Stearn's Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners: A Handbook on the Origin and Meaning of the Botanical Names of Some Cultivated Plants - Softcover

Stearn, William T.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0304347825 ISBN 13: 9780304347827

Publisher: Cassell Illustrated, 1996

Synopsis

"This welcome volume lists some 6,000 Greek and Latin words commonly encountered as generic and specific names of cultivated plants....The author is perhaps the world authority on the subject of botanical names, and the work has a resulting scholarly air, but this is leavened by tidbits of humorous natural and human history. As a result, the volume is almost readable by itself and not just a reference book....Recommended for almost any collection used by enthusiastic gardeners and plant lovers."-- "ARBA. "Invaluable...."-- "TAXON . 384 pages, 6 1/4 x 9 1/4.

About this title

Review:

World-famous nomenclature expert, William T. Stearn, left a gap in the horticultural world when he died in 2001. Since publishing his first scientific paper at the age of 18, he has had an enormous influence in the botanical field and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal, the Victoria Medal of Honour and a CBE. This is his definitive work on plant names and meanings for the everyday gardener. A vital reference work, he covers the meaning and origins of the most common everyday cultivated plant names, cross-referenced with some 3000 vernacular names to solve what is often a conundrum amongst gardeners. Full of amusing anecdotes related to the naming of plants, it is a fascinating insight into nomenclature and the clues they give to a plant's appearance: aureus - golden, azureus - sky blue, erubescens - blushing. They also give a sense of history with plants named after the discoverer or their patron - davidii - Armand David, knautia - Christopher Knaut and hookeri - Sir William Jackson Hooker. Greek and Latin mythology make appearances too as befits the horticultural mix of the two languages. A fascinating book to dip into and an important work that deserves a place on every gardener's bookshelf. - Lucy Watson

Book Description:

Stearn's classic dictionary of the meaning and origin of some 6,000 botanical names

About this edition

• Publisher: Cassell Illustrated
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0304347825
• ISBN 13: 9780304347827
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 384