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

M

Maackia (for Russian naturalist Richard Maack)--Mahk ee uh
Machaeranthera (sword-flower)--Mak ee ranth er ur: Tahoka daisy
Machaerocereus (sword-cereus, as to central spines)--Mak ee roh seer ee us
Macleaya (for Alexander Macleay)--Mak lay uh: plume-poppy or tree-celandine is M. cordata
Maclura (for American geologist William Maclure)--Mak loor uh: osage-orange
Macradenia (large-glands, as to pseudo-bulbs)--Mak rad deen ee uh
Macrozamia (large-zamia)--Mak roh zay mee uh
Maddenia (after Major E. Madden, botanical writer)--Mad deen ee uh
Madia--May dee uh: tarweed
Magnolia (for French botanist Pierre Magnol)--Mag nohl ee uh
Mahernia--Mah hern ee uh: honeybell
Mahonia (for American botanist Bernard McMahon)--Mah hoh nee uh
Maianthemum (May-flower)--May anth em um
Majorana--Maj or ray nuh: sweet marjoram (M. hortensis)
Malacocarpus (soft-fruit)--Mal ak oh karp us
Malacothrix (soft hair, as to foliage of some species)--Mal ak koth rix
Malcomia (for English horticulturist William Malcolm)--Mal koh mee uh: Malcolm-stock
Mallotus (fleecy, as to seed capsule)--Mal loh tus
Malope (classical name for mallow)--Mal oh pee
Malpighia (for Italian anatomist Marcellow Malpighi)--Mal pig ee uh
Malus (a classical name)--May lus: apple
Malva--Mal vuh: mallow
Malvastrum (mallow-like)--Mal vast rum: false-mallow
Mammillaria (for nipple-like protuberances)--Mam il lay ree uh
Mandevilla (for English diplomat Henry J. Mandeville)--Man dev vill uh: Chilean-jasmine
Manettia--Man net ee uh.
Manfreda--Man freed uh.
Mangifera (Mango-bearing)--Man jiff er uh: mango.
Manihot--Man ee hot.
Maranta (for medieval physician Bartolommeo Maranta)--Mar rant uh: arrow-root (M. arundinacea).
Marattia (for Italian botanist J. L. Maratti)--Mar rat tee uh.
Margyricarpus (pearly-fruit)--Mar gihr ik karp us: pearl-fruit.
Marrubium--Mar roo bee um: hoarhound, horehound.
Marsdenia (for English author W. Marsden)--Marz deen ee uh.
Marsilea (for Italian naturalist Luigi Marsigli)-Mar sill ee uh: pepperwort.
Masdevallia (for Spanish botanist J. Masdeval)--Mas dev vall ee uh.
Mathiola (for Italian physician P. A. Mattioli)--Math eye oh luh: (The Stocks are included in this genus.
Matricaria (mother, for supposed medicinal uses)--Mat rik kay ree uh: matricary.
Maurandia (for Spanish botanist Maurandy)--Maw ran dee uh.
Maxillaria (jaw-bone, as to mentum or projecting part of orchids)--Max il lay ree uh.
Maytenus--May teen us: mayten.
Mazus--May zus.
Meconopsis (Poppy-like)--Mee kon nop siss.
Medeola--Med dee oh luh: Indian cucumber-root.
Medicago--Med ik kay goh: medick.
Medinilla (for Spanish official D. J. de Medinilla y Pineda)--Med in nill uh.
Mediocactus (intermediate-cactus)--Mee dee oh kak tus.
Melaleuca (black-white, as to black trunk and white branches)--Mel al lew kuh: bottle-brush.
Melampodium (for mythical seer Melampus)--Mel am poh dee um.
Melanthium (black-flower, as to color of faded perianth)--Mel anth ee um: bunch-flower.
Melastoma (black-mouth, as to staining quality of its fruit)--Mel last om uh.
Melia--Mee lee uh: bead-tree.
Melianthus (honey-flower)--Mel ee anth us: honey-bush.
Melica (honey, for attractiveness to bees)--Mel ik uh: melic-grass.
Melilotus (honey-lotus, as to scent attractive to bees)--Mel il loh tus: melilot, sweet clover.
Meliosma (honey-odor, as to flowers)--Mel ee oss muh.
Melissa (bee, which it attracts)--Mel liss uh: balm.
