Demystifying Plant Names

As noted in our previous issue, a little knowledge of Latin is a good thing! In this issue, we highlight the Latin names for the different shades and tints of black and grey.

Black and Grey

The range of black includes ater, pure black and atratus, when only a part of the plant is black. Niger is tinged with grey as in Helleborus niger and anthracinus is coal-black verging on blue. Raven black has lustre, as in corvacinus or pullus. Piceus is pitch black with a hint of brown. Cinereus is the intermediate tint between black and white as in Armeria cinerea. Griseus and schistaceus both border on blue. Plumbeus is lead-coloured or with a metallic Iustre. Fumeus is smoky tending to brown while murinus is mouse coloured tending to red. Incanus, a greyish whiteness, is caused by hairs overlaying a green surface as in Veronica incana.

Editor's Note: This edited excerpt was part of an article that originally appeared in the Ontario Rock Garden Society JournaI April 1997) and was reprinted in the Ottawa Valley Rock Garden Society Newsletter (November1998).

Please contact the OHS or the author if you wish to republish these articles. © Ottawa Horticultural Society

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