Where Plants Come From

ne of the most useful group of species broad as a continent (europaeus, European) or a Onames is that which gives some indica- country (hispanicus, Spanish), or may be more tion of where a plant originally came from. specific, such as a state pennsylvanicus( , from Once a gardener has a clue or two about the Pennsylvania) or even a town (albanensis, from geographical region to which a plant is native, the English town of St. Albans). In rare cases, he or she can begin to assess whether it might the name might be so detailed as to refer to the thrive or flounder when transplanted to their house or estate where a plant was bred, such as own plot. However, the level of detail that such the holly Ilex x altaclerensis, from Highclere names provide varies tremendously. It can be as Castle, England.

With its tall stately stems and beautiful purple blooms, Verbena bonariensis is now found in gardens very far from its native Buenos Aires. Where Plants Come From plant profile

africanus af-ri-KAHN-us * africana, africanum Acanthus A African. he lush foliage and tall Thwarted love apart, the spiki- agrarius ag-RA-ree-us Tarchitectural flower spikes ness associated with the acan- abyssinicus a-biss-IN-ee-kus agraria, agrarium of the acanthus plant strikes a thus actually refers to the abyssinica, abyssinicum From fields and cultivated land. dramatic note in any garden. plant’s flowers, which are Abyssinian. Belonging to the family Acan- formed from mauve and white alabamensis al-uh-bam-EN-sis thaceae, the name for this overlapping bracts and tubular acadiensis ah-kay-dee-EN-sis alabamensis, alabamense genus of herbaceous perenni- petals. These are born on tall acadiensis, acadiense From Alabama, America. als derives from akanthos, the spikes that rise up gracefully From Nova Scotia, Canada. Greek for thorn. Where you from a mat of large leaves. albanensis al-ban-EN-sis see that acanth forms part of Among the most commonly accolus ak-coh-lus albanensis, albanense the name of a plant, watch out, grown is Acanthus spinosus, accola, accolum From St. Albans, Herefordshire, England; as it indicates that in some which has pointed, spiny From nearby, neighboring. for example, Primula albanensis. part it is spiny, spiky, or thorny. leaves, produces an abundance For instance acanthocomus of flowers and can easily reach aegeus EE-gee-us aldenhamensis al-den--ham-EN-sis (acanthocoma, acanthocomum) a stately 1.2 m (4 feet). Spino- aegea, aegeum aldenhamensis, aldenhamense tells us the plant has spiny sus (spinosa, spinosum) means From the shores of the Aegean From Aldenham House, Hertfordshire, England, hairs on its leaves, while acanthifolius (acanthifolia, spiny. A. mollis has softer leaves and it is probably Sea, Greece. home of the Hon. Vicary Gibbs (see pages 32–3), acanthifolium) means the leaves resemble that of the from this species that the common American name an avid plant collector. Examples include Euonymus acanthus plant. In Greek mythology, the nymph for acanthus, Bear’s Breech, or Bear’s Breeches, orig- aegyptiacus ee-jip-TEE-ah-kus europaeus “Aldenhamensis.” Acantha was much desired by the god Apollo. In an inates as, just like a bear, the acanthus leaf is big, aegyptiaca, aegypticum attempt to fight off his unwanted amorous advances, broad, and hairy! (Mollis, mollis, molle means soft Egyptian. Acantha scratched Apollo’s face. Thus rejected, his or flexible) revenge was to turn her into a spiky plant. Acanthus plants thrive in dry, sunny spots in the aethiopicus ee-thee-OH-pik-us garden, but beware where you plant them, as they aethiopa, aethiopicum form a long taproot that makes it very difficult to Ethiopian. remove them from unsuitable locations. They are Curled leaves of acanthus generally hardy, but it is advisable to apply a gener- feature in classical ee-TOH-lee-kus aetolicus Corinthian capitals. ous mulch to cover the cut-down stems over the first aetolica, aetolium couple of winters after planting. From Aetolia, Greece. Agapanthus * africanus, African Lily afer A–fer afra, afrum Agapanthus originate from Specifically from the North African the Cape Province region, coastal countries such as Algeria although they are also According to the writer Virgil, Helen of Troy wore a dress embroidered with a and Tunisia. known as Lily of the Nile. highly decorative form of the acanthus.