Melittis (bee, which it attracts)--Mel lit tiss.
Melocactus (melon-cactus, as to shape of plants)--Mel oh kak tus.
Melothria (from the classical word for a wild vine)--Mel oth ree uh.
Menispermum (moon-seed)--Men iss sperm um: moonseed.
Menodora--Men oh doh ruh.
Mentha--Menth uh: mint.
Mentzelia (for German physician and botanist Christian Mentzel)--Ment zeel ee uh.
Menyanthes (month-flower, perhaps denoting period of bloom)--Men ee anth eez: bogbean, buckbean.
Menziesia (for Scottish naturalist Archibald Menzies)--Men zee zee uh.
Meratia--Mer ray shee uh: see preferred genus Chimonanthus.
Mercurialis (for mythical Mercury)--Mer kew ree ay liss: Herb-mercury
Mertensia (for German botanist F. C. Mertens)--Mer ten see uh: Bluebells
Mesembryanthemum (midday-flower, as to flowers, which open in sun, close in shadow)--Mes em bree anth em um: Fig-marigold
Mespilus--Mess pil us: Medlar.
Metrosideros (tree-heart-iron)--Mee troh sid deer os: (Sometimes called "Iron-tree").
Meum--Mee um.
Michelia (for Italian botanist Piero Micheli)--Mye keel ee uh.
Miconia (for Spanish physician D. Micon)--Mye koh nee uh.
Microcitrus (little-Citrus)--Mye kroh sit rus: Finger-lime (M. australasica).
Microcycas (little-Cycas)--Mye kroh sye kas: Corcho.
Microglossa (little-tongue, as to its short ray-petals)--Mye kroh gloss uh.
Microlepia (little-scale, as to the covers of the spore cases)--Mye kroh leep ee uh.
Micromeria (small-part, as to flowers)--Mye kroh meer ee uh.
Mikania (for Bohemian botanist J. C. Mikan)--Mik kay nee uh: Climbing Hempweed.
Milla (for Spanish gardener J. Milla)--Mill uh: Mexican Star.
Miltonia (for Viscount Milton)--Mil toh nee uh.
Mimosa--Mim moh suh.
Mimulus (little mime, as to its mask-like corolla)--Mim yew lus: Monkey-flower.
Mirabilis (wonderful)--Mihr rab il iss: (Four-o'clock or Marvel-of-Peru is M. jalapa).
Miscanthus (stem-flower)--Mis kanth os: Eulalia.
Mitchella (for American botanist John Mitchell)--Mit chell uh: Partridge-berry, Twin-berry, Squaw-berry.
Mitella (little-cap, as to form of young pods)--Mit tell uh: Bishops-cap.
Mitraria (for cap-shaped pods)--Mit ray ree uh.
Molopospermum (striped-seed)--Mol op oh sperm um.
Moltkia (for Danish Count Joachim Moltke)--Molt kee uh.
Molucella (for the Moluccas or Spice Islands, where supposedly native)--Mol yew sell uh: (Shell-flower or Molucca-balm is M. laevis).
Momordica (from word for bite, as to bitten-looking seeds)--Mom mord ik uh.
Monarda (for Spanish physician-botanist N. Monardes)--Mon nard uh: Horse-mint.
Monardella (diminutive of Monarda, above)--Mon ar dell uh.
Moneses (lone-delight, as to singly borne flowers)-Mon nee seez: One-flowered Shinleaf.
Monotropa (lone-turn, for solitary flower seeking the light--as in tropism)--Mon not rop uh: (M. uniflora is Indian Pipe).
Monstera--Mon uh.
Montanoa (for Montano, Mexican statesman)--Mon tan noh uh.
Montia (for Italian botanist Giuseppe Monti)--Mont ee uh.
Monvillea--Mon vill ee uh.
Moraea (for Johannes Moraeus, father-in-law of Linnaeus)--Moh ree uh.
Morinda (contraction of Morus indica)--Moh rind uh.
Moringa--Moh rin guh: Horse-radish-tree.
Morus--Moh rus: Mulberry.
Moscharia (musky-scented)--Mos kay ree uh.
Muehlenbeckia (for Alsatian physician H. G. Muehlenbeck)--Mew len bek ee uh: Wire-plant.
Murraea (for Swedish botanist Johann Murray)--Muh ree uh: Orange-jessamine (M. exotica).
