Most people balk at the notion of using the binomial botanical name. Names created by an early botanist named Carl von Linne who developed the naming process based on classifications of similarities. He decided to express the names using Latin as the language. Latin was and is still a dead language because no one uses it therefore it remains constant.

Plants or animals have their scientific name in Latin to reduce any regional confusions. Any scientific name remains constant whether it is said in England, Pakistan, Argentina or any other country. A Lobelia is Lobelia, no matter where it grows or how many local or regional common names might exist for it.

Going to local botal garden plant sales offers the chance to see new plants with their correct scientific names. These names are the chance to learn something new. Besides just memorizing the name buy a book at the Arboretum or the Gardens that translate the words in the names. They are available in their bookstores and are not expensive.

With book in hand have at the names and you will be amazed how descriptive the names are or where they are from or some history when translated into English.

A examples include: Portulaca - Porta = carry Laca = milk for the milky sap carried in the plant.

Calliandra - (Fairy Duster) Calli = beautiful Andra = Male flower parts or stamens. Thats the beauty of the plant, the stamens.

Leucophyllum - Leuco = whitish, phyllum = leaves for the Texas Rain Sage sometimes called Texas Ranger.

Or our regional Evening Primrose called Oenothera caespitosa. Caespitosa translated means grows in tufts or tussock forming describing exactly its form.

This can open up a whole new world and demystify the use of the Latin based scientific names. Once you translate a few some words or parts of words in the names become familar in other words you use regularly.

This opened many new doors of learning over the years for me and it all started with one little book about translating plant names. It will make the plants become even more alive and friendlier. And its all in thanks to a Swedish surgeon named Carl von Linne.

He is better remembered by another name. Born Carl von Linne the Royal Society of Botany officially changed his name to the Latinized form in respect of his using Latin to classify the natural world.

Today Carl von Linne is better known as Carolus Linneaus the inventor of scientific classification.

Written by Terry Mikel, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona, 602-470-8086.
Material originally appeared in Arizona Republic
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