35 36 Where Plants Come From Where Plants Come From

alpestris al-PES-triss amurensis am-or-EN-sis andicolus an-dee-KO-lus * alpestris, alpestre amurensis, amurense anticola, anticolum From lower, usually wooded, mountain habitats. From the Amur River region, Asia. Native of the Andes, South America.

alpicolus al-PEE-kol-us anatolicus an-ah-TOH-lee-kus andinus an-DEE-nus alpicola, alpicolum anatolica, alitolicum andina, andinum From high mountain habitats. From Anatolia, Turkey. Andine, from the Andes, South America.

alpigenus al-PEE-gen-us ancyrensis an-syr-EN-sis anglicus AN-glee-kus alpigena, alpigenum ancyrensis, ancyrense anglica, anglicum From a mountainous region. From Ankara, Turkey. English.

alpinus AL-pin-us annamensis an-na-MEN-sis alpina, alpinum annamensisi, annamense

Myosotis alpestris, Forget-Me-Not From high alpine regions, often rocky. Latin in Action From Annam, Asia.

* Although happy in most conditions Myosotis alpestris altaclerensis al-ta-cle-REN-sis As its name suggests the rock rose Helianthemum antarcticus ant-ARK-tee-kus thrives best given the light shade and moist soil associ- altaclerensis, altaclerene apenninum originates from the Italian Apennine antarctica, antarcticum ated with woodland habitats. From Highclere Castle, Hampshire, England. Mountains and thrives in dry and rocky places. From the South Pole. With its evergreen silver foliage topped by masses aleppicus a-LEP-ee-kus altaicus al-TAY-ik-us of white flowers, this tough plant provides excellent antillanus ant-il-LAN-nus aleppica, aleppicum altaica, altaicum ground cover and is extremely drought resistant. antillana, antillanum, antillaneris, From Aleppo, Syria. From the Altai mountains, Mongolia. antilleris, antillere From the Antilles Islands, West Indies. aleuticus a-LEW-tih-kus amazonicus am-uh-ZOH-nik-us aleutica, aleuticum amazonica, amazonicum antipodus an-te-PO-dus From the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. From the Amazon River, South America. antipoda, antipoum From the Antipodes. alexandrinus al-ex-an-DRY-nus amboinensis am-boy-NEN-sis alexandrina, alexandrenum amboinensis, amboinense apenninus ap-en-NEE-nus From Alexandria, Egypt. From Amboina Island, Indonesia. * apennina, appeninum From the Apennine Mountains, Italy. algeriensis al-jir-ee-EN-sis americanus a-mer-ih-KAH-nus algeriensis, algeriense americana, americanum Algerian. From North or South America.

alienus a-LY-en-us ammophilus am-oh-FY-lus aliena, alienum ammophilia, ammophilum Helianthemum apenninum White rock-rose A plant of foreign origin. From sandy places. *

37 38 Plant Hunter

“L i n n a e u s w a s i n r e a l i t y a p o e t Carl Linnaeus w h o h a p p e n e d t o b e c o m e a n a t u r a l i s t .” (1707–78) August Strindberg (1849–1912), Swedish writer

f gardeners ever despair at Today Linnaeus is most re- classifying the natural world. He continued to Linnaea borealis, Twinflower Ithe prospect of remember- membered for the binomial, extend the work over the following decades, until ing the Latin name of a or two word, system of it became a two-volume publication in 1758. His Linnaea borealis (borealis meaning “northern”) is one plant, they should pause naming plants that he devel- Genera plantarum (1737) describes in detail all of the few plants named after Carl Linnaeus. It was and give thanks to the oped and refined from the the 935 plant genera that were then known. This one of his favorite plants and has pretty bell-shaped eighteenth-century bota- earlier work of Caspar was followed in 1753 by Species plantarum. De- flowers, which hang in pairs from a single stem. Com- nist, physician, and zoolo- Bauhin (1560–1624). Using scribing thousands of plant species, it became the monly known as the “twinflower,” it is at home growing gist Carl Linnaeus. It is due the binomial method of no- basis for modern nomenclature. Linnaeus’s system in cool forest habitats and its appearance is often an to his rigorous rationaliza- menclature, a plant is first of classification enabled scientists to fit previously indicator of ancient woodland. tion of plant names that attributed to a particular unidentified plants and animals into a sound they now need only recall genus then given its specific framework of knowledge, based on empirical ob- two words, rather than the species name. The species servation. Thus they began to see how one species dozen or so that were com- may then be subdivided related to another. This came at a time when huge monly used in previous eras. into subspecies, variety, and amounts of new plant material was being intro- Born in the southern form for greater clarity of duced into Europe from all over the world. province of Småland, identification. Linnaeus The importance of Linnaeus’s work was fully