Musa--Mew zuh: Banana.
Myoporum (close-pore, as to resinous leaf dots)--Mye op or um.
Myosotidium (Myosotis-like)--Mye oh soh tid ee um.
Myosotis (mouse-ear, as to leaf shape)--Mye oh soh tiss: Forget-me-not.
Myrica--Mye rik uh.
Myricaria (Myrica-like)--Mye rik kay ree uh: False-tamarisk.
Myriophyllum (myriad-leaf)--Mihr ee oh fill um: Water-milfoil.
Myrrhis (the classical name)--Mihr iss: Myrrh: (Sweet Cicely, M. odorata.
Myrsine--Mer sye nee.
Myrtillocactus (Myrtle-like-Cactus, perhaps for fruit)--Mer til oh kak tus.
Myrtus (the classical name)--Mert us: Myrtle.

N

Naegelia (for botanist Karl von Naegeli of Munich)--Nee jeel ee uh: see preferred genus Smithiantha.
Nananthus (littler-flower)--Nan anth us.
Nandina--Nan dye nuh.
Narcissus (name of mythical youth who was changed to a flower for love of his own reflection in a pool)--Nar siss us: (plural, Narcissi).
Nasturtium - Nas tersh ee um: watercress is N. officinale
Neillia (for Scotsman Patrick Neill) Neel ee uh
Nelumbium Nee lum bee um: lotus
Nemastylis (thread-like-styles) - Nee mast il iss
Nemesia - Nem mee see uh
Nemopanthus (thread-foot-flower, as to slender stalks) - Nee mop anth us: mountain-holly
Nemophila (woods-loving, as to shade requirement) - Nee moff il uh
Neolloydia (new-Lloydia, as to classification) - Nee ol loy dee uh
Nepenthes (an ancient drug, removing sorrow) - Nep penth eez: pitcher-plant
Nepeta - Nep et uh
Nephrolepis (kidney-like-scale, as to spore cases) - Nef frol ep iss: sword-fern
Nerine (for the mythical nereid) - Ner rye nee
Nerium (classical name for oleander) - Neer ee um
Nertera (lowly, as to habit) - Nert er uh: bead-plant
Neviusia (for its discoverer, Reverend R.O. Nevius) - Nev ee yew see uh: snow-wreath
Nicandra (for Nicander, poet of ancient Colophon) - Nye kand ruh
Nicotiana (for Jean Nicot, who introduced tobacco in France) - Nik oh shee ay nuh
Nidularium (little-nest, as to flower cluster) - Nid yew lay ree um
Nierembergia (for Spanish Jesuit Juan Nieremberg) - Nee rem berj ee uh: cup-flower
Nigella (dark, as to black seeds) - Nye jell uh: fennel-flower
Nolana (little-bell, as to corolla shape) - Nol lay nuh
Noltea (for German botanist E. F. Nolte)- Nolte ee uh
Nopalea�Noh pay lee uh
Nopalxochia�Noh pal zok ee uh
Nothofagus (false-beech) � Noth oh fay gus
Nothopanax (false-panax) � Noth oh pay nax
Nyctocereus (night-cereus, as to bloom habit) � Nik toh seer ee us
Nymphaea (for classical nymphs) � Nim fee uh: Nymphea, water-lily
Nymphoides (nymphaea-like) � Nim foy deez: floating-heart
Nyssa (post, as to trunk; or for a mythical water nymph, as to its fondness for swampy places)�-Niss uh: tupelo, sour-gum, pepperidge

O

Ochna (classical name, no longer used, for pear tree) � Ok nuh
Ocimum (classical name for basil) � Oh sim um: (several basils are included in this genus, notably basil, bush basil, tree basil)
Odontoglossum (tooth-tongue, as to crested flower lip) � Oh don toh gloss um
Odontonema (tooth-thread, as to toothed stamen filaments) � Oh don toh neem uh
Oenothera�Ee noh theer uh
Olea (the classical name)�Oh lee uh: olive
Olearia (probably for Adam Olearius, German traveler)�Oh lee ay ree uh: tree-aster, daisy-tree
Omphalodes (navel-like, as to seed shape)�Om fal loh deez: navelwort
Oncidium (little-arrow-barb, as to shape of lip)�On sid ee um
Onobrychis (classical name for a forage plant�On oh brye kiss
Onoclea�On oh klee uh: sensitive-fern
