The Self-pronouncing Dictionary of Plant Names: Abelia to Dyckia
(Revised Edition) Prepared by Ralph Bailey, Garden Editor, House & Garden
(Copyright 1948, 1962) by the Literary Guild of America, Inc.

A

Abelia (for Dr. Clarke Abel)--Ab beel ee uh: Glossy Abelia.
Abies--Ay bih eez: Fir.
Abronia (delicate)--Ab roh nee uh: Sand-verbena.
Abrus (delicate)--Ay brus.
Abutilon--Ab yew til on: Flowering-maple.
Acacia (point, thorn)--Ak kay see uh, Ak kay shuh.
Acaena (thorn)--Ass see nuh: New Zealand Bur.
Acalypha--Ak al lye fuh: Copper Leaf, Three-seeded Mercury.
Acanthocereus (thorny-Cereus)--Ak anth oh seer ee us.
Acantholimon (thorny-Sea-Lavender)--Ak anth oh lye mon: Prickly Thrift.
Acanthopanax (thorny-Panax)--Ak anth oh pay nax.
Acanthus (thorn)--Ak kanth us: Bears-breech.
Acer--Ay ser: Maple.
Achillea--Ak il lee uh: Yarrow.
Achimines (suffering-from-cold)--Ak kim in eez.
Acidanthera (sharp-anther)--Ass id anth er uh.
Acineta (immovable)--Ass in nee tuh.
Aconitum--Ak oh nye tum: Monks-hood, Aconite.
Actaea--Ak tee uh: Actea, Baneberry.
Actinidia (for ray-like styles)--Ak tin nid ee uh.
Actinophloeus--Ak tin oh flee us: Cluster Palm.
Adansonia (for French botanist Michael Adanson)--Ad an soh nee uh: Baobab-tree.
Adenanthera (for glandular anthers)--Ad en anth er uh: Bead Tree.
Adenocarpus (for glandular fruit)--Ad en oh karp us.
Adiantum (unwetted)--Ad ee an tum: Maidenhair Fern.
Adlumia (for American gardener John Adlum)--Ad loo mee uh: Climbing Fumitory, Mountain Fringe, Alleghany Vine.
Adonis (for mythical Adonis)--Ad doh niss, Ad don nis: Pheasants-eye.
Adoxa (without-glory)--Ad dox uh: Musk-root.
Aechmea (for pointed calyx)--Eek mee uh.
Aegopodium (goat-foot)--Ee go poh dee um: Goutweed.
Aerides (air-plant)--Ay ehr id eez.
Aesculus--Ess kew lus: Horse-chestnut, Buckeye.
Aethionema--Eeth ee oh nee muh: Stone-cress.
Agapanthus (love-flower)--Ag ap panth us: Lily-of-th-Nile.
Agathis (ball of thread: for clustered flowers)--Ag ath iss: Dammar-pine.
Agave (admirable)--Ag gay vee.
Ageratum (not-growing-old)--Aj er ray tum.
Aglaonema (bright-thread)--Ag lay oh nee muh.
Agrimonia--Ag rim moh nee uh: Agrimony.
Agrostemma (field-garland)--Ag ros stem uh: (See Lychnis).
Agrostis (field, as to habitat)--Ag ross tiss: Bent-grass.
Ailanthus--Ay lanth us: Tree of Heaven.
Ajuga (not-yoked, as to calyx)--Aj yew guh: Bugleweed.
Akebia--Ak kee bee uh.
Albizzia (for an Italian family, the Albizzi)--Al biz ee uh.
Alchemilla--Al kem mill uh: Ladys-mantle.
Aletris--Al et riss: Star-grass.
Alisma--Al liz muh: Water-plantain.
Allamanda (for Swiss scientist, J.N.S. Allamand)--Al lam mand uh.
Allium--Al lee um.
Allonia--Al lee oh nee uh: Umbrella-wort.
Alnus (the classical name)--Al nus: Alder.
Alocasia--Al oh kay zee uh.
Aloe--Al loh ee.
Alonsoa (for Spaniard Alonzo Zanoni)--Al lon zoh uh.
Alopecurus (fox-tail)--Al oh pee kew rus: Meadow-foxtail.
Alpinia (for Italian botanist Prosper Alpinus)--Al pin ee uh.
Alsophila (grove-loving)--Al soff il uh: Tree-fern.
Alstroemeria (for Baron Alstroemer)--Al strem meer ee uh: Alstremeria.
Alternanthera (alternate-flowers)--Al ter nanth er uh.
Alyssum--Al liss um: Alyssum, Mad-wort.
Amaranthus (unfading)--Am ar ranth us: Amaranth.
Amarcrinum (for Amaryllis and Crinum)--Am ar krye num.
Amaryllis--Am ar rill iss.
Amelanchier--Am el lank ee uh: Shad-bush.
Amellus (for river Mella)--Am mell us.
Amianthium--Am ee anth ee um.
Ammobium (living-in-sand)--Am moh bee um: Winged Everlasting.
Amomum--Am moh mum.
Amorpha (formless)--Am morf uh: False-indigo.
Amorphophallus (irregularly-phallus-formed)--Am mor foh fal lus.
Ampelopsis (vine-like)--Am pel lop siss.
Amphicome (for hairy seeds)--Am fik om ee.
Amsonia (for physician Charles Amson)--Am soh nee uh.
Anacampseros--An ak kamp ser oss.
Anacardium (for heart-shaped nut)--An ak kard ee um: Cashew.
Anacyclus--An ass sye klus.
Anagallis (delighting)--An ag gal liss: Pimpernel.
Ananas--An nan ass: Pineapple.
Anaphalis--An naff al iss.
Anchusa (for a skin paint)--An kew suh: Alkanet.
