Ran across some definitions of the latin in plant names, I knew a few of the obvious ones, didn't know what alot meant, kinda neat.
Natural Habitat;
africana: Africa
alpestris (-e): From lower mountains below the timber line.
alpinus (-e,-um): from high mts. above the timberline; best for the rock garden
aquaticus (-a,-um): aquatic: plant in the water garden
arenarius(-a,-um): native to sandy soils
australis: southern
borealis: northern
campestris(-e): a plant of fields and open land
canadensis: Canada
canariensis: Canary Islands
capensis: around the Cape of Good Hope
caroliniana: of the Carolinas
chinensis: China
hispanica: Spain
hortensis: of gardens
indica: India
insularis: an island plant
japonica: Japan
montana: a plant that grows in the mountains
pratensis(-e): a plant that grows in meadows
maritimus(-a,-um): a plant native to the seaside
palustris(-e): marsh loving; plant in wet soils
riparia: of riverbanks
saxatilis(-e): native to rocky sites
sylvaticus(-a,-um), sylvestris: native to woodlands
umbrosus(-a,-um): native to shady areas
virginiana: of heaven
Size and Growth Pattern;
adpressa: pressing against, hugging
alta: tall
arborea: treelike
capitata: headlike
columnaris(-e): column shaped
compacta: compact, dense
conferta: crowded, pressed together
contorta: twisted
decumbens: lying down
dendron: tree
depressa: pressed down
elegans: elegant, slender, willowy
fastigiatus(-a,-um): narrow and upright in profile, branches erect and close together
globularis(-e): globe shaped
grandis(-e): large, as in grandiflorus (large flowered) and grandifolius (large leaved)
humifusa: sprawling on the ground
humilis: low, small, humble
impressa:impressed upon
nanus(-a,-um): dwarf
phyllus: leaf or leaves
procumbens: growing along the ground
prostrata: prostrate
pumila:dwarf, small
pusilla: puny, insignificant
pyramidalis(-e): pyramid shaped
repens: a creeping plant
reptans: creeping
scandens: climbing
Season of Display
aestivalis(-e): summer
autumnalis(-e): autumn
hyemalis(-e): winter
vernalis(-e): spring
Form of Leaf (folia)
acerifolia: maple leafed
augustifolia: narrow
aquifolia: spiny
buxifolia: boxwoodlike
ilicifolia: hollylike
laurifolia: laurel-like
parvifolia: small
populifolia: poplarlike
salicifolia: willowlike
Flower or Leaf Color
albus(-a,um): white
argenteus(-a,-um): silver
aurantiacus(-a,-um): orange
aureus(-a,-um): gold
azureus(-a,-um): sky blue
caeruleus(-a,-um): darker blue
caesia: blue-gray
candida: pure white, shiny
cana: ash gray, hoary
cereus: waxy
citrina: yellow
coccinea: scarlet
concolor: one color
cruenta: bloody
cyaneus(-a,-um): dark blue
discolor: two colors, seperate colors
flavus(-a,-um): pale yellow
glauca: blue-gray, blue-green
incana: gray, hoary
luteus(-a,-um): yellow
pallida: pale
purpureus(-a,-um): purple
roseus(-a,um): rose colored, pink
ruber(rubra,rubrum): red
rufa: ruddy
semperverins: always green, i.e., evergreen
variegatus(-a,um): variegated; foliage splashed with various colors
viridis(-e): green
Fragrance
aromaticus(-a,-um): aromatic
foetidus(-a,-um): stinking
fragrans: fragrant
inodorus(-a,-um): having no smell
odoratus(-a,-um): sweet smelling
pungens: pungent