Ononis (the classical name)�On noh niss: rest-harrow
Onopordum (classical name for cotton thistle; literally ass-fodder)�On oh pord um
Onosma (ass-odor, presumably attractive to or reminiscent of the animal)�On oss muh
Onosmodium (see Onosma above)�On os moh dee um: false-gromwell
Onychium (little-claw)�Oh nik ee um: claw-fern
Ophioglossum (snake-tongue, as to fronds)�Off ee oh gloss um: adders-tongue-fern
Ophiopogon (snake-beard, presumably as to shape of flower cluster) � Off ee oh poh gon: lily-turf
Ophrys (brow, perhaps as to larger sepals than petals)�Off riss
Opuntia�Op punt ee uh: prickly-pear cactus
Orchis (testicle, as to tuber shape)�Ork iss
Origanum (mountain-beauty)�Or rig an um: marjoram
Orixa�Or rix uh
Ornithochilus (bird-lip, for beak-like flower)�Or nith oh kye lus
Ornithogalum (bird-milk, perhaps for form and color of flowers of some species)�Or nith thog al um
Ornithopus (bird-foot, as to pod form)�Or nith op us
Orontium (for the Orontes River, Syria)�Oh ron tee um: golden-club
Oroxylon (mountain-tree, an inexact application)�Or rox il on
Orthocarpus (straight-fruit)�Orth oh karp us: owls-clover
Oscularia (little-mouth, as to small flowers)�Os kew lay ree uh
Osmanthus (scent-flower)�Os manth us
Osmaronia�Os mar roh nee uh: Osoberry
Osmorhiza (probably for scented root)�Os mor rye zuh
Osmunda�Os mund uh: interrupted fern, O. claytoniana, cinnamon fern, O. cinnamomea
Osteomeles (bone-fruit)�Os tee oh mee leez
Ostrowskia (for Russian botanist N. Ostrowski)�Os troh skee uh: giant bellflower
Ostrya�Oss tree uh: hop-hornbeam
Othonna�Oh thon uh
Ourisia (for a Governor Ouris of the Falkland Islands)�Oo riss ee uh
Oxalis (sharp, pungent, as to leaf taste)�Ox al iss: wood-sorrel
Oxera�Ox er uh
Oxydendrum (acrid-tree, as to bitter foliage)�Ox id den drum: sourwood, sorrel-tree
Oxytropis (sharp-keel, as to flower shape)�Ok sit rop iss

P

Pachistima (thick-stigma)�Pak kist im uh
Pachycereus (thick-cereus)�Pak ee seer ee us
Pachyphytum (thick-plant)�Pak ee fye tum
Pachysandra (thick-anther)�Pak iss and ruh: spurge
Paeonia (the classical name)�Pee oh nee uh: peony
Paliurus�Pal ee yew rus: Christ-thorn or Jerusalem-thorn
Panax (all-healing, panacea, as to the medicinal properties of its roots)�Pay nax: ginseng
Pancratium (all-strength, as to supposed medical properties)�Pan kray shee um
Pandanus�Pan day nus: screw-pine
Pandorea (for mythical Pandora, whose name means all-gifted)�Pan doh ree uh
Panicum (the classical name for millet)�Pan ik um
Papaver (the classical name)�Pap pay ver: poppy
Paphiopedilum (Aphrodite�s slipper, a slightly fanciful interpretation)�Paf ee oh ped il um: lady-slipper
Paradisea (for paradise)�Par ad diss ee uh: Saint Bruno-lily
Paris (equal, as to symmetrical parts)�Par iss
Parkinsonia (for English botanist John Parkinson)�Park in soh nee uh
Parmentiera (for French horticulturist Antoine Parmentier)�Par ment (for French horticulturist Antoine Parmentier)�Par ment yeer uh
Parnassia (for Mount Parnassus, sacred to mythical Apollo and the muses)�Par nass ee uh: grass-of-parnassus
Parochetus (beside-brook, as to habitat)�Par oh kee tus: shamrock-pea, blue-oxalis
Paronychia (like-a-nail, perhaps as to pointed bracts)�Par oh nik ee uh: whitlow-wort, nail-wort
Parrotia (for German naturalist F.W. Parrot)�Par roh tee uh
Parthenium (virgin, for white flowers of some species)�Par theen ee um: guayule
Parthenocissus (virgin-ivy, of no known application)�Parth en oh siss us: Virginia-creeper