Andira--An dye ruh: Angelin-tree.
Andromeda (for mythical Andromeda)--An drom ed uh: Bog-rosemary.
Androsace--An dross ass ee: Rock-jasmine.
Anemone (wind)--An nem on ee: Anemone, Windflower.
Anemonella (little-Anemone)--An em on nell uh: Rue-anemone.
Anemopsis (Anemone-like)--An em mop siss: Yerba Mansa.
Anethum--An neeth um: Dill.
Angelica (lovely)--An jell ik uh.
Angelonia--An jel loh nee uh.
Angraecum--An greek um.
Anguloa (for Spanish Don Francisco de Angulo)--An gew loh uh.
Anigozanthos ( expanded-flower)--An ig oh zanth os.
Ammona--An non nuh.
Anoda--An noh duh.
Antennaria (antennae-like, as to some parts)--An ten nay ree uh: Everlasting.
Anthemis--Anth em iss: Chamomile.
Anthericum (flower-hedge)--Anth ehr ik um.
Anthriscus--An thrisk us.
Anthurium (An thew ree um.
Anthyllis (downy-flowers)--An thill iss.
Antiaris--An tee ay riss: Upas-tree.
Antidesma--An tid dess muh: Bigmay.
Antigonon (opposite-angle, as to drooping flowers)--An tig oh non.
Antirrhinum (snout-flower)--An tihr rye num: Snapdragon.
Aphelandra--Af fel land ruh.
Apios (for Pear-shaped tuber)--Ap pee os: Ground-nut.
Apium--Ay pee um: Celery.
Aplectrum (without-spur)--Ap plek trum: Putty-root, Adam-and-Eve.
Apocynum--Ap oh sye num: Dogbane.
Aponogeton (for its aquatic habit)--Ap poh noh jeet on.
Aporocactus (impenetrable-Cactus)--Ap or oh kak tus.
Aptenia--Ap teen ee uh.
Aquilegia (water-drawer; possibly, by an earlier name, for an eagle)--Ak wil leej ee uh: Columbine.
Arabis--Ar ab iss: Rock-cress.
Arachis--Ar ak iss: Peanut.
Aralia--Ar ray lee uh.
Araucaria--Ar raw kay ree uh.
Araujia--Ar raw jee uh.
Arbutus--Arbyew tus.
Archontophoenix (majestic-Phoenix)--Ark on toh fee nix: King Palm.
Arctostaphylos (bear-grape)--Ark toh staff il os: Bearberry, Manzanita.
Arctotis (bear's ear)--Ark toh tiss.
Ardisia (pointed, as to stamens)--Ard diz ee uh.
Areca--Ar reek uh.
Arecastrum--Ar ek kast rum: Queen Palm.
Aregelia (for botanist C. von Regel)--Ar rej eel ee uh.
Arenaria (for sand)--Ar ren nay ree uh: Sandwort.
Arethusa (for mythical nymph)--Ar eth thew suh.
Argemone (for an eye disease for which this may have been remedial)--Ar jem on ee: Prickly-poppy
Arygyreia (silvery, as to under-leaves)--Ar jih ree uh.
Aridaria--Ar rid day ree uh.
Ariocarpus--Ar ree oh karp us.
Arisaema--Ar riss seem uh.
Aristea (stiff, as to leaf points)--Ar riss tee uh.
Aristolochia--Ar rist oh loh kee uh: Birthwort.
Aristotelia (for Aristotle)--Ar rist oh teel ee uh.
Armeria-Arm meer ee uh: Thrift, Sea-pink.
Arnebia--Arn nee bee uh.
Arnica--Arn ik uh.
Aronia--Ar roh nee uh: Chokeberry.
Artabotrys (suspended-grapes)--Art tab ot riss: Tail-grape.
Artemisia (for wife of Mausolus)--Art em miz ee uh: Wormwood.
Arthropodium (jointed-foot)--Arth roh poh dee um.
Artocarpus (bread-fruit)--Art oh karp us: Bread-fruit.
Arum--Ay rum.
Aruncus (the classical name)--Ar runk us: Goats-beard.
Arundinaria--Ar run din nay ree uh.
Asarum--Ass uh rum: Wild Ginger.
Asclepias--Ass kleep ee ass: Milkweed.
Ascyrum--Ass sye rum.
Asimina--Ass sim in uh.
Asparagus--Ass par ag us.
Asperula (roughish, as to leaves)--Ass pehr yew luh: Woodruff.
Asphodeline--Ass foh del lye nee: Jacob's rod.
Asphodelus--Ass fod el us: Asphodel.
Aspidistra (small-round-shield, for shape of stigma)--Ass pid dist ruh.
Asplenium (not-the-spleen, as to medicinal use)--Ass pleen ee um: Spleenwort.
Aster (star)--Ass ter.
Astilbe (not-shining)--Ass till bee.
Astragalus--Ass trag al us: Milk Vetch.
Astrantia (star-like, as to umbels)--Ass trant ee uh: Masterwort.
Astrophytum (Star-plant)--Ass troff it um: Star Cactus.
Athyrium--Asth theer ee um: see Asplenium.
Atraphaxis--At ruh fax iss.
Atriplex--At rip plex: Saltbush.
Aubrietia (for French painter Claude Aubriet)--Aw bree she uh.
Aucuba--Aw kew buh.
Aureolaria--Aw ree ol lay ree uh.
Averrhoa (for Arabian philosopher Averrhoes)--Av er roh uh.
Azalea--Az zay lee uh: see Rhododendron.
Azara (for Spanish naturalist Azara)--Az zar uh.

B

Babiana--Bab ee ay nuh.
Baccharis--Bak Kar iss.
Bactris (cane)--Bak triss.
