Latin for Gardeners: Over 3,000 Plant Names Explained and Explored by Lorraine Harrison

Since Latin became the standard language for plant naming in the eighteenth century, it has been intrinsically linked with botany. And while mastery of the classical language may not be a prerequisite for tending perennials, all gardeners stand to benefit from learning a bit of Latin and its conventions in the field. Without it, they might buy a Hellebores foetidus and be unprepared for its fetid smell, or a Potentilla reptans with the expectation that it will stand straight as a sentinel rather than creep along the ground. An essential addition to the gardener's library, this colorful, fully illustrated book details the history of naming plants, provides an overview of Latin naming conventions, and offers guidelines for pronunciation. Readers will learn to identify Latin terms that indicate the provenance of a given plant and provide clues to its color, shape, fragrance, taste, behavior, functions, and more. Full of expert instruction and practical guidance, Latin for Gardeners will allow novices and green thumbs alike to better appreciate the seemingly esoteric names behind the plants they work with, and to expertly converse with fellow enthusiasts. Soon they will realize that having a basic understanding of Latin before trips to the nursery or botanic garden is like possessing some knowledge of French before traveling to Paris; it enriches the whole experience.   Table of Contents: PrefaceHow to Use This BookA Short History of Botanical LatinBotanical Latin for BeginnersAn Introduction to the A-Z Listings The A-Z Listings of Latin Plant Names A from a- to azureusB from babylonicus to byzantinusC from cacaliifolius to cytisoidesD from dactyliferus to dyerianumE from e- to eyriesiiF from fabaceus to futilisG from gaditanus to gymnocarpusH from haastii to hystrixI from ibericus to ixocarpusJ from jacobaeus to juvenilisK from kamtschaticus to kurdicusL from labiatus to l ysimachioidesM from macedonicus to myrtifoliusN from nanellus to nymphoidesO from obconicus to oxyphyllusP from pachy- to pyriformisQ from quadr- to quinquevulnerusR from racemiflorus to rutilansS from sabatius to szechuanicusT from tabularis to typhinusU from ulicinus to uvariaV from vacciniifolius to vulgatusW from wagnerii to wulfeniiX from xanth- to xantholeucusY from yakushimanus to yunnanensisZ from zabeliana to zonatus Plant Profiles AcanthusAchilleaAlyssumDigitalisEryngiumEucalyptusFoeniculumGeraniumHelianthusJasminumLycopersiconParthenocissusPassifloraPlumbagoPulmonariaQuercusSempervivumStreptocarpusTropaeolumVaccinium Plant Hunters Baron Alexander von HumboldtSir Joseph BanksMeriwether Lewis and William ClarkFrancis Masson and Carl Peter ThunbergJohn Bartram and William BartramDavid DouglasCarl LinnaeusJane Colden and Marianne NorthSir Joseph HookerAndré Michaux and François Michaux Plant Themes Where Plants Come FromPlants: Their Shape and FormThe Color of PlantsThe Qualities of PlantsPlants: Their Fragrance and TasteNumbers and PlantsPlants and Animals GlossaryBibliographyCredits   "For those who want a better understanding of plant taxonomy, Latin for Gardeners, by Lorraine Harrison, is a treasure."--Dominique Browning "New York Times"" Latin for Gardeners is useful, surprising, and beautiful--an accessible dictionary for everyone who puzzles over botanical identifications, an opportunity to get better acquainted with the extraordinary discoverers and namers of so many of our favorite plants, and a treat for all who enjoy the art and lore of the garden."--Jane S. Smith, author of The Garden of Invention"I have several books dedicated to Latin plant names but none fall into the category of Lorraine Harrison's book which is not only informative but entertaining and beautifully illustrated. This is no dull list of Latin plant names--it is a book which begs to be picked up and looked at."-- "The Reckless Gardener""Comprehensive and beautifully illustrated."-- "Martha Stewart Living"   Lorraine Harrison is the author of several books, including Inspiring Sussex Gardeners, The Shaker Book of the Garden, How to Read Gardens, and A Potted History of Vegetables: A Kitchen Cornucopia.   University of Chicago Press Pub Date: September 21, 2012 1.0" H x 9.0" L x 7.0" W 224 Pages Hardcover