Passiflora (passion-flower)�Pass if floh ruh: passion-flower
Pastinaca (the classical name)�Past in nay kuh: parsnip
Paullinia (for German botanist Christian Paullini)�Pol lin ee uh
Paulownia (for Russian Princess Anna Pavlovna)�Pol loh nee uh
Pavonia (for Spanish traveler Don Jose Pavon)�Pav voh nee uh
Pedicularis (pertaining to a louse, of unknown pertinence)�Ped ik yew lay riss: wood-betony, lousewort
Pedilanthus (shoe-flower, perhaps as to flower shape)�Ped il anth us
Pediocactus (plain-cactus, as to habitat)�Ped ee oh kak tus: snowball cactus
Pelargonium (stork, for long, slender fruit)�Pel ar goh nee um: geranium, storksbill
Pelecyphora (hatchet-bearing, for a fancied resemblance to protuberant parts)�Pel ee siff or uh: hatchet-cactus
Pellaea (dark-colored, as to frond stalks)�Pel lee uh: cliff-brake
Pellionia (for maritime officer J. A. Pellion)�Pell ee oh nee ah
Peltandra (shield-anther, as to shape)�Pelt and ruh: arrow-arum
Peltaria (small-shield, as to pod shape)�Pel tay ree uh: shield-wort
Peltiphyllum (shield-leaf)�Pel tif fill um: umbrella-plant
Peniocereus (penis-cereus, as to plant form)�Pee nee oh seer ee us
Pennisetum (feather-bristle, as to spikelets)�Pen nis seet um
Penstemon (five-stamens�though only four are fertile)�Pen steem on
Pentas (five, as to most flower parts being in fives)�Pen tas
Pentstemon�see preferred Penstemon above
Peperomia (pepper-like, not as to appearance but as to kinship)�Pep er roh mee uh
Pereskia (for Provencal scientist N.C. F. de Peiresc)�Per resk ee uh
Pereskiopsis (pereskia-like)�Per esk ee ops iss
Perilla�Per rill uh
Periploca (a twining, as to habit)�Per rip lok uh: silk-vine
Peristeria (dove, as to winged flower shape)�Pehr iss teer ee uh
Pernettya (for A.J. Pernetty, colleague of Bougainville)�Per nett ee uh
Perovskia (for Russian official B.A. Perovski)�Per roff skee uh
Persea�Pur see uh
Pescatoria (for French orchid collector M. Pescatore)�Pes kat toh ree uh
Petalostemum (petal-stamen, as to attachment)�Pet al oh steem um: prairie-clover
Petasites�Pet uh sye teez: butter-bur
Petrea (for English botanist patron Lord Petre)�Peet ree uh: purple-wreath
Petrocallis (rock-beauty, as to mountain habitat)�Pet roh kal liss
Petrocoptis (rock-cleft, as to habitat)�Pet roh kop tiss
Petrophila (rock-dwelling)�Pet roff il uh
Petrophytum (rock-plant, as to habitat)�Pet roff it um
Petroselinum (rock-parsley)�Pet roh sel lye num: parsley
Petteria (for Dalmatian botanist Franz Petter)�Pet teer ee uh
Petunia�Pet tew nee uh
Phacelia )bundle, as to crowded flower cluster)�Fas seel ee uh
Phaedranthus (splendid-flower)�Feed ranth us
Phaius (dusky, as to flower colors)�Fay us
Phalaenopsis (moth-like, as to flower form)�Fal ee nops iss
Phaseolus (from the classical name for bean)�Fas see ol us: bean
Phellodendron (cork-tree)�Fel oh den dron: cork-tree
Phellosperma (cork-seed, as to corky seed base)�Fel oh sperm uh
Philadelphus (sweet-flowering shrub)�Fil ad delf us: mock-orange
Philesia (lovely)�Fil lee shee uh
Phillyrea�Fil lihr ee uh
Philodendron (loving-tree, as to its tree-climbing propensities)�Fil oh den dron
Phlomis�Floh miss
Phlox (flame)�Flox: phlox
Phoenix (classical name for date palm)�Fee nix
Phormium (a plaited mat, for which its fibers may have been used)�Form ee um
Photinia (shining, as to foliage)�Foh tin ee uh
Phylica�Fill ik uh
Phyllitis (for leaf; also a classical name for the plant)�Fil lye tiss: hearts-tongue-fern
