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

M

macilentus--mas il lent us: lean, meagre.
macradenus--mak rad deen us: with large glands.
macranthus--mak ranth us: large-flowered.
macrobotrys--mak roh boh triss: large-clustered.
macrocanthus--mak roh kanth us: large-thorned.
macrocarpus--mak roh karp us: large-fruited.
macrocephalus--mak roh sef al us: large-headed.
macrodactylus--mak roh dak til us: large-fingered.
macrodontus--mak roh don tus: large-toothed.