Baeria (for Estonian naturalist Karl von Baer)--Behr ee uh: Goldenfields.
Balsamorhiza--Bol sam or rye zuh: Balsam-root.
Bambusa--Bam bew suh: bamboo.
Bandsia (for English naturalist Sir Joseph Banks)--Banks ee uh.
Baptisia (a-dipping, as for color dyeing)--Bap tiz ee uh: False or Wild Indigo.
Barbarea (for Saint Barbara)--Barb uh ree uh: Winter-cress, Upland-cress.
Barklya (for Australian Sir Henry Barkly)--Bark lee uh.
Barleria (for botanist J. Barrelier)--Bar leer ee uh.
Barosma (heavy-smell)--Bar roz muh.
Barringtomia (for English judge and naturalist Daines Barrington)--Bar ring toh nee uh.
Bauera (for Francis and Ferdinand Bauer, botanical painters)--Bahw er uh.
Bauhinia (for Swiss botanists Jean and Gaspard Bauhin)--Boh hin ee uh.
Beaucarnea--Boh karn ee uh.
Befaria--Bef fay ree uh: Tar-flower.
Begonia (for Michel Begon)--Beg goh nee uh.
Belamcanda--Bel am kan duh.
Bellis (pretty)--Bell iss.
Bellium (for its likeness to Bellis)--Bel lee um.
Beloperone (for arrow-shaped anthers)--Bel op er oh nee.
Benzoin (perfume, as to resin)--Ben zoin: see preferred Lindera.
Berberidopsis (Berberis-like)--Ber ber id dop siss.
Berberis--Ber ber iss: Barberry.
Berchemia--Ber kee mee uh.
Bergenia (for German botanist K.A. von Bergen)--Ber jee nee uh.
Bertolonia (for Italian botanist Antonio Bertoloni)--Ber toh loh nee uh.
Beta--Bee tuh: Beet.
Betula--Bet yew luh: Birch.
Bidens (two-teeth, as for its awns or bristles)--Bye denz: Bur-marigold, Tickseed.
Bifrenaria (twice-strapped, as to pollen)--Bye fren nay ree uh.
Bignonia (for French Abbe Jean Paul Bignon)--Big noh nee uh: Trumpet-flower (see also Campsis).
Billardiera (for botanist J.J. Labillar-diere)--Bil lard deer uh.
Billbergia (for Swiss botanist J.G. Billberg)--Bil burr jee uh.
Biscutella--Bye skew tell uh.
Bixa--Bix uh: Annatto.
Blandfordia (for the Marquis of Blandford)--Bland ford ee uh.
Blechnum--Blek num.
Bletia (for Spanish pharmacist Luis Blet)--Blee tee uh: see Bletilla.
Blighia (for Wm. Bligh, British mariner)--Blye gee uh: Akee.
Bloomeria (for American botanist H.G. Bloomer)--Bloo meer ee uh: Golden-stars.
Blumenbachia (for Dr. J.F. Blumenbach)--Bloo men bahk ee uh.
Boehmeria (for German botanist G.R. Boehmer)--Boh meer ee uh.
Boltonia (for English botanist James Bolton)--Bolt toh nee uh.
Bomarea (for French naturalist J.C. V. de Bomare)--Boh may ree uh.
Borago--Boh ray go.
Boronia (for Francesco Borone)--Boh roh nee uh.
Botrychium (for grape-like parts)--Boh trik ee um: Grape-fern, Moonwort.
Bougainvillea (for French navigator L.A. de Bougainville)--Boog in vill ee uh.
Boussingaultia (for French chemist J.B.J.D. Boussingault)--Boo sin gol tee uh: Madeira- or Mignonette-vine.
Bouvardia (for French physician Chas. Bouvard)--Boo vard ee uh.
Boykinia (for one Dr. Boykin)--Boy kin ee uh.
Brachichyton (for overlapping hairs and scales)--Brak ik kye ton: Bottle-tree.
Brachycome (short-hair, as to tufts)--Brak kik oh mee: Swan River Daisy.
Brachipodium (short-foot)--Bak ip poh dee um.
Brachysema (short-standard, as to flower)--Brak iss seem uh.
Brassavola (for Venetian botanist A.M. Brassavola)--Brass av voh luh.
Brassia (for American botanist William Brass)--Brass ee uh.
Brassica (Latin for Cabbage)--Brass ik uh: The Cole crops and Mustards.
Brevoortia (for naturalist J.C. Breevoort)--Brev voor tee uh: Floral Fire-cracker.
Brickellia (for one Dr. John Brickel)--Brik kell ee uh.
Brodiaea (for Scottish botanist J.J. Brodie)--Broh dih ee uh: Brodiea.
Bromelia (for Swedish botanist Olaf Bromel)--Broh mee lee uh.
Bromus (classical name for Oats)--Broh mus: Brome-grass.
Broussonetia (for French naturalist Pierre Broussonet)--Broo soh nee she uh: Paper-mulberry.
Browallia (for Swedish botanist J. Browall)--Broh wal lee uh.
Brownea (for one Patrick Brown)--Brown ee uh.
Bruckenthalia (for an Austrian, von Bruckenthal)--Brook en thay lee uh: Spike-heath.
Brunella--Broo nell uh: see Prunella.
Brunfelsia (for German botanist Otto Brunfels)--Brunn fel zee uh.
Brunnera--Brunn er uh.
Brunsvigia (for the Duke of Brunswick)--Brunz vij ee uh.
Bryonia (to sprout, as of annual growth of tuber)--Brye oh nee uh: Briony.
Bryophyllum (sprouting-leaf)--Brye oh fill um: see Kalanchoe.
Buckleya (for American botanist S.B. Buckley)--Buck lee uh.
Buddleia (for English botanist Adam Buddle)--Bud lee uh: Butterfly-bush.