Phyllocactus (leaf-cactus)�Fil oh kak tus: see preferred names Epiphyllum and Disocactus
Phyllocladus (leaf-branch, referring to leaf-like stems)�Fil lok lad us
Phyllodoce (for mythical sea nymph)�Fil lod oh see
Physalis (bladder, for enlarged calyx containing its fruit)�Fye sal iss: husk-tomato, ground-cherry
Physocarpus (bladder-fruit, as to inflated capsules)�Fye soh karp us: ninebark
Physostegia (bladder-cover, as to fruiting calyx)�Fye sos teej ee uh: false dragonhead
Phyteuma (plant)�Fye tee yew muh: horned-rampion
Picea (classical name for pitch pine)�Pye see uh: spruce
Pieris (for one of the mythical muses)�Pye er iss
Pilea (cap, as to shape of part of flower)�Pye lee uh
Pilocereus (cap-like-cereus)�Pye loh seer us: see preferred name Cephalocereus
Pimelea (fat, as to fleshy seeds)�Pim meel ee uh: rice-flower
Pimenta�Pim ment uh: allspice
Pimpinella�Pim pin nell uh: anise
Pinguicula (rather fat, as to greasy leaves)�Pin guik yew luh: butterwort
Pinus (the classical name)�Pye nus: pine
Piper (the classical name)�Pye per: pepper
Piqueria (for Spanish physician A. Piquier)�Pik weer ee uh: often call stevia by florists
Pistacia�Pis tay see uh: pistache
Pistia (liquid, as to its free-floating aquatic habit)�Pist ee uh: water-lettuce
Pisum (the classical name)�Pye sum: pea
Pitcairnia (for Scottish physician Archibald Pitcairn)�Pit kayr nee uh
Pithecellobium (monkey-lobe, for its odd pods)�Pith es sel loh bee um
Pittosporum (pitch-seed, as to resinous seed coating)�Pit tosp or um
Pityrogramma (bran-like, for powdery fronds)�Pit ihr oh gram uh: golden-fern; silver-fern
Planera (for German physician J.J. Planer)�Plan er uh: water-elm
Plantago (the classical name)�Plan tay goh: plantain
Platanus (the classical name)�Plat an us: plane-tree
Platycarya (broad-nut, as to relative shape, not size)�Plat ik kay ree uh
Platycerium (broad-honeycomb, for veining of leaves)�Plat iss seer ee um: staghorn-fern
Platycodon (wide-bell, as to flower form)�Plat ik koh don: balloon-flower
Platystemon (broad-stamen)�Plat iss steem on: cream-cups
Pleione (perhaps for mythical mother of the Pleiades; or perhaps for literal meaning: greater-than normal)�Plee oh nee
Plesiospilos (more-spots, as to dotted leaves)�Plee oh spye los
Pleurothallis (side-branch, as to flowers borne in leaf axils)�Ploor oh thal iss
Plumbago (classical name)�Plum bay goh: leadwort
Plumeria (for French botanist Charles Plumier)�Ploo meer ee uh: frangipani
Poa (a classical name for grass)�Poh uh
Podocarpus (foot-fruit, as to prominent stem)�Pod oh karp us
Podolepis (foot-scale, as to claw-like base of bracts)�Pod dol ep iss
Podophyllum (foot-leaf, emphasizing the base of radiating leaf lobes)�Pod oh fill um: may-apple
Pogonia (beard, as to bearded flower lip)�Poh goh nee uh
Poinciana (for a French governor of West Indies, M.de Poinci)�Poyn see ay nuh
Polanisia (many-unequal, as to stamens)�Pol an niss ee uh
Polemonium (the classical name)�Pol em moh nee um: P. caeruleum is Jacob�s-ladder
Polianthes (gray-flower, though its flowers seem to be white)�Pol ee anth eez: tuberose
Polygala�Pol lig al uh: milkwort
Polygonatum (many-knee, as to joints of rootstock)�Pol ig on nay tum: Solomon�s-seal
Polygonum (many-joint, as to stems or pedicels)�Pol lig on um: knot-weed, fleece-flower
Polypodium (many-foot, as to rootstocks)�Pol ip poh dee um: polypody
Polypteris (many-feathered, as to bristly flower parts)�Pol lip ter iss
