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Glossary of Terms

What’s in a name ?

Glossary of botanical and horticultural terms.  

Linnaeus developed a binomial naming system for plants, with each plant being given a genus and a species name. The genus being akin to a surname and a species name to a forename.   A particular form or variety of a plant is known as a cultivar. 

Common names are those names by which plants are commonly known to members of the public.  Common names for the same plant will vary from place to place.       

A plant name often provides a clue to the identification of the plant, e.g. microphyllus – small leaf, rotundifolius - round leaf.  ‘alba plena- double white flowers,  baccata – berry 

The following pages provide examples of meaning of plant names.   

Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Terms Cordata
Glossary of Terms Serrata
Glossary of Terms Dissectum
Glossary of Terms Palmatum
Glossary of Terms Pseudo
Glossary of Terms Fastigate
Glossary of Terms Europaea
Glossary of Terms Purpurea
Glossary of Terms Sylvatica
Glossary of Terms Alba
Glossary of Terms Pinnate
Glossary of Terms Liriodendron tulipifera
Glossary of Terms Grandiflora
Glossary of Terms Pterocarya
Glossary of Terms Betula pendula
Glossary of Terms Betula pubescens
Glossary of Terms Magnolia stellata
Glossary of Terms Carpinifolia
Glossary of Terms Carpinus betulus
Glossary of Terms Acer rufinerve
Glossary of Terms Betula utilis var jacquemontii
Glossary of Terms Globosum
Glossary of Terms Griseum
Glossary of Terms Excelsior
Glossary of Terms Angustifolia

Landscape Trees

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