Bulbine (classical word for bulb)--Bulb bye nee.
Bulbinella (diminutive of Bulbine)--Bulb in nell uh.
Bulbocodium (woolly bulb)--Bulb oh koh dee um.
Bulbophyllum (bulb-leaf)--Bulb oh fill um.
Bumelia--Bew mee lee uh: Chittam-wood, False-buckthorn.
Buphthalmum (ox-eye)--Bewf thal mum: Ox-eye.
Bupleurum--Bew ploor um: Thorough-wax.
Butomus (ox-cut, as too sharp for forage)--Bew toh mus: Flowering-rush.
Buxus--Bux us: Box.
Byrnesia (for E.M Byrnes)--Burn zee uh: see Graptopetalum.
C

Caesalpinia (for Italian botanist Andreas Caesalpinus)--Sez al pin ee uh.
Caiophora--Kay off or uh.
Cajanus--Kaj ay nus: Pigeon-pea.
Caladium--Kal lay dee um.
Calandrinia (for Swiss botanist Jean Calandrini)--Kal an drin ee uh.
Calanthe (beautiful-flower)--Kal lanth ee.
Calathea (basket, as to shape of flower)--Kal ath ee uh.
Calceolaria (little-shoe, as to shape of flower)--Kal see oh lay ree uh: Slipperwort.
Calendula (for the calends, the first of the month when plant was supposed to bloom)--Kal lend yew luh.
Calimeris (beautiful-parts)--Kal lim er iss.
Calla--Kal luh: Water-arum, Wild Calla.
Calliandra (beautiful-stamens)--Kal lee and ruh.
Callicarpa (beautiful-fruit)--Kal lik karp uh: Beauty-berry.
Calliopsis--Kal lee op siss: see Coreopsis.
Callirhoe (beautiful-flow)--Kal lihr oh ee: Poppy-mallow.
Callistemon (beautiful-thread, as to color of stamens)--Kal liss steem on: Bottle-brush.
Callistephus (beautiful-crown)--Kal liss tef us: China Aster.
Callitris (beauty)--Kal lye triss: Cypress-Pine.
Calluna (to sweep clean, to beautify)--Kal lew nuh: Heather.
Calocephalus (beautiful-head, as to flower)--Kal oh seff al us.
Calochortus (beautiful-grass, as to foliage)--Kal oh kort us: Mariposa-lily.
Calodendrum (beautiful-tree)--Kal oh den drum: Cape Chestnut.
Calonyction (beautiful-at-night)--Kal oh nik tee on: Moonflower.
Calophaca (beautiful-Lentil)--Kal off ak uh.
Calopogon (beautiful-beard, as to fringed flower lip)--Kal oh oh gon.
Calothamnus (beautiful-bush)--Kal oh tham nus.
Caltha (the classical name)--Kalth uh: (includes Marsh Marigold).
Calycanthus (for flower with conspicuous calyx)--Kal ik kanth us: Sweet-shrub.
Calypso (for mythical goddess)--Kal lips oh.
Camassia--Kam mass ee uh: Camass.
Camellia (after Georg Kamel or Camelli)--Kam mell ee uh.
Camoensia (for Portugese poet Louis Camoens)--Kam oh en see uh.
Campanula (little bell)--Kam pan yew luh.
Campsidium (Campsis-like: see below)--Kamp sid ee um.
Campsis (curved, as to stamens)--Kamp siss: Trumpet-creeper.
Camptosorus (for bent or irregular parts)--Kamp toh sohr us: Walking-fern.
Campylotropis (for its curved parts)--Kam pye lot roh piss.
Cananga--Kan nan guh.
Canarina (for Canary Islands)--Kan ar rye nuh.
Candollea (for Swiss botanist A.P. de Candolle)--Kan dol lee uh.
Canella (little-reed)--Kan nell uh: Wild Cinnamon.
Canistrum (reed-basket)--Kan nist rum.
Canna (the classical name)--Kan nuh.
Cantua--Kan tew uh.
Capparis (the classical name)--Kap par iss: Caper-bush.
Capsicum (box or chest, as to fruit form)--Kap sik um: Red-pepper.
Caragana--Kar ag gay nuh: Pea-tree, Pea-shrub.
Cardamine--Kard dam in ee: Bitter-cress.
Cardiospermum (heart-seed)--Kard ee oh sperm um: Heart-seed.
Carduus (classical name of Thistle)--Kard yew us: Plumeless Thistle.
Carex--Kay rex: Sedge.
Carica--Kay rik uh: Papaya.
Carissa-Kar riss uh.
Carlina--Kar lye nuh.
Carludovica (for Spanish Carlos IV and Maria Luisa)--Kar lew doh vye kuh.
Carmichaelia (for Scottish botanist Dougald Carmichael)--Kar mye keel ee uh.
Carpanthea (for Dr. William Carpenter)--Kar pen teer ee uh.
Carpinus--Kar pye nus: Hornbeam.
Carpobrotus--Kar poh broh tus.
Carthamus--Karth am us.
Carum (classical name to Caraway)--Kay rum.
Carya (classical name for Walnut tree)--Kay ree uh: Hickory.
Caryopteris (nut-wing, as to fruit calyx)--Kay ree op ter iss: Bluebeard.
Caryota (nut, as to fruit)--Kay ree oh tuh: Fish-tail Palm.
Cassia--Kass ee uh: Senna.
Cassinia--Kass ee uh: Senna.
Cassinia--Kass sin ee uh.
Cassiope (for mythical Cassiopeia)--Kass sye oh pee.
Castanea (the classical name)--Kast tay nee uh: Chestnut.
Castanopsis (Chestnut-like)--Kast an nop siss.
