
Greek kommi, gum, and carpos, fruit, in reference to gummy-glandular fruit  +
Comptonia +
for Henry Compton, amateur horticulturist and Bishop of London  +
Conardia +
For Henry Shoemaker Conard, 1874–1971, bryologist of Grinnell College, Iowa  +
Condalia +
For Antonio Condal, 1745–1804, Spanish physician who accompanied Peter Loefling on a journey up the Orinoco River  +
Conicosia +
Greek konikos, cone-shaped, in reference to the capsule  +
Conimitella +
Latin conus, cone, and genus Mitella, alluding to hypanthium shape and general resemblance  +
Conocarpus +
Greek konos, cone, and karpos, fruit, alluding to shape of densely clustered fruits  +
Conoclinium +
Greek konos, cone, and kline, bed, alluding to conic receptacles  +
Conopholis +
Greek conos, cone, and pholis, scale, alluding to conelike inflorescences  +
Conostomum +
Greek konos, cone, and stoma, opening, alluding to operculum  +
Conringia +
For Hermann Conring, 1606–1681, German professor of medicine and philosophy at Helmstedt  +
Consolea +
For Michelangelo Console, 1812–1897, of Palermo Botanic Garden, Italy  +
Consolida +
Latin consolidatus, to become solid or firm, from reputed ability to heal wounds  +
Constancea +
For Lincoln Constance, 1909–2001, Californian botanist  +
Convallaria +
Latin convallis, valley  +
Conyza +
Ancient name for fleabane  +, perhaps from Greek konops, flea, or konis, dust, alluding to powdered dry plant being used to repel insects  +
Coptis +
Greek, kopto, to cut, referring to dissected leaves  +
Corallorhiza +
Greek korallion, coral, and rhiza, root, referring to coral-like appearance of branching, underground rhizome  +
Corchorus +
Greek kore, eye pupil, and koreo, to purge or clear, alluding to use of leaves  +
Cordylanthus +
Greek kordyle, club, and anthos, flower, alluding to somewhat clavate corolla  +
Corema +
Greek, korema, broom, alluding to growth form  +
Coreocarpus +
Greek koreos, bug, and karpos, fruit, alluding to pectinately winged cypselae of original species  +
Coreopsis +
Greek korios, bedbug, and -opsis, resembling, alluding to cypselae of original species  +
Corethrogyne +
Greek korethron, broom, and gyne, female, alluding to style-branch appendages  +
Corispermum +
Greek coris, bug, and spermum, seed  +
Cornus +
Latin cornu, horn, alluding to the hard wood  +
Corrigiola +
Latin corrigia, shoelace, perhaps alluding to the slender stems  +
Corydalis +
Greek korydallis, crested lark  +
Corylus +
Latin corylus, hazel, from Greek korus, helmet, for shape and hardness of nut shells  +
Coryphantha +
Greek coryph, head/helmet/crown, and Greek anthos, flower, refe rring to the apical location of flowers in contrast with the ring of lateral flowers in the related genus Mammillaria  +
Coscinodon +
Greek koskinon, sieve, and odon, tooth, alluding to peristome  +
Cosmos +
Greek kosmos, harmoniously ordered universe, or kosmo, ornament  +
Cota +
Possibly from pre-Linnaean generic name used as epithet in Anthemis cota Linnaeus  +
Cotoneaster +
Latin cotoneum, quince, and - aster, incomplete resemblance, alluding to similarity of leaves in some species  +
Cottsia +
Based on an anagram of Scott  +, for George Francis Scott Elliot, 1862–1934, Scottish botanist  +
Cotula +
Greek kotule, small cup  +
Cotyledon +
Greek kotyledon, a cup-shaped hollow, alluding to leaf form of a plant now placed in Umbilicus  +
Crambe +
Greek krambe, cabbage  +
Cranichis +
Greek kranos, helmet, for helmetlike appearance of lip  +
Crassula +
ula, diminutive, alluding to leaves  +
Crataegus +
Greek Krataigon, thorn, from Greek kratos, strength, and akis, sharp tip, alluding to thorns of some species  +
Cratoneuron +
Greek cratos, strong, and neuron, nerve, alluding to leaf costa  +
Crepis +
Greek krepis, slipper or sandal, possibly alluding to shape of cypselae, a name of a plant in writings by Theophrastus  +
Crinum +
Greek krinon, a lily  +
Crocanthemum +
Greek krokos, saffron, and anthemon, flower, alluding to petal color  +
Crocidium +
Greek krokis, downy fibers of woolen cloth, and - idium, diminutive, alluding to axillary tomentum  +
Crocosmia +
Greek krokos, crocus, and osme, scent, because the dried flowers boiled in water smell like the spice saffron obtained from that plant  +
Croomia +
For Hardy B. Croom, 1797–1837, the discoverer  +
Croptilon +
Greek kropion, scythe, and ptilon, wing or feather, perhaps alluding to perceived winglike or featherlike appearance of curved, pinnately toothed leaves, the allusion to “feather” explicit by Rafinesque, “col. feather,” but not explained  +
Crossidium +
Greek krossos, fringe or tassel, and -idion, diminutive, alluding to tassel-like fringe on adaxial surface of costa  +
Crossopetalum +
Greek krossos, fringe, and petalon, petal, alluding to fimbriate petals of the type species  +
Crossosoma +
Greek krossos, fringe or tassel, and soma, body, alluding to aril  +
Croton +
Greek kroton, tick, alluding to resemblance of seeds  +
Crumia +
For H. A. Crum, 1922–2002, American bryologist  +
Crupina +
Pre-Linnaean generic name of unknown derivation  +
Cryphaea +
Greek kryphos, concealment, alluding to immersed sporophytes  +
Cryptogramma +
Greek cryptos, hidden, and gramme, line, referring to the ± marginal soral bands hidden by revolute margins  +
Ctenidium +
Greek ktenos, comb, and -idium, diminutive, alluding to branching pattern  +
Ctenitis +
Greek kteis, comb  +
Ctenolepis +
Greek ktenos, comb, and lepis, scale, apparently alluding to stiffly spreading cilia on margins of stipules  +
Cucumis +
Latin name for cucumber  +
Cuniculotinus +
Latin cuniculus, rabbit, and tinus, shrub, thus rabbit brush, commonly used name for species of Chrysothamnus in the broad sense  +
Cuphea +
