deliberately minimised in order to provide the maximum information.
Readers unable to find a particular word they are interested in
should not give up but rather check with the earlier account or
with the references given. A comprehensive dictionary is provided
by Gledhill (1992).
|
A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P R S T U V X |
A
Acacia = thorn
acaulis = lacking an obvious stem
acutus = pointed, sharply angled
aizoon = always alive
Allium = the Latin name for garlic (onion family)
amygdalus = almond-tree (Greek)
argentea = silvery
arnebia = Hare (from the Arabic)
artemisia = after Queen Artemisia of Caria, Asia Minor
avicennia = named after the physician Ibn Sina B
bellidifolia = daisy-leaved (from Bellis – daisy)
blepharis = fringe-; eyelash-
bucinalis -atus = trumpet-shaped C
caespitosa = tufted
calo- = beautiful
canariense = from the Canary Isles
capri- = goat
cephalopodus = foot-headed
cernua = drooping
cheno- = goose
chenopodium = goose-foot
ciliaris = fringed with hairs; ciliate
contorta = twisted
convolvulus = interwoven
crassifolia = thick- or fleshy-leaved
crispa = wavy or curly edge
crucifer = cross-bearing; cruciform
-culus = -lesser
cycloptera = gigantic-winged D
dactylifera = fingered; finger-like
dendri- = tree-like
diffusa = loosely spreading or diffuse E
echino- = prickly; ‘hedge-hog like’
epiphyticus = growing on another plant F
Ficus = latin name for the Fig
-folius; -folia = leaved G
glutinosa = sticky; glutinous
granulata = granulate; as though covered in granules
gymnocarpa = naked fruit
Gypsophila = chalk-loving H
halo- = salt-loving
hammada = probably of the bare-blown desert centre
hispidissima = with stiff hairs; bristly I
incanum = hoary white; turning grey
indigofera = indigo-bearer J
Juncus = binder (for weaving or basketry) L
lagopoides = resembling a hare’s foot M
macranicum = of the Makran
Malva = Soft
monacantha = single-spiked
monantha = single-flowered
mucronatum = with a hard sharp-pointed tip
muscatense = from Muscat, Oman (or mascatense) N
nivea = of snow -white colour O
Orobanche = ‘legume-strangler’ P
papilionacea = of the butterfly
parviflora = with small flowers
pendulus = hanging
peplis = Spurge
peregrina = foreign, strange, exotic (‘traveller’)
Phoenix = Phoenician (who introduced date palms to the Greeks)
phyll- = leaf-
podo- = foot
-pogon = -bearded or -haired
polycarpea = many-fruited
planiflora = flat
plumosa = feathery
polyanthus = Many-flowered
polycarpea = many fruited
procumbens = flat on the ground, creeping forwards
proso- = towards-; to the front
prostrata = lying flat; prostrate
Pulex = the flea
pyrotechnica = fire-making
Pyrus = Pear tree (Latin) R
racemosus = flowers arranged in a racemous spike (early basal
flowers open first and often wilt before the topmost open)
repens = creeping
rubescens = turning red S
Salsola = salty (taste and habitat)
sativa = not wild; a planted or cultivated form
serpens = creeping; serpentine i.e. curved like a snake
serrata -us = tooth-edged; serrated
socotranus = from Socotra island
spina-cristi = Christ’s thorn
Suaeda = from the Arabic name for salt T
terrestris = growing on the ground cf aquaticus and epiphyticus
tortilis = twisted
Tragus = goat (as is Capriola) U
urospermum = ‘tailed’ seeds V
vermiculata = worm-like
vesicarius = bladder-like
Vicia = the Latin for vetch
villosus = shaggy; with long soft hairs; villous X
xero- = dry-
Essential Reference
U.K.