Sweden, the son of a country Among his contemporaries, Linnaeus based his classification of recognized in his lifetime. He became Court Phy- parson, Linnaeus was raised was famed for his insatiable curiosity plants on their sexual char- sician in 1747, was made a Knight of the Polar in a family in which Latin about the natural world and for the acteristics, dividing plants Star in 1758, and was finally ennobled in 1761, was spoken daily. After accuracy of his visual memory. into groups depending on taking the title of Carl von Linné. After a showing an early interest in the number of stamens and series of debilitating strokes, he died aged 71. plants and botany, he studied medicine at Uppsala pistils (the sexual organs of plants). He was aware Methodical, practical, and rational, University, a subject closely allied to herbalism at that this was an artificial structure and it was later Linnaeus was, despite the occasional lit- that time. Linnaeus possessed an insatiable curios- superseded by a natural botanical system after his erary flight of fancy, a master of ity about all aspects of the world around him. After death. This emphasis on the reproductive aspects precise and accurate simplifica- classifying the plants, animals, and minerals of his of plants led Linnaeus to use some rather fanciful tion. In tribute, the later Swedish native country, he travelled widely, including trips language, describing plants in terms such as writer August Strindberg to England, Holland, and Lapland. Returning to “brides,” “bridegrooms,” and “bridal beds.” (1849–1912) said “Linnaeus Uppsala as Professor of Botany, he was regarded as Linnaeus published numerous works through- was in reality a poet who hap- an inspiring teacher and many of his students, out his career. Among his most influential is pened to become a naturalist.” known as Apostles, went on to make important sci- Systema naturae (1735), this was originally pro- entific discoveries all over the world. duced as a pamphlet outlining his new system of

39 40 the color of plants the color of plants

flavens, flaveolus FLA–vens flavissimus flav-ISS-ih-mus Latin in Action flaveola, flaveolum, flavenscens, flavissima, flavissimum F flavidus (flavida, flavidum) Deepest yellow. The appearance of the bright yellow flowers of All these terms mean yellowish in color. Crocus flavus “Golden Yellow” (syn. “Dutch Yellow” flavovirens flav-oh-VY-rens and “Yellow Mammoth”) are always a welcome ferrugineus fer-oo-JIN-ee-us flavicomus flav-ih-KOH-mus Greenish yellow. sight in the grey days of late winter. This delightful ferruginea, ferrugineum flavicoma, flavicomum plant is hardy and, given well-drained soil and a Rust-colored. Yellow-haired. flavus FLA–vus sunny position, will self-seed and spread quickly. * flava, flavum An old variety, “Golden Yellow” is both free flower- flammeus FLAM-mee-us flavispinus flav-ih-SPIN-us Pure yellow. ing and fragrant. * flammea, flammeum flavispina, flavispinum Flame-colored or flame-like. Yellow-spined. flore-albo FLOR-ee AL-bo With white flowers.

fucatus few-KAY-tus fucata, fucatum Painted or dyed.

fuliginosus few-lih-gin-OH-sus fuliginosa, fuliginosum Crocus A dirty brown or sooty color. * flavus, Golden Yellow

fulvidus FUL-vee-dus fulvida, fulvidum Slightly tawny in color.

fulvescens, fulvus ful-VES-enz fulva, fluvum All these terms mean tawny-orange in color. fuscifolius few-ski-FOH-lee-us fuscifolia, fuscifolium fumidus FEW-mee-dus With dusky-brown leaves. Alloxylon flammeum, fumida, fumidum Red silky oak * Smoky grey. fusco-rubra FUS-koh ROO-bra Bearing bright orange flowers in late Brownish red. spring and early summer, this native fuscatus FUS-kah-tus of the Australian rainforest is often fuscata, fuscatum fuscus FUS-kus called the Queensland Tree Waratah. Brownish. fusca, fuscum A dusky or swarthy brown.

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