Castilleja (for Spanish botanist Castillejo)--Kast il lee yuh: Painted-cup.
Casuarina (for supposed resemblance of its twigs to cassowary feathers)--Kass yew uh rye nuh: Beefwood, She-oak, Australia-pine.
Catalpa--Kat tal puh.
Catananche--Kat an nan kee: Cupids-dart.
Catasetum (downward-bristle)--Kat ass see tum.
Catesbaca (for English naturalist Mark Catesby)--Kayts bee uh: Lily-thorn.
Catha--Kayth uh.
Cattleya (for English botanist William Cattley)--Kat lee uh.
Caulophyllum (stem-leaf)--Kaw loh fill um: Blue Cohosh.
Ceanothus (classical name for a Thistle)--See an nohth us.
Cecropia--Sek kroh pee uh.
Cedrela (from Cedrus, the Cedar, whose wood it resembles)--Seed ree luh.
Cedronella (diminutive of Cedrus, the Cedar, which it resembles as to odor)--Seed ron nell uh: Canary-balm.
Cedrus--Seed rus: Cedar.
Celastrus--Sel last rus.
Celmisia--Sel miz ee uh.
Celosia (burning, as to fiery color; or dry, as to lasting flowers)--Sel loh shee uh: Coxcomb.
Celsia (for Swedish botanist Olaf Celsius)--Sell see uh.
Celtis--Sell tiss: Hackberry.
Centaurea--Sen taw ree uh: (This large genus includes the Basket-flower, Dusty-miller, and Cornflower or Bachelors-button, and Knapweed).
Centaurium--Sen taw ree um: Centaury.
Centradenia (spur-gland, as of anthers)--Sen trad dee mee uh.
Centranthus (spur-flower)--Sen tranth us.
Centropogon (spur-beard, as to fringed stigma)--Sen troh poh gon.
Cephalanthus (spur-head, hence flowers in heads)--Sef al lanth us: Button-bush.
Cephalaria (head, as to flower clusters)--Sef al lay ree uh.
Cephalocereus (head-Cereus, for woolly top)--Sef al oh seer us.
Cephalotaxus (for Taxus- or Yew-like appearance and flowers in heads)--Sef al oh tax us: Plum-yew.
Cerastium (horned, as to shape of pod)--Ser rass tee um: Mouse-ear Chickweed.
Ceraptopteris (horned-Fern)--Ser at top ter iss: Water Fern, Floating Fern.
Ceratostigma (horned-stigma)--Ser at oh stig muh.
Ceratozamia (horned, as to scales; see Zamia)--Ser at oh zay mee uh.
Cercidiphyllum (Cercis-like leaf)--Ser sid if fill um: Katsura-tree.
Cercidium--Ser sid ee um.
Cercis--Ser siss: Redbud, Judas-tree.
Cercocarpus (for its long-tailed fruit)--Ser koh karp us: Mountain Mahogany.
Cereus--Seer ee us.
Cerinthe (beeswax, as in the flower)--Ser rinth ee: Honeywort.
Ceropegia (wax-fountain, as to flower appearance)--Ser oh peej ee uh.
Cestrum--Sest rum.
Chaenomeles (split-apple)--Kee nom el eez: Flowering Quince.
Chaenostoma (gaping-mouth, as to corolla)--Kee noss tom uh.
Chaerophyllum (scented-leaf)--Kee roh fill um: Chervil (one of two kinds).
Chamaecyparis (dwarf-Cypress, as to resemblance)--Kam ee sip ar iss: False-cypress.
Chamaedaphne (ground-Laurel, for its habit and evergreen leaves)--Kam ee daf nee: Leather-leaf.
Chamaedorea (dwarf-gift)--Kam ee doh ree uh.
Chamaelirum (dwarf-Lily)--Kam ee lihr ee um: Blazing Star, Fairywand.
Chamaerops (dwarf-shrub)--Kam mee rops.
Charieis (elegant)--Kay ree is.
Cheilanthes (lip-flower)--Kye lanth eez: Lip-fern.
Cheiranthus (hand-flower)--Kye ranth us: Wallflower (C. cheiri).
Chelidonium (for Swallow, at whose spring arrival time it flowers)--Kel id doh nee um: Celandine.
Chelone (tortoise)--Kee loh nee: Turtle-head.
Chenopodium (goose-foot)--Kee noh poh dee um: Goosefoot, Pigweed.
Chimaphila (winter-loving)--Kye maf fil uh: Pipsissewa.
Chimonanthus (winter-flower)--Kye moh nanth us.
Chiococca (snow-berry)--Kye oh kok uh: Snowberry.
Chiogenes (snow-products)--Kye oj en eez: Creeping Snowberry.
Chionanthus (snow-flower)--Kye oh nanth us: Fringe-tree.
Chionodoxa (snow-glory)--Kye oh nod dox uh: Glory-of-the-snow.
Chionophila (snow-loving)--Kye oh noff il uh.
Chironia (for mythical Chiron, a centaur)--Kye roh nee uh.
Chlorogalum (green-milk, for its juices)--Kloh rog al um.
Chlorophytum (green plant)--Kloh roff it um.
Choisya (for Swiss botanist J.D. Choisy)--Koy see uh or Shwah zee uh: Mexican-orange.
Chorizema--Koh riz em uh.
Chrysalidocarpus (chrysalis-fruit, as to shape)--Kriss al id oh karp us.
Chrysanthemum (gold-flower)--Kriss anth em um.
Chrysogonum (for its golden flowers)--Kriss og on um: Golden-star.
Chrysopsis (for yellow flower-heads)--Kriss op siss.
Chrysosplenium (golden-band)--Kriss oh spleen ee um: Golden Saxifrage.
Cibotium--Sib boh tee um.