Polyscias (abundant-shade, as to heavy foliage)�Pol liss ee ass
Polystichum (many-rows, as of spore cases)�Pol list ik um
Pomaderris (cover-skin, as to seed capsule)�Pom ad dehr iss
Poncirus�Pon sye rus: trifoliate-orange
Pongamia�Pon gay mee uh: karum-oil-tree or poonga-oil-tree
Pontederia (for Italian botanist Giulio Pontedera)�Pon ted deer ee uh: pickerel-weed
Populus (the classical name)�Pop yew lus: poplar, aspen, cottonwood
Portlandia (for the Duchess of Portland)�Port land ee uh
Portulaca�Port yew lay kuh: purslane
Portulacaria�Port yew lak kay ree uh
Posoqueria�Pos ok kweer ee uh
Potentilla (somewhat-powerful, as to supposed medicinal properties)�Poh ten till uh: cinquefoil
Pothos�Poh thoss: for more accurate generic designations, see Scindapsus and Anthurium
Pratia (for a Frenchman, Prat-Bernon)�Pray shee uh
Prenanthes (drooping-flower)�Pren anth eez: rattlesnake-root
Primula (diminutive of word meaning first, as to spring blooming)�Prim yew luh: primrose
Prinsepia (for Swiss botanist Macaire-Prinsep)�Prin seep ee uh
Pritchardia (after civil official William T. Pritchard)�Prit chard ee uh: see preferred generic name Eupritchardia
Proboscidea (snout, as to long-beaked fruit)�Proh bos sid ee uh: unicorn-plant
Promenaea�Prom en nee uh
Prosopis (classical name)�Proh soh piss
Prostanthera (add-to-anther, as to connecting parts)�Prost anth er uh
Protea(for Proteus, mythical sea god who assumed many forms, as to diversity of its species)Proh tee uh
Prunella�Proo nell uh
Prunus (classical name for plum)�Proon us: the stone fruits, including apricot, cherry, peach, and plum
Pseuderanthemum (false-eranthemum)�Soo der anth em um
Pseudolarix (false-larch)�Soo doh lay rix: golden-larch
Pseudopanax (false-panax)�Soo doh pay nax
Pseudotsuga (false-tsuga)�Soo doh tsoo guh: douglas-fir is P. taxifolia
Psidium�Sid ee um: guava
Psoralea (scabby, as to its glandular dots)�Sor ray lee uh: scurfy-pea
Ptelea (classical name for elm)�Teel ee uh: hop-tree
Pteretis (pteris-like; see below)�Tehr reet iss: ostrich-fern
Pteridium (pteris-form; see below)�Tehr rid ee um: bracken, brake
Pteris (wing, as to appearance of fronds)�Teer iss: brake
Pterocarya (wing-nut)�Tehr oh cay ree uh: wing-nut
Pterocephalus (feather-head, as to appearance of faded flower head)�Tehr oh seff al us
Pterostyrax (for winged fruit setting it apart from genus Styrax)�Tehr oh stye rax: epaulette-tree
Pueraria (for Swiss botanist M.N. Puerari)�Pew er ray ree uh: kudzu-vine
Pulmonaria (lung, as to supposed curative power)�Pull mon nay ree uh: lungwort
Punica (the classical name)�Pew nik uh: pomegranate
Purshia (for American botanist F.T. Pursh)�Pursh ee uh: antelope-brush
Puschkinia (for a Count M. Puschkin)�Push kin ee uh
Puya�Pew yuh
Pycnanthemum (compact-flower, as to flower heads)�Pik nanth em um: mountain-mint
Pycnostachys (dense-spike, as to flower spike)�Pik noss tak iss
Pyracantha (fire-thorn, as to its bright red fruits and thorns)�Pye rak anth uh: firethorn
Pyrethrum (much-fire, as to bitter roots)�Pye reeth rum: this genus has now been superseded, largely by Chrysanthemum
Pyrola�Pihr ol uh: shinleaf
Pyrostegia (fire-roof, as to flowers and climbing habit)�Pye roh steej ee uh
Pyrus (the classical name)�Pye rus: pear
Pyxidanthera (box-flowered)�Pix id anth er uh: pyxie, flowering-moss

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Other Genera:
1) A-D
2) E-L
4) Q-Z