Greek kyphos, humped, alluding to protruding base of floral tube  +
Cupressus +
Latin name of C. sempervirens  +
Curcuma +
the name in some East Indian language  +
Cusickiella +
For William C. Cusick, 1842–1922, Oregon plant collector  +
Cyanthillium +
Origin uncertain  +, probably Greek cyanos, blue, and anthyllion, little flower, alluding to corollas  +
Cyclachaena +
Greek cyclo -, circular, and Latin achenium, achene  +, allusion uncertain, perhaps to the ring of cypselae in each fruiting head  +
Cyclanthera +
Greek kyklos, circle, and antheros, blooming, alluding to single, ringlike stamen  +
Cyclodictyon +
Greek kyklos, circle, and diktyon, net, alluding to large laminal cells  +
Cycloloma +
Greek cyclos, ring, circle, and loma, border  +
Cyclopogon +
Greek cyclo, circular, and pogon, beard, perhaps in reference to pubescent bases of sepals of the type species  +
Cydonia +
Greek Kydonia, alluding to nativity in Kydon, ancient city-state in Crete  +
Cylindropuntia +
Latin cylindrus, cylinder, and Opuntia, the genus from which this segregate was removed  +
Cymbalaria +
Latin cymbalum, rounded, concave, and -aria, resemblance, alluding to leaf shape  +
Cymophyllus +
Greek kyma, wave, and phyll, leaf, in reference to the undulate-margined leaves  +
Cynara +
Greek kynara, artichoke  +
Cynodontium +
Greek kynos, dog, odon, tooth, and -ium, diminutive, alluding to peristome  +
Cynophalla +
Greek kynos, dog, and phallos, penis, alluding to brilliant red color inside rupturing fruits, which reminded early botanists of a dog’s penis  +
Cyperus +
Greek kupeiros, name for Eurasian Cyperus longus Linnaeus  +
Cyphomeris +
Greek, kyphos, bent, humped, and meris, part, in reference to the gibbous fruit  +
Cypripedium +
Greek Kypris, Aphrodite, and Latin pes, foot, perhaps an orthographic error for Greek pedilon, slipper  +
Cypselea +
Greek kypsele, a hollow box or chest, such as a beehive, which the capsule is thought to resemble  +
Cyrilla +
For Dominico Cirillo, 1739–1799, Italian physician and professor of natural history, University of Naples  +
Cyrto-hypnum +
Greek kyrtos, curved or arched, and hypnon, moss, alluding to incurved dry leaves  +
Cyrtomium +
Greek cyrtoma, arch, for the arched veins  +
Cyrtomnium +
Greek kyrtos, curved or arched, and mnion, moss, alluding to capsules  +
Cyrtopodium +
Greek kyrtos, curved swelling, and podium, foot, probably alluding to conspicuous column foot  +
Cystopteris +
Greek kystos, bladder, and pteris, fern, alluding to the indusium, which is inflated when young  +
D
Dacryophyllum +
Greek dakryo, weep, and phyllon, leaf, alluding to tearlike appearance of proximal prorulae of basal laminal cells  +
Dactylorhiza +
Greek dactylos, finger, and rhiza, root, in reference to the fingerlike tuberoids of the more primitive species  +
Dalechampia +
For Jacques Daléchamps (or D’Aléchamps), 1513–1588, French surgeon and botanist  +
Daltonia +
For Rev. John Dalton, 1764 – 1843, British botanist and bryologist  +
Damasonium +
Greek, ancient name  +
Daphne +
Greek, laurel  +
Darlingtonia +
For William Darlington, 1782–1863, Philadelphia botanist  +
Darmera +
For Karl Darmer, 1843–1918, German botanist and horticulturist  +
Dasiphora +
Greek dasys, hairy, and phoros, bearing, alluding to villous hypanthium  +
Dasistoma +
Greek dasys, hairy, and stoma, mouth, alluding to lanate throat of corolla  +
Dasylirion +
Greek dasy- , thick- or dense-, and lirion, white lily, alluding to the compact arrangement of flowers in the inflorescence  +
Datisca +
Cited by Dioscorides as Roman name for a species of Catananche Linnaeus (Asteraceae), applied here possibly alluding to similarity  +
Decodon +
Greek dekas, ten, and odon, tooth, alluding to combination of five sepals and five alternating epicalyx segments  +
Decumaria +
Latin decumae, tenths, and -aria, possessing, alluding to sometimes 10-merous flowers  +
Dedeckera +
for Mary Caroline DeDecker, 1909–2000, noted California conservationist  +
Deeringothamnus +
For Charles Deering, frequent sponsor of J. K. Small in his botanical explorations  +
Deinandra +
No etymology stated in protologue  +, meaning uncertain  +
Deiregyne +
Greek deire, neck, and gyne, pistil or woman, referring to sepals that sit on top of ovary and form a necklike extension  +
Delairea +
For “Dom. Delaire,” who sent a specimen to Lemaire from a garden in the Orléans district of France  +
Delosperma +
Greek delos, visible, and sperma, seed, in reference to the seeds being exposed as the fruits dehisce  +
Delphinium +
Greek delphinion, derived from delphin, possibly for fancied resemblance of flowers of some species to classical sculptures of dolphins  +
Dendroalsia +
Greek dendron, tree, and genus Alsia, suggesting a dendroid Alsia  +
Dendrophylax +
Greek dendro, tree, and phylax, epiphyte or guardian, in reference to the epiphytic habit  +
Dennstaedtia +
Named after A. W. Dennstaedt, 1826, German botanist  +
Deparia +
Greek depas, saucer, referring to the saucerlike indusium of the type species, Deparia prolifera, which is aberrant in the genus  +
Descurainia +
For François Descurain, 1658–1740, French botanist and apothecary  +
Deutzia +
For Johann van der Deutz, ca. 1743–1784, Dutch merchant and patron of Carl Peter Thunberg  +
Diamorpha +
Greek diamorphe, contrary or different form, alluding to fruit compared with that of related genera  +
Dianella +
Latin Diana, Roman sylvan goddess, and - ella, diminutive suffix, alluding to the forest habitat and small stature  +
Dianthus +
Greek dios, divine, and anthos, flower, alluding to beauty or fragrance  +
Diapensia +
Greek dia-, composed, and pente, five, alluding to sepal, petal, and stamen numbers  +