Cicer--Sye ser: Chick-Pea.
Cichorium--Sik koh ree um: Chicory (C. intybus), Endive (C. endivia).
Cicuta--Sik kew tuh: Water-hemlock.
Cimicifuga (bug-repelling)--Sim iss siff yew guh: Bugbane.
Cineraria (for ash-colored down on leaves)--Sin er ray ree uh.
Cinnamomum--Sin am moh mum.
Circaea (for mythical Circe)--Ser see uh.
Cirsium--Ser shee um: Plumed Thistle.
Cissus (classical name for Ivy)--Siss us.
Cistus (rock-Rose)--Siss tus: Rock-rose.
Citharexylum (zither-wood)--Sith uh rex il um.
Citrullus (little-Citron)--Sit rull us: Watermelon (C. vulgaris.
Citrus--Sit rus: Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Tangerine and Bergamot are included in this genus.
Cladanthus (branch-flower)--Klad anth us.
Cladrastis (branch-brittle)--Klad rast iss: Yellow-wood.
Clarkia (for American explorer William Clark, of Lewis and Clark fame)--Klark ee uh.
Claytonia (for early American botanist John Clayton)--Klay toh nee uh: Spring Beauty.
Cleistocactus (closed-Cactus)--Klye stoh kak tus.
Clematis (brushwood, as to woody, twiggy effect)--Klem at iss: Clematis, Virgins-bower.
Cleome--Klee oh mee.
Clerodendron--Kleer oh den dron: (See preferred form below).
Clerodendrum--Kleer oh den drum: Glory-bower.
Clethra (ancient name for Alder)--Kleth ruh: White-alder.
Clianthus (glory-flower)--Klye anth us.
Clintonia (for N.Y. Governor DeWitt Clinton)--Klin toh nee uh.
Clitoria (closed-up)--Klye toh ree uh: Butterfly-pea.
Clivia (for the Duchess of Northumberland, of the Clive family)--Klye vee uh: Kafir-lily.
Clystostoma (beautiful-mouth)--Klye tost om uh.
Cnicus--Nye kus: Blessed Thistle.
Cobaea (for Spanish botanist B. Cobo)--Koh bee uh.
Coccolobis (seed-pod)--Kok kol oh biss.
Cocculus (little-seed)--Kok yew lus: Snail-seed.
Cocos (stone or berry, as to fruit form(--Koh koss: Coconut.
Codiaum--Koh dih ee um: Croton.
Codonopsis (bell-like, as to flower shape)--Koh don nop siss.
Coelogyne (hollow-pistil)--See loj in ee.
Coffea--Koff ee uh: Coffee.
Coix--Koh ix.
Colchicum (for ancient Colchis)--Kol chik um: Autumn-crocus.
Coleus (sheath, for manner in which stamens are joined)--Koh lee us.
Colletia (for French botanist Philibert Collet)--Kol lee shee uh.
Collinsia (for American botanist Zaccheus Collins)--Kol lin zee uh.
Collinsonia (for English naturalist Peter Collinson)--Kol in soh nee uh: Horse-balm, Citronella.
Collomia (glue, as to sticky character of seeds)--Kol loh mee uh.
Colocasia--Kol oh kay see uh: Elephants-ear.
Columnea (for Italian nature-writer Columna or Colluna)--Kol lum nee uh.
Colutea (a pod-bearing tree)--Kol lew tee uh: Bladder-senna.
Combretum (a rush)--Kom breet um.
Commelina (for Dutch botanist Kaspar Commelin)--Kom el lye nuh: Day-flower.
Comptonia (for English prelate Henry Compton)--Komp toh nee uh: Sweet-fern.
Conandron (for cone-shaped anthers)--Kon and ron.
Conicosia--Kon ik koh see uh.
Coniogramme--Koh nee oh gram ee.
Conium (from ancient name for Hemlock)--Koh nye um: poison-hemlock.
Conophytum (cone-plant)--Koh noff it um: Cone-plant.
Convallaria (valley)--Kon val lay ree uh: Lily-of-the-valley.
Convolvulus (rolling-around)--Kon volv yew lus: Bindweed.
Cooperia (for English gardener Joseph Cooper)--Koo peer ee uh: Rain-lily, Prairie-lily.
Copernicia (for the astronomer Copernicus)--Koh per nish ee uh.
Coprosma (dung-odor)--Kop ross muh.
Coptis (*cut, as to divided leaves)--Kop tiss: Gold-thread.
Corchorus (named for a bitter-tasting wild plant)--Kork oh rus.
Cordia (for German botanists E. and V. Cordus)--Kord ee uh.
Cordyline (club-like, as to roots)--Kor dil lye nee: Dracena.
Corema (for broom, as to its bushy aspect)--Koh reem uh.
Coreopsis (bug-like, as to its fruit)--Koh ree op siss: Tickseed.
Coriandrum--Koh ree and rum: Coriander (C. sativum).
Coriaria (for leather, as to use of its leaves in tanning)--Koh ree ay ree uh.
Cornus--Korn us: Dogwood.
Corokia--Kor roh kee uh.
Coronilla (little-crown, as to flowers)--Kor oh nil luh.
Coronopus--Koh ron oh puss: Wart-Cress.
Correa (for Portuguese botanist Correa de Serra)--Kor ree uh.
Cortusa (for Cortusus, botanist of Padua, Italy)--Kor too suh.
Corydalis (named for crested-lark, or the lark's spur that is suggested by the flower)--Koh rid al iss.
Corylopsis (Hazel-like)--Kor il lop siss: Winter-hazel.
Corylus--Kor il us: Hazelnut, Filbert.
Coryphantha (top-flower)--Kor if anth uh.
Corytholoma (for helmet shape of flowers)--Koh rith oh loh muh.
