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understanding conifer names

LATIN ELEMENTS IN CONIFER NAMES

Alba White
Argentea Silver
Aurea  Gold
Caesia  Lavender
Glauca

 Blue or Blue grey
(also refers to the waxy substance found on leaves)

Lutea  Yellow
Lutescens  Yellowish
Nigra  Black
Viridis Green
Atrovirens  Dark Green

DESCRIPTIVE LATIN NAMES (mostly to do with leaf or needle shape).

Adpressa Pressed into close contact
Baccata Berry bearing
Fastigiata / Fastigiate Erect growth on upward pointing branches
Gracilis Slender
Cuspidata Tooth like or pointed
Falcata Sickle shaped
Filifera / Filiformis Thread like or thread leafed
Glabra  Hairless
Nana Dwarf
 Obtusa Rounded at point or blunt tipped
Plicata Fan shaped
Pendula Weeping
Plumosa Feathery
Procumbens Creeping
Prostrata Lying flat or prostrate
Pungens (1) Strong smelling
Pungens (2) Ending in a stiff sharp point
Repanda Wavy edged
Repens Creeping or flat
Stricta Upright or straight
Sylvestris Forest type


 ENGLISH COMMON NAMES FOR CONIFERS

Abies Fir
A. Pinsapo Spanish Fir
A. Procera Noble Fir
Cedrus Cedar
Cedrus Atlantica Atlas Cedar
Cedrus Deodara Himalayan Cedar
Calocedrus Decurrans Incense Cedar
Chamaecyparis False Cypress
Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana Lawsons Cypress
Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis Alaska Cedar
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Hinoki Cypress
Chamaecyparis Pisifera Sarawa Cypress
Chamaecyparis Thyoides Atlanic White Cedar
Cryptomeria Japonica Japanese Cedar
Cupressus Cypress
Cupressus Glabra Arizonica Cypress
Cupressus Macrocarpa Monterey Cypress
Gingko Biloba Maidenhair Tree
Juniperus Juniper
Juniperus Chinensis Chinese Juniper
Juniperus Chinensis Kaizuka Hollywood Juniper
Juniperus Communis Common Juniper
Juniperus Hibernica Irish Juniper
Juniperus Suecica Swedish Juniper
Juniperus Conferta Shore Juniper
Juniperus Procumbens Japanese Garden Juniper
Juniperus Squamata Nepal Juniper
Picea Spruce
Picea Abies  Norway Spruce
Picea Abies Nidiformis Bird's Nest Spruce
Picea Glauca White Spruce
Picea Pungens Colorado Spruce
Picea Sitchensis Sitka Spruce
Pinus Pine
Pinus Densiflora Japanese Red Pine
Pinus Umbraculifera Tanyosho Pine
Pinus Mugo Dwarf Mountain Pine
Pinus Nigra Black Pine
Pinus Sylvestris Scots Pine
Pseudotsuga Menzii Douglas Fir or Oregon Pine
Sequoia Sempervirens Redwood
Sequoiadendron The Big Tree , Giant Redwood, Wellingtonia
Taxodium Distichum Swamp Cypress
Taxus Yew
Taxus Baccata English Yew
Taxus Baccata Fastigiata Irish Yew
Taxus Baccata Semperaurea Evergold English Yew
Thuja Occidentalis American Arborvitae
Thuja Orientalis Chinese Arborvitae
Thuja Plicata Western Red Arborvitae
Thujopsis Dolbrata  Broad Leaved Arborvitae
Tsuga Hemlock
Tsuga Canadensis Eastern Hemlock

  
   

 

Last updated 21/05/2008 10:34:10
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