Diaperia +
Greek diapero, to pass through, alluding to pseudo-polytomous branching pattern (“proliferous inflorescence”) of type species  +
Dicentra +
Greek dis, twice, and kentron, spur  +
Dichaetophora +
Greek di - two, chaite, long hair, and - phore, bearer or carrier, alluding to the two awnlike pappus elements  +
Dichelostemma +
Greek dichelos, split hoof, and stemma, crown or garland, alluding to the bifid perianth appendages that form a corona  +
Dichelyma +
Greek dicha, in two, and elyma, veil, alluding to large dimidate or cucullate calyptra  +
Dichodontium +
Greek dicha, in two, and odontos, tooth, alluding to partially divided peristome teeth  +
Dichromanthus +
Greek di, two, chroma, color, and anthos, flower, indicating 2-colored nature of flowers  +
Dicoria +
Greek di, two, and koris, bug, alluding to the two, “buglike” cypselae of the original species  +
Dicranella +
Genus Dicranum and Latin -ella, diminutive  +
Dicranocarpus +
Greek di -, two, kranos, skull or helmet, and karpos, fruit  +, probably alluding to the “two-horned” cypselae  +
Dicranodontium +
Greek dicranon, pitchfork, and odon, tooth, alluding to forked peristome teeth  +
Dicranopteris +
Greek dikranos, twice-forked, and pteris, fern, derived from pteron, feather, in reference to the leaf architecture  +
Dicranostegia +
Greek dicranos, two-headed, and stegos, sheath or cover, alluding to two-lobed calyx  +
Dicranoweisia +
Genera Dicranum and Weissia, alluding to relationship with Dicranum and fancied resemblance to Weissia  +
Dicranum +
Greek dicranon, pitchfork, alluding to peristome teeth  +
Didiplis +
Derivation uncertain  +, Greek dis, twice, and diploos, double, possibly alluding to 2 stamens in 4-merous floral tube, or to 2-stamened Didiplis, segregated from 6-stamened Peplis  +
Didymodon +
Greek didymos, double or twin, and odon, tooth, alluding to paired peristome teeth  +
Dieteria +
Greek di -, two, and etos, year, alluding to biennial duration of the plants first named by Nuttall  +
Digitalis +
Latin digitalis, finger of a glove, alluding to resemblance of tubular flowers to glove fingers  +
Dimeresia +
Greek dimeres, in 2 parts or with 2 members, allusion unclear  +
Dimorphocarpa +
Latin dimorphus, having two forms, and carpus, fruit, alluding to production of two fruit types in some species  +
Dimorphotheca +
Greek di- , two, morphe, shape, and theca, case or container, alluding to two forms of cypselae within each head  +
Dionaea +
Greek Dione, mother of Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and beauty whose Roman name was Venus  +
Dioscorea +
for Dioscorides, ca. 40–90, Greek physician, author of De Materia Medica  +
Diospyros +
Greek Dios, Zeus, and pyros, grain, Theophrastean fruit name of unknown application appropriated by Linnaeus  +
Diphasiastrum +
Diphasium, a generic name, and -astrum, incomplete resemblance  +
Diphylleia +
Greek dis, twice, and phyllon, leaf  +
Diphyscium +
Greek di-, two, and physkion, little gut, alluding to double bladder of spore sac and capsule wall  +
Diplacus +
Greek dis-, two, and plakos, placenta, alluding to splitting of capsule into valves bearing parietal placentae  +
Diplazium +
Greek diplazein, double, or di, two, and plasion, oblong, referring to a double sorus  +
Diplotaxis +
Greek diplo- , double, and taxis, arrangement, alluding to number of seed rows in each locule of fruit  +
Dirca +
Greek mythological Dirce, wife of Lycus who was transformed by Dionysus into a fountain  +
Discelium +
Greek di-, two, and skielos, legs, alluding to peristome teeth perforated proximally  +
Distichium +
Greek distichos, in two rows, alluding to leaves  +
Dithyrea +
Greek di- , two or double, and thyreos, shield, alluding to spectacle-shaped fruits  +
Ditrichum +
Greek di-, two, and trichos, hair, alluding to peristome split longitudinally into two segments  +
Ditrysinia +
Greek ditry, two or three, and syn, together, alluding to number and union of stamens  +
Dittrichia +
For Manfred Dittrich, b. 1934, German botanist  +
Dodecahema +
Greek dodeka, twelve, and hema, dart or javelin, alluding to involucral awns  +
Dodecatheon +
Greek dodeka, twelve, and theoi, gods, fanciful name given by Pliny to a primrose purportedly protected by the gods  +
Doellingeria +
For Ignatz Doellinger (1770–1841), German botanist  +
Donnellia +
For John Donnell Smith, 1829 – 1928, American taxonomist  +
Donrichardsia +
For James Donald Richards, 1920 – 1980, American bryologist  +
Dopatrium +
Hindi do, two, and patra, leaves, alluding to opposite leaf arrangement  +
Doronicum +
Arabic name doronigi  +
Dorstenia +
for Theodor Dorsten (d. 1539), German herbalist and professor of medicine at Marburg  +
Douglasia +
For David Douglas, 1798–1834, Scottish botanist and collector in northwestern North America  +
Draba +
Greek drabe, acrid, for taste of mustard plant  +
Drepanocladus +
Greek drepane, sickle, and clados, branch, alluding to curvature of branch leaves  +
Drosanthemum +
Greek drosos, dew, and anthos, flower, in reference to the glistening papillae  +
Drosera +
Greek droseros, dewy, alluding to glistening glandular trichomes on leaves  +
Drummondia +
For Thomas Drummond, 1780 – 1835, Scottish botanist who collected extensively on two expeditions to North America  +
Dryas +
Greek Dryas, name for oak nymphs  +
Drymaria +
Greek drymos, forest, alluding to habitat of at least one species  +
Drymocallis +
Greek drymos, woods, and kallos, beauty  +
Dryopetalon +
Greek drys, oak, and petalon, leaf, alluding to resemblance of petal shape to leaves of some oaks  +
Dryopteris +
Greek drys, tree, and pteris, fern  +
Drypetes +
Probably from Greek drypa, dried olive or drupe, alluding to fruit  +