Cosmos (harmony)--Koz moss.
Costus--Kost us: Spiral Flag.
Cotinus--Kot in us.
Cotoneaster--Kot toh nee ass ter.
Cotyledon (cup-shaped hollow)--Kot il leed on.
Crambe--Kram bee.
Crassula (little-thick, as to thickish leaves)--Krass yew luh.
Crataegus (flowering-thorn)--Krat teeg us: Hawthorn, Thorn-apple.
Crepis--Kreep iss: Hawks-beard.
Crinodendron (Lily-tree)--Krye noh den dron.
Crinodonna (hybrid name for a hybrid plant, a cross between a Crinum and Amaryllis belladonna)--Krye noh don nuh.
Crinum (the Greek word for Lily)--Krye num.
Crithmum--Krith mum: Samphire.
Crocosmia (Saffron-odor)--Kroh koz mee uh: Coppertip.
Crocus (Saffron)--Kroh kus.
Crossandra (fringe-anther)--Kros sand ruh.
Crotalaria (for rattle, as to seeds in the pod)--Krot al lay ree uh: Rattle-box.
Crucianella (little-cross, as to leaf arrangement)--Kroo shee an nell uh: Crosswort.
Cryophytum (frigid-plant)--Krye off it um: Ice-plant.
Cryptanthus (hidden-flower)--Krip tanth us.
Cryptogramma (hidden-line, for the spore-cases under the fronds)--Krip toh gram muh: Rock-brake.
Cryptomeria (hidden-part, probably as to cone-seeds within bracts)--Krip toh meer ee uh.
Cryptostegia (hidden-roof, as to concealed crown in the corolla tube)--Krip toh steej ee uh: Rubber-vine.
Cryptostemma (hidden-crown)--Krip toh stem muh.
Cucumis--Kew kew muss: Muskmelon (C. melo), Cucumber (C. sativus).
Cucurbita--Kew kerb it uh: (This genus includes several species of Gourd, Pumpkin, and Squash.
Cuminum--Kew min um: Cumin.
Cunila--Kew nye luh: Maryland Dittany, Stone-mint.
Cunninghamia (after R. Cunningham, English physician and plant collector)--Kun ning ham ee uh: China-fir.
Cuphea (hump, as to a protuberance on calyx-tube)--Kew fee uh.
Cupressus--Kew press us: Cypress.
Curculigo (for curculio, a snout beetle or weevil, as to form of ovary)--Kur kew lig oh.
Cyanotis (blue, as to petals)--Sye an noh tiss.
Cyathea (cup, for shape of fronds)--Sye ath ee uh: Tree-fern.
Cycas (inaccurately derived from the old Greek name for Doom Palm)--Sye kass: (A genus of a family of plants called Cycads).
Cyclamen--Sik lam en.
Cyclanthera (circle-anther)--Sik lanth er uh.
Cyclophorus (circle-bearer, perhaps alluding to round spore-cases)--Sye kloff or us: Felt-fern.
Cycnoches (Swan-neck, as to shape of column)--Sik noh keez: Swan Orchid.
Cydonia--Sye doh nee uh: Quince. (For the Flowering or Japanese Quince, often listed under Cydonia, see Chaenomeles).
Cymbalaria--Sim bal lay ree uh.
Cymbidium (small-cup, as to shape of lip)--Sim bid ee um.
Cymbopogon (boat-beard, as to boat-shaped bracts)--Sim boh poh gon.
Cyanchum (dog collar)--Sin nan kum.
Cynara (Artichoke)--Sin er uh.
Cynoglossum (dog-tongue)--Sin oh gloss um: Hounds-tongue.
Cypella--Sye pel luh.
Cyperus--Sye peer us: Galingale, Umbrella-plant (C. alternifolius).
Cyphomandra (hump-male, for its hump-shaped anthers)--Sye foh mand ruh.
Cypripedium (Venus-slipper)--Sip rip peed ee um: Lady-slipper.
Cyrilla (for Italian physician Domenico Cirillo or Cyrillo)--Sihr ril luh: Southern Leatherwood.
Cyrtanthus (curved-flower)--Ser tanth us.
Cyrtomium (curved, as to leaflets)--Ser toh mee um.
Cyrtopodium (curved-foot, as to shape of lip)--Ser toh poh dee um.
Cystopteris (bladder-feather)--Siss top ter iss: Bladder-fern.
Cytisus--Sit iss us.

D

Dabaicia (Irish name, for St. Dabeoc's Heath)--Dab oh eesh uh: Irish-heath.
Dacrydium (little tear, as to gummy exudation)--Dak rid ee um.
Dahlia (for Swedish botanist Andreas Dahl)--Dahl yuh.
Dais--Day iss.
Dalbergia (for Swedish naturalist Nils Dalberg)--Dal burr jee uh.
Dalibarda (for French botanist Thomas Dalibard)--Dal ib bard uh.
Danae (for mythical mother of Perseus)--Day nuh ee: Alexandrian-laurel.
Daphne (for mythical nymph who escaped from Apollo by being turned into a Laurel-tree)--Daff nee.
Daphniphyllum (Laurel-leaf: see above)--Daf nif fill um.
Darlingtonia (after botanical writer William Darling)--Dar ling toh nee uh: California Pitcher-Plant (D. californicus).
Dasylirion (thick-Lily, as to trunk)--Dass il lihr ee on: Sotol.
Datura--Dat tew ruh.
Daucus--Daw kus: Carrot.
Davallia (for Swiss botanist E. Davall)--Dav val lee uh.
Davidia (for French missionary-botanist Armand David)--Dav vid ee uh: Dove-tree.
Decaisnia (for French botanist Joseph Decaisne)--Dek kay nee uh.
