William T. Stearn

"First published in 1966, Botanical Latin has become accepted worldwide as the standard work of reference on this important subject. A comprehensive guide to every aspect of Latin usage in this field, it is an invaluable source of accurate information for gardeners, botanists, scientific historians, systematic etymologists and classical scholars alike.". "Botanical Latin is an internationally used technical language developed over the past 250 years for the naming and description of plants. In that time, in order to meet the expanding need for accurate scientific descriptions, its vocabulary has been continually enriched with new words, mostly coined from Greek, and with classical Latin words now given precise and particular botanical meanings. It is accepted by horticulturists and botanists everywhere as the medium for naming new plants, and botanical research is almost impossible without reference to standard works and the vast number of first descriptions in Latin - much information is available in no other language. For gardeners, too, a working knowledge of botanical Latin is essential for the accurate identification of plants in the garden."--BOOK JACKET.

"Countless plants have been assigned Latin botanical names since Linnaeus instituted modern botanical nomenclature in 1753, and many have aroused the curiosity of gardners. What do these names signify? What characteristics do they describe? Who are the plants named after?". "In this book, William T. Stearn gives the meaning and origin of some 6000 botanical names, selecting those most likely to be encountered by gardeners and horticulturists. No other single source provides so much etymological information for the gardener. Also listed are 3000 of the most widely accepted vernacular names, cross-indexed to their correct scientific names. Each of these dictionary sections is prefaced by an informative and entertaining introduction. Plant classification and binomial nomenclature are explained, and there are notes on the structure and pronunciation of botanical Latin. Extensive bibliographies direct the reader to further sources."--BOOK JACKET.