Duchesnea +
For Antoine Nicolas Duchesne, 1747–1827 French botanist and monographer of Fragaria  +
Dudleya +
For William Russel Dudley, 1849–1911, American botanist  +
Dulichium +
Latin dulichium, a kind of sedge  +
Dysodiopsis +
Generic name Dyssodia and Greek - opsis, resembling  +
Dysphania +
Greek dysphanis, obscure, apparently alluding to inconspicuous flowers  +
Dyssodia +
Greek dysodia, a bad odor  +
E
Eastwoodia +
For Alice Eastwood, 1859–1953, western American botanist  +
Eatonella +
For Daniel Cady Eaton, 1834–1885, American botanist  +
Ecballium +
Greek ekballein, to throw or cast out, alluding to seed discharge  +
Eccremidium +
Greek ekkremes, hanging, and -idium, diminutive, alluding to pendulous capsule  +
Echeandia +
For Pedro Gregorio Echeandía, 1746–1817, Spanish botanist in Zaragosa  +
Echeveria +
For Atanasio Echevería y Godoy, fl. 1787–1803, Mexican botanical artist  +
Echinacea +
Latin, echinus, sea urchin, alluding to spiny tips of receptacular paleae  +
Echinocactus +
Greek echinos, hedgehog, an d Cactus, an old genus name  +
Echinocereus +
Greek echinos, spine, and Cereus, a genus of columnar cacti  +
Echinocystis +
Greek echinos, hedgehog, and kystis, bladder, alluding to prickly, hollow fruits  +
Echinodorus +
Greek echius, rough husk, and doros, leathern bottle, alluding to ovaries, which in some species are armed with persistent styles, forming prickly head of fruit  +
Echinomastus +
Greek echinos, hedgehog, and masto, breast, referring to the spiny tubercles  +
Echinopepon +
Greek echinos, hedgehog, and pepon, melon or pumpkin, alluding to prickly fruits  +
Echinophyllum +
Greek echinos, sea-urchin or hedgehog, and phyllon, leaf, alluding to spinose proximal leaf margins  +
Echinops +
Greek echinos, hedgehog, spiny, and ops, face, appearance, alluding to spiny heads  +
Eclipta +
Greek ekleipsis, a failing, perhaps alluding to minute or wanting pappus  +
Edgeworthia +
For Michael Pakenham Edgeworth, 1812–1881 Irish botanist and British civil servant in Bengal  +
Egeria +
Latin egeri, a nymph, in reference to aquatic habitat  +
Egletes +
Greek aiglitis, splendor or glitter, perhaps alluding to heads  +
Eichhornia +
for Johann A. F. Eichhorn, 1779–1856, Prussian statesman  +
Elaeagnus +
Ancient name used by Theophrastus for a Salix taxon  +, derivation uncertain, probably Greek elaia, olive tree, and agnos, chaste tree, alluding to resemblance, or helodes, marsh, and hagnos, pure or sacred, alluding to habitat and fertility ritual of Thesmophoria  +
Elaeis +
Greek elaia, olive, in reference to the oily fruits  +
Elatine +
Greek name for a plant with firlike leaves  +
Eleocharis +
Greek heleios, dwelling in a marsh, and charis, grace  +
Elephantopus +
Greek elephantos, elephant, and pous, foot  +, probably alluding to rosettes of basal leaves in original species  +
Elliottia +
For Stephen Elliott, 1771–1830, American botanist and banker  +
Elmera +
For Adolph Daniel Edward Elmer, 1870–1942, collector and botanist in western North America  +
Elodea +
Greek helodes, marshy  +
Elodium +
Greek helos, marsh or marsh-meadow, and Latin -ium, diminutive, alluding to habitat  +
Eltroplectris +
Greek eleutheros, free, and plectron, spur, referring to free spur of sepal  +
Emex +
Latin, ex, and Rumex, alluding to segregation from that genus  +
Emilia +
Presumably for someone named Emile or Emilie  +, the author mentioned no one  +
Emorya +
For William Hemsley Emory, 1811–1877, commander of Texas-Mexico boundary survey  +
Empetrum +
Greek en-, in, and petros, rock, alluding to habitat  +
Encalypta +
Greek en, in, and kalyptos, cover or veil or lid, alluding to the calyptra  +
Encelia +
For Christoph Entzelt (Christophorus Enzelius), 1517–1583, German naturalist  +
Enceliopsis +
Generic name Encelia and Greek -opsis, resembling  +
Encyclia +
Greek enkyklos, to encircle, referring to the lateral lobes of the lip, which encircle the column  +
Engelmannia +
For George Engelmann, 1809–1884, German-American physician and botanist  +
Entodon +
Greek entos, inside, and odon, tooth, alluding to peristome teeth inserted below capsule mouth  +
Entodontopsis +
Genus Entodon and - opsis, resembling, alluding to similarity  +
Entosthodon +
Greek entosthi, within, and odon, tooth, alluding to position of teeth inside capsule  +
Ephedra +
Greek epi, upon, and hydor, water, probably alluding to habitat of similar looking Equisetum Linnaeus and/or Hippuris Linnaeus, misapplied here.  +
Ephemerum +
Greek ephemeros, of short duration  +
Epidendrum +
Greek epi -, on, and dendron, tree, alluding to the epiphytic habit  +
Epifagus +
Greek epi-, upon, and Latin fagus, beech, alluding to host plant  +
Epigaea +
Greek epi-, upon, and gaia, earth, alluding to creeping habit  +
Epilobium +
Greek epi, on, lobos, pod or capsule, and iov (ion), violet, alluding to violet flower at apex of fruit  +
Epipactis +
Ancient Greek name used by Theophrastus for plant used to curdle milk  +
Epiphyllum +
Greek epi, upon, and phyllon, a leaf, referring to flowers borne on leaves, actually phylloclades, leaflike stems  +
Epipterygium +
Greek epi, upon, and pterigion, little wing, alluding to small dorsal leaves  +
Epithelantha +
Greek epi, upon, thele, nipple, and anthos, flower, describing flower position near tubercle apex  +
Epixiphium +
Greek epi-, upon, and xiphos, sword, alluding to sword-shaped persistent style  +
Equisetum +
Latin <i>equis</i>, horse, and <i>seta</i>, bristle, referring to the coarse black roots of <i>E. fluviatile</i>  +
Eranthis +
Greek er, spring, and anthos, flower  +
Erechtites +
A name mentioned by Dioscorides, presumably for a plant now referable to Senecio or a related genus  +