Decodon (ten-tooth)--Dek oh don: Water Willow, Swamp Loosestrife.
Decumaria (for its ten-part flowers)--Dek yew may ree uh.
Delonix--Del lon ix: Royal Poinciana (D. regia).
Delosperma (visible-seed)--Dee loh sperm uh.
Delphinium (dolphin, referringto shape of nectary)--Del fin ee um: Larkspur.
Dendrobium (tree-life, for its growth without soil, as in trees)--Den droh bee um.
Dendrochilum (tree-lip, for its epiphytic growth, as in trees, and the lip-like parts of the flowers)--Den droh kye lum.
Dendromecon (tree-Poppy)--Den droh mee kon: Bush-poppy, Tree-poppy.
Dennstaedtia (for German botanist A.W. Dennstaedt)--Den stet ee uh: Cup-fern.
Dentaria (pertaining-to-the-teeth, for root form)--Den tay ree uh: Tooth-wort.
Desmanthus (bundle-flower)--Des manth us.
Desmodium (chain-like, for its jointed pods)--Des moh dee um: Tick Trefoil, Tick Clover.
Deutzia (for Dutchman Johann van der Deutz)--Dewt see uh.
Dianella (diminutive of Diana, mythical goddess)--Dye an nell uh.
Dianthus (Zeus-flower)--Dye anth us: Pink.
Diapensia--Dye ap pen see uh.
Diascia (to adorn)--Dye ass see uh.
Dicentra (two-spur, as to flowers)--Dye sent ruh: Bleeding-heart (D. spectabilis).
Dichorisandra (combination word referring to its two groups or series of anthers)--Dye kor iss and ruh.
Dicksonia (for English botanist James Dickson)--Dik soh nee uh.
Dicranostigma (two-headed-stigma)--Dye kray noh stig muh.
Dictamnus--Dik tam nus: Dittany, Fraxinella, Gas-plant, Burning-bush.
Dictyosperma (netted-seed)--Dik tee oh sperm uh: Princess Palm.
Dieffenbachia (for German naturalist E. Dieffenbach)--Deef en bak ee uh.
Dierama (funnel, as to shape of flower)--Dye er ray muh.
Diervilla (for French surgeon Dierville)--Dye er vil luh: Bush-noneysuckle.
Digitalis--Dij it tay liss: Foxglove.
Dimorphotheca (for its two-formed seed-cases)--Dye mor foh theek uh: Cape-Marigold.
Dionaea (for mythical Venus)--Dye oh nee uh: Venus Fly-trap.
Dioscorea (for Greek herbalist Dioscorides)--Dye os kos ree uh: Yam.
Diosma (divine-odor)--Dye oz muh.
Diospyros (Zeus-grain, for its edible fruit)--Dye oss pihr os: Persimmon.
Diotis (two-ear, for two ears at base of corolla)--Dye oh tiss: Cottonweed.
Dipelta (two-shield, for two shield-like flower bracts)--Dye pelt uh.
Diphylleia (two-leaf, for its two unusual leaf forms)--Dif fil lee uh: Umbrella-leaf (D. cymosa).
Dipladenia(double-gland, as to nectaries)--Dip lad deen ee uh.
Diplazium (two-fold)--Dip lay zee um.
Diplotaxis (double arrangement, presumably of some parts)--Dip loh tax iss: Rocket.
Dipsacus--Dip suh kus: Teasel.
Dipteronia (double-winged, as to fruits)--Dip ter roh nee uh.
Dirca (named for a fountain near ancient Thebes)--Dirk uh: Leatherwood.
Disa--Dye suh.
Discocactus (disk-Cactus)--Disk oh kak tus.
Disocactus(two-formed-Cactus)--Dye soh kak tus.
Disphyma (two-nodule, as to tubercles of fruit cells)--Dis fye muh.
Disporum (double-seed, as to two-ovuled cells)--Dis poh rum: Fairy Bells.
Dizygotheca (for its doubled anther cells)--Dye zye goh theek uh: False-aralia.
Dodecatheon--Doh dek kayth ee on: Shooting-star, American Cowslip.
Dodonaea (for Dutch botanist Rembert Dodoens)--Doh doh nee uh.
Dolichos--Dol ik oss: Hyacinth-bean.
Doodia (for English botanist Samuel Doody)--Doo dee uh.
Doronicum--Doh ron ik um: Leopards-bane.
Dorotheanthus (gift-of-the-gods-flower)--Dor oth ee anth us.
Doryanthes (spear-flower)--Dor ee anth eez: Spear-lily.
Dorycnium--Dor rik nee um.
Douglasia (for Scottish botanist David Douglas)--Dug lass ee uh.
Dovyalis--Doh vee ay liss.
Downingia (for American horticulturist A.J. Downing)--Down inj ee uh.
Doxantha (glory-flower)--Dox anth uh.
Draba--Dray buh.
Dracaena (she-dragon)--Dras seen uh: Dracena.
Dracocephalum (dragon-head)--Dray koh sef al um: Dragonhead.
Dracunculus (little dragon)--Dray kunk yew lus.
Drimys (acrid, as to flavor of bark)--Drye miss.
Drosanthemum (dew-flower)--Dros anth em um.
Drosera (dewy)--Dross er uh: Sundew.
Dryas (mythology: dryad, wood-nymph)--Drye ass.
Dryopteris (Oak-feather, hence Fern)--Drye opp ter iss: Wood-fern.
Duchesnea (for French botanist A.N. Duchesne)--Dew kess nee uh: Indian-strawberry, Mock-strawberry.
Duranta (for Roman herbalist C. Durante)--Dew rant uh.
Dyckia (for German botanist Salm-Dyck)--Dik ee uh.

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Other Genera:
2) E-L
3) M-P
4) Q-Z