
Here's a bit of fun. I ordered 'Gardener's Latin' by Bill Neal through
Amazon.com mainly for hits and giggles, but it is interesting to find the English translation of some of those Latin names and this book hits the nail right on the head.
For instance
officia'lis was one I have always been curious about with me thinking it was something official. Turns out it means 'medicinal; of the pharmacopoeia (literally, 'drug-making').
So try me out, is there any botanical names you have always wanted to know what they mean?
The introduction informs me that this is only a partial dictionary of botanical names and includes only species names. Therefore if you want to know the meaning of a genus you'll be up the creek without a paddle.
Cheers for now
Stewart
P.S. Weather for tomorrow. Fine, hot and dry!