Eremalche +
Greek eremia, desert, and alkea, mallow, alluding to habitat  +
Eremocrinum +
Greek eremos, desert, and krinon, lily  +
Eremogone +
Greek eremo- , solitary or deserted, and gone, seed or offspring, allusion uncertain  +
Eremothera +
Greek eremia, desert, and thera from genus Oenothera, probably alluding to habitat and likeness  +
Erica +
Greek ereiko, to break, alluding to brittle stems  +
Ericameria +
Generic name Erica and Greek meros, part or portion, alluding to resemblance of leaves  +
Erigeron +
Greek eri, early, or erio, woolly, and geron, old man, perhaps alluding to pappus, which becomes gray and accrescent in some species, or to solitary, woolly heads of some of species  +
Eriobotrya +
Greek erion, wool, and botrys, bunch of grapes, alluding to woolly inflorescences  +
Eriocaulon +
derived from Greek erion, wool, and caulos, stalk  +
Eriogonum +
Greek erion, wool, and gony, knee, alluding to the hairy nodes of the species first described, E. tomentosum  +
Eriophorum +
Greek erion, wool or cotton, and phoros, bearing  +
Eriophyllum +
Greek erion, wool, and phyllon, leaf  +
Erpodium +
Greek erpo, creeping, alluding to growth habit  +
Eruca +
Latin uro, burn, alluding to the burning taste of seeds  +
Erucastrum +
Genus Eruca and Latin - astrum, resembling  +
Erysimum +
Greek eryso, to ward off or to cure, alluding to the supposed medicinal properties of some species  +
Erythranthe +
Greek erythros, red, and anthe, bloom, alluding to corolla color of type species, E. cardinalis  +
Erythronium +
Greek erythros, red, alluding to the pink to purple flowers of Erythronium dens-canis  +
Eschscholzia +
For Johann F. G. von Eschscholtz, 1793-1831, Estonian physician and biologist who traveled with Chamisso on the Romanzoff (or Kotzebue) Expedition to the Pacific Coast  +
Eubotrys +
Greek eu-, good or well, and botrys, bunch, alluding to capsules in tight raceme  +
Eucalyptus +
Greek eu, well, and kalyptos, covered, alluding to deciduous calyptra covering stamens in flower bud  +
Eucephalus +
Greek eu -, good or original, and kephalotos, with a head  +, alluding “to the elegant qualities of the calyx”—T. Nuttall 1840  +
Euchiton +
Greek eu -, good or true, and chiton, tunic, alluding to ‘close-fitting’ clusters of bracts subtending clusters of heads  +
Eucladium +
Greek eu-, good or well, and klados, branch, alluding to well-developed whorls of stem leaves  +
Euclidium +
Greek eu- , well, and kleio, shut, alluding to indehiscent fruits  +
Eucnide +
Greek eu-, good or pretty, and knide, nettle, alluding to stinging trichomes and showy flowers  +
Eucommia +
Greek eu, good or well, and kommi, gum, alluding to abundant latex in younger tissues of plant  +
Eugenia +
For François-Eugène, Prince of Savoy, 1663–1736, Austrian General  +
Eulobus +
Greek eu, good or well, and lobos, capsule, alluding to long, linear pods  +
Eulophia +
Greek eu, well, and lophos, plume, crest, alluding to the crest on the lip  +
Euonymus +
Greek eu-, good, and onyma, name, apparently applied ironically, the genus having had the bad reputation of poisoning cattle  +
Eupatorium +
For Mithridates Eupator, King of Pontus, 132–63 B.C.  +
Euphorbia +
For Euphorbus, first-century A.D. Greek physician  +
Euphrasia +
Greek euphraino, to delight, alluding to supposed improvements in vision from the application of E. officinalis  +
Eurhynchiastrum +
Genus Eurhynchium and Latin - astrum, incomplete resemblance  +
Eurybia +
Greek eurys, wide, and baios, few, perhaps alluding to the few, wide-spreading ray florets  +
Eurybia avita +
Alexander’s rock aster  +
Euthamia +
Greek eu- , good, well, and thama, crowded, evidently alluding to branching pattern  +
Eutrema +
Greek eu- , well, and trema, hole, alluding to perforation in fruit septum  +
Eutrochium +
Greek eu- , well, truly, and trocho- , wheel-like, alluding to whorled leaves  +
Exochorda +
Greek exo -, outside, and chorde, string, alluding to free placentary cords external to carpels  +
F
Fabronia +
For Giovanni Valentino Mattia Fabbroni, 1752 – 1822, Italian naturalist  +
Facelis +
Etymology unknown  +
Fagonia +
For Guy-Crescent Fagon, 1638–1718, French botanist and chemist, physician to Louis XIV  +
Fagopyrum +
Latin fagus, beech, and Greek pyrus, wheat, alluding to resemblance of the achene to a beech-nut  +
Fagus +
Classical Latin name, from Greek figos, an oak with edible acorns, probably from Greek fagein, to eat  +
Fallopia +
for Gabriello Fallopio, 1532–1562, Italian anatomist  +
Fallugia +
For Virgilio Fallugi, 1627–1707, Italian abbot  +
Fendlera +
For August Fendler, 1813–1883, German-born plant collector in North and South America, early botanical explorer of southwestern United States  +
Fendlerella +
For August Fendler, 1813–1883, botanical collector, and Latin -ella, honor  +
Ferocactus +
Latin ferus, fierce or wild, referring to the horrid spines, and Cactus, the genus from which this segregate was removed  +
Ficus +
Latin ficus, an old name for edible fig, Ficus carica  +
Filago +
Latin filum, thread, and - ago, possessing or resembling, alluding to abundant cottony indument  +
Filipendula +
Latin filum, thread, and pendulus, hanging, alluding to root tubers of F. vulgaris hanging together with threads  +
Fimbristylis +
Latin fimbria, fringe, and stylus, style  +
Firmiana +
For Carlo Giuseppe, Conte di Firmian, 1717 – 1782 Austrian statesman and Governor-General of Lombardy  +
Fissidens +
Latin fissus, cleft, and dens, tooth, alluding to split peristome teeth  +
Flacourtia +
For Étienne de Flacourt, 1607–1660, Governor of Madagascar  +
Flaveria +
Latin flavus, yellow  +
Fleischmannia +
For Gottfried F. Fleischmann, 1777–1850, teacher of Schultz-Bipontinus at Erlangen  +
Floerkea +
For Heinrich Gustav Floerke, 1764–1835, German lichenologist  +
Florestina +
No etymology given  +, possibly from Latin floreus, of flowers, and tina, a wine vessel  +, perhaps alluding to sometimes purplish involucres  +
Flourensia +
For Marie-Jean-Pierre Flourens, 1794–1867, physiologist, perpetual secretary, Académie des Sciences, Paris  +
Flueggea +
For Johannes Flüggé, 1775–1816, German botanist  +
Flyriella +
For Lowell David Flyr, 1937–1971, Texan, synantherologist  +
Fontinalis +
Latin, of a spring, alluding to aquatic habitat  +
Forsstroemia +
For Johan Erik Forsström, 1775 – 1824, Swedish pastor and plant collector  +
Fothergilla +
for Dr. John Fothergill, (1712-1780), London physician and patron of early American botany  +
Fragaria +
Latin fraga, fragrance, and aria, possession, alluding to sweet-smelling strawberry fruit  +
Frangula +
Probably from Latin frango, to break, and -ula, diminutive, alluding to brittleness of twigs  +
Frankenia +
For Johann Frankenius, 1590 – 1661, Swedish botanist  +
Franklinia +
For Benjamin Franklin, 1706–1790, American statesman, diplomat, physicist, man of letters  +
Freesia +
for F. H. T. Freese, d. 1876, student of C. F. Ecklon, 1795–1868, who first used the name (as Freesea), although in a different sense  +
Fremontodendron +
For John Charles Frémont, 1813 – 1890, U.S. military explorer and politician, and Greek dendron, tree  +
Fritillaria +
Latin, fritillus, checkered, alluding to the markings on the tepals of many species  +
Froelichia +
for Joseph Aloys von Froelich, 1766–1841, German physician and botanist who published on Sonchus, Hieracium, and Gentiana  +
Fryxellia +
For Paul Arnold Fryxell, 1927 – 2011 American student of Malvaceae  +
Fuchsia +
For Leonhart Fuchs, 1501–1566, German physician, herbalist, and professor at Tübingen  +
Fuirena +
for Georg Fuiren, 1581–1628, Danish botanist  +
Fumaria +
Latin fumus, smoke, alluding presumably to odor of roots  +
Funaria +
Latin funis, rope, alluding to cord-like twisted seta  +
Furcraea +
for Antoine François de Fourcroy, 1755–1809, French chemist who helped establish the system of chemical nomenclature  +
G
Gaillardia +
For M. Gaillard de Merentonneau (or Charentonneau?), eighteenth-century French patron of botanists  +
Galanthus +
Greek gala, milk, and anthos, flower, alluding to the color of the flowers  +
Galax +
Greek gala, milk, presumably alluding to flower color  +
Galeandra +
Latin galea, helmet, and Greek - andrus, male, referring to shape of anther  +
Galearis +
Latin galea, helmet  +
Galenia +
For Claudius Galenius, a.d. 130–200, Roman physician and writer on medicine  +
Galinsoga +
For Mariano Martínez de Galinsoga, 1766–1797, court physician and director of the Botanic Garden, Madrid  +
Galphimia +
Anagram of generic name Malpighia  +
Gambelia +
For William Gambel, 1823–1849, American naturalist  +
Gamochaeta +
Greek gamos, union, and chaete, loose and flowing hair, alluding to basally connate pappus bristles  +
Garberia +
For Abram P. Garber, 1838–1881, of Columbia, Pennsylvania, noted for his contributions to the flora of Florida  +
Garrya +
For Nicholas Garry, 1782–1856, deputy-governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company from 1822–1835, diarist of his 1821 travels in the Northwest Territories, friend and benefactor of David Douglas  +
Gaultheria +
For Jean-François Gaulthier, 1708–1756, botanist and physician of Québec  +
Gaylussacia +
For Louis Joseph Gay-Lussac, 1778–1850, French chemist  +
Gayophytum +
For Claude Gay, 1800–1873, French author of Flora of Chile, and Greek phyton, plant  +
Gazania +
Greek gaza, riches or royal treasure, alluding to splendor of flowers  +, or for Theodorus of Gaza (1398–1478), who translated the works of Theophrastus  +
Gemmabryum +
Latin gemma, bud, and Greek bryon, moss, alluding to asexual reproduction  +
Geocarpon +
Greek ge, earth, and carpos, fruit  +
Geocaulon +
Greek ge, earth, and kaulos, stalk, alluding to slightly subterranean and stemlike rhizome  +
Geraea +
Greek geraios, old, alluding to white-haired involucre of Geraea canescens  +
Geum +
Greek geuo or geyo, to give relish, alluding to quality of roots of St. Benedict's herb, G. urbanum  +
Gibasis +
Latin gibbus, swollen, and basis, base  +
Gillenia +
For Arnold Gillen, seventeenth-century German botanist and physician  +
Gilmania +
for M. French Gilman, 1871–1944, Death Valley naturalist  +
Ginkgo +
Chinese yin, silver, and hing, apricot, in reference to appearance of the seed  +
Gisekia +
For Paul Dietrich Giseke, 1741–1796, German professor, botanist, and pupil of Linnaeus  +
Gladiolus +
Latin gladiolus, little sword, alluding to the leaf shape  +
Glandulicactus +
Latin glandula, gland, and Cactus, an old genus name  +
Glaucium +
Greek glaukos, gray-green, in reference to color of waxy bloom on all parts  +
Glebionis +
Latin gleba, soil, and - ionis, characteristic of  +, allusion unclear, perhaps to agricultural association  +
Glinus +
Greek glinos, sweet juice  +
Globulinella +
Genus Globulina and Latin -ella, diminutive  +
Glochidion +
Greek glochis, projecting point or barb on an arrowhead, and -idion, smaller or little, alluding to pointed extension of anther connectives  +
Glossopetalon +
Greek glossa, tongue, and petalon, spreading, alluding to outspreading tongue-like petals  +
Glossostigma +
Greek glossa, tongue, and stigma, spot, alluding to ligulate stigma  +
Glyptopleura +
Greek glyptos, carved, and pleura, rib, alluding to cypselae  +
Gnaphalium +
Greek gnaphalion, a downy plant, the name anciently applied to these or similar plants  +
Gochnatia +
For Frédéric Karl Gochnat, d. 1816, a botanist who worked with Cichorieae  +
Gollania +
For William Gollan, 1855–1905, Scottish superintendent of Edinburgh Botanic Garden and collector in Kashmir  +
Gomphrena +
Latin gromphaena, a type of amaranth  +
Goodmania +
For George Jones Goodman, 1904–1999, authority on Chorizanthe  +
Goodyera +
for John Goodyer, 1592–1664, British botanist  +
Gossypianthus +
Latin gossypion, cotton, and Greek anthemon, flower, presumably in reference to the villous tepals  +
Gossypium +
Greek gossypion, cotton, or Arabic goz or gothn, a silky or soft substance  +
Gouania +
For Antoine Gouan, 1733–1821, French botanist and ichthyologist at Montpellier, director of botanical garden in 1767, later professor of botany and medicine  +
Govenia +
For J. R. Gowen, English collector in Assam  +
Grammitis +
Greek gramme, line, alluding to the elongate sori in a few species  +
Graptopetalum +
Greek graptos, marked, and petalon, leaf, alluding to petals  +
Gratiola +
Latin gratia, graceful, and -ola, diminutive, alluding to medicinal qualities of some species  +
Grayia +
for Asa Gray, 1810–1888, botany professor at Harvard, for many years the pre-eminent American botanist  +
Grevillea +
For Charles Francis Greville, 1749–1809, Fellow of the Royal Society  +
Grimmia +
For J. F. K. Grimm, 1737–1821, physician and botanist of Gotha, Germany  +
Grindelia +
For David Hieronymus Grindel, 1776–1836, Latvian botanist  +
Groutiella +
For Abel Joel Grout, 1867 – 1947, American bryologist  +
Grusonia +
for Hermann Gruson, 1821–1895, German engineer, and his Magdeburg plant collections  +
Guaiacum +
Spanish mispronunciation of "Huaicum," Bahamas Islands Taino Amerindians' name for the tree and the medicine derived from its resin  +
Guapira +
Portugese guapirá , a Brazilian name more commonly applied to Avicennia s pecies  +
Guardiola +
For “M. le marquis de Guardiola”  +
Guilleminea +
For Antoine Guillemin, 1796–1842, French botanist, author, and explorer  +
Guizotia +
For Pierre Guizot, 1787–1874, French historian, politician  +
Gundlachia +
For John Gundlach, 1810–1896, naturalist and traveler  +
Gunnera +
For John Ernest Gunner, 1718–1773, Norwegian bishop and botanist  +
Gutierrezia +
Possibly for Pedro Gutierrez, Spanish nobleman, not specified by Lagasca  +
Guzmania +
for A. Guzman, an 18th-century Spanish naturalist  +
Gyminda +
Anagram of Myginda, to which these species had been referred  +
Gymnanthes +
Greek gymnos, naked, and anthos, flower, alluding to highly reduced or absent perianth  +
Gymnocarpium +
Greek gymnos, naked, and karpos, fruit, referring to the absence of indusia  +
Gymnosperma +
Greek gymnos, naked, and sperma, seed, alluding to epappose cypselae  +
Gymnostomiella +
Genus Gymnostomum and Latin -ella, diminutive  +
Gymnostomum +
Greek gymnos, nude, and stoma, mouth, alluding to lack of peristome  +
Gynandropsis +
Genus Gynandra (Orchidaceae), and Greek opsis, resemblance  +
Gynura +
Greek, presumably gyne, a female, and ura, tail, perhaps alluding to style branches  +
Gypsophila +
Greek gypsos, gypsum, and philios, loving, alluding to habitat of some species  +
Gyroweisia +
Greek gyrus, circle, and genus Weissia, alluding to resemblance and well-developed, persistent annulus  +
H
Habenaria +
Latin habena, rein or strap  +
Habranthus +
Greek habros, delicate or splendid, and anthos, flower  +
Hageniella +
For Ingebrigt Severin Hagen, 1852 – 1917, Norwegian bryologist  +
Halesia +
For Stephen Hales, 1677–1761, English botanist  +
Halimolobos +
Greek halimos, of salt, and lobos, rounded protuberance, alluding to superficial resemblance of fruit indumentum to salt  +
Halodule +
Greek halos, salt  +
Halophila +
Greek halo, sea, and philein, to love  +
Haloragis +
Greek halos, sea, and ragis, grape-berry, alluding to maritime habitat and bunched fruits  +
Hamamelis +
Greek name used by Hippocrates for medlar, Mespilus germanica Linnaeus  +
Hamatocactus +
Latin hamatus, hooked, in reference to the hooked central spines, and Cactus, an old genus name  +
Hamatocaulis +
Latin hamatus, hooked, and caulis, stem, alluding to curved stem apices  +
Haplocladium +
Greek, haplos, simple, and kladion, branchlet, alluding to 1-pinnate branching  +
Haplodontium +
Greek haplos, single, and odontos, tooth, alluding to single peristome  +
Haploësthes +
Greek haploos, simple, and esthes, raiment  +
Harmonia +
For Harvey Monroe Hall, 1874–1932, Californian botanist  +
Harperocallis +
for Roland MacMillan Harper, 1878–1966, southeastern American botanist, and Greek kallos, beautiful, alluding to the attractive flower  +
Harrimanella +
For Edward H. Harriman, 1848–1909, American financier and patron of science  +
Harrisella +
For William H. Harris, 1860–1920, F.L.S., British botanist and prolific collector of Jamaican plants  +
Harrisia +
for William H. Harris, 1860–1920, Superintendent of Public Gardens and Plantations of Jamaica  +
Hartwrightia +
For Samuel Hart Wright, 1825–1905, collector of the specimens from which the genus was described  +
Hasteola +
Latin hasta, spear, and - ola, diminutive, alluding to leaves of type species  +
Hastingsia +
For S. Clinton Hastings of San Francisco, supporter of S. Watson et al. (1876–1880) on California botany  +
Hazardia +
For Barclay Hazard, 1852–1938, amateur botanist from Santa Barbara, California  +
Hebecarpa +
Greek hebe, down of puberty or pubescent, and karpos, fruit, alluding to vestiture  +
Hecastocleis +
Greek hecastos, each, and cleios, to shut up, alluding to one floret enclosed in each involucre  +
Hedosyne +
Greek hedosyne, delight  +
Hedwigia +
For Johann Hedwig, 1730 – 1799, German bryologist and physician  +
Hedychium +
Greek edys, sweet, and chion, snow, for the fragrant white flowers  +
Hedypnois +
Ancient name for an endive-like plant, attributed to Pliny  +
Heimia +
For Ernst Ludwig Heim, 1747–1834, medical doctor in Berlin renowned for establishing sanitary health practices and said to have introduced Alexander von Humboldt to botany  +
Helenium +
For Helen of Troy  +
Helianthella +
Generic name Helianthus and Latin - ella, diminutive  +
Helianthus +
Greek helios, sun, and anthos, flower, alluding to heads  +
Helichrysum +
Greek helios, sun, and chrysos, gold, and helichrysos, Greek name for a local species of Asteraceae  +
Heliconia +
after Mount Helicon in southern Greece, regarded as the home of the Muses  +
Heliomeris +
Greek helios, sun, and - merus, part  +
Heliopsis +
Greek helios, sun, and - opsis, likeness  +
Helleborus +
Greek, helleborus, ancient name for this plant  +
Helminthotheca +
Greek helminthos, worm, and Latin theca, case or container  +, allusion unclear, perhaps to shapes of cypselae  +
Helonias +
Greek helos, marsh, alluding to the habitat  +
Hemerocallis +
Greek hemeros, day, and kallos, beauty, alluding to the showy flowers, which bloom and wilt in one day  +
Hemiscola +
Greek, hemi- , half, and skolios, curved, alluding to seed shape  +
Hemitomes +
Greek hemitomias, half eunuch, alluding to presumed sterility of one anther sac  +
Hemizonella +
Generic name Hemizonia and Latin - ella, diminutive  +
Hemizonia +
Greek hemi -, half, and zona, belt or girdle, alluding to cypselae half enfolded by phyllaries  +
Henicodium +
Greek henicos, single, alluding to single, unbranched stems arising from creeping primary stems  +
Hennediella +
For Roger Hennedy, 1809–1877, Scottish phycologist  +
Herbertia +
for William Herbert, 1778–1847, prominent British botanist and specialist in bulbous plants  +
Herissantia +
For Louis Antoine Prospere Herissant, 1745 – 1769, French physician, naturalist, and poet  +
Hermannia +
For Paul Hermann, 1646 – 1695, German-born Dutch botanist and explorer  +
Hermbstaedtia +
for Sigismund Friedrich Hermbstädt, 1760–1833, German botanist  +
Herniaria +
Latin hernia, rupture, and -aria, pertaining to, alluding to use in treatment of hernias  +
Herpetineuron +
Greek herpes, snake, and neuron, nerve, alluding to terminally strongly sinuous costa  +
Herrickia +
For Clarence Luther Herrick, 1858–1903, geologist and botanical collector in New Mexico, president of University of New Mexico  +
Herzogiella +
For Theodor Herzog, 1880–1961, German botanist, and Latin, - ella, diminutive  +
Hesperaloe +
Greek hesperos, western, and aloe, a kind of plant  +
Hesperevax +
Greek hesperos, western, and genus name Evax, alluding to first discoveries from western limits of Evax distribution  +
Hesperidanthus +
Genus Hesperis and Greek anthos, flower, alluding to resemblance of flowers  +
Hesperis +
Greek hesperos, evening, alluding to time when flowers of some species are most fragrant  +
Hesperocallis +
Greek hesperos, western, and kallos, beauty  +
Hesperocnide +
Greek hesperos, west, and knide, nettle  +
Hesperolinon +
Greek hesperos, western, and linon, flax  +
Hesperomecon +
Greek hesperos, evening or western, and mecon, poppy  +
Heteranthemis +
Greek heteros -, different, and anthemis, a genus name  +
Heteranthera +
Greek heteros, different, and antheros, anther  +
Heterocladium +
Greek heteros, differing, and kladion, branchlet, alluding to growth form  +
Heteromeles +
Greek heteros, different, and melon, apple, alluding to low stamen number  +
Heterophyllium +
Greek heteros, different, and phyllon, leaf, alluding to somewhat different stem and branch leaves  +
Heteropterys +
Greek heteros, different, and pteron, wing, alluding to dorsal wing of samara being thickened on abaxial edge and bent upward, opposite of arrangement in other genera with dorsal-winged samaras  +
Heterosavia +
Greek hetero-, other or different from, and genus Savia  +
Heterosperma +
Greek, heteros, differing, and sperma, seed  +, probably alluding to the contrasting outer and inner cypselae  +
Heterotheca +
Greek heteros, different, and thece, container, alluding to dimorphic cypselae  +
Heuchera +
For Johann Heinrich von Heucher, 1677–1747, Austrian-born medical botanist and professor of medicine at Wittenberg, later Dresden  +
Hexalectris +
Greek hex, six, and alectryon, rooster, alluding to six longitudinal fleshy crests on the floral lip  +
Hexastylis +
Greek hexastylis, with six styles  +
Hibiscus +
Greek hibiscus or ibiscum, alluding to cohabitation with Ibis, stork, in marshes  +
Hieracium +
No etymology in protologue  +, said to be from Greek hierax, hawk  +
Hilpertia +
For Friedrich Hilpert, b. 1907, German bryologist  +
Hippeastrum +
Greek hippeus, rider, and astron, star, the allusion obscure  +
Hippocratea +
For Hippocrates, ca. 460–370 BC, Greek physician  +
Hippomane +
Greek hippos, horse, and mania, fury, alluding to effect of the caustic latex on horses  +
Hippophaë +
Greek hippos, of horse, and phaeos, splendor, probably alluding to ancient use of silvery leaves as horse fodder to supposedly make their coats shine or boost their energy  +
Hippuris +
Greek hippos, horse, and oura, tail, alluding to appearance of stem and leaves  +
Hiptage +
Greek hiptamai, to fly, alluding to wind-dispersed samaras  +
Hirschfeldia +
For Christian Cajus Lorenz Hirschfeldt, 1742–1792, Austrian botanist/horticulturist  +
Hollisteria +
For William Welles Hollister, 1818–1886, California rancher  +
Holmgrenanthe +
For Arthur Herman Holmgren, 1912–1992, Noel Herman Holmgren, b. 1937, and Patricia Kern Holmgren, b. 1940, American botanists, and Greek anthos, flower  +
Holocarpha +
Greek holo -, whole, complete, and karphos, chaff, alluding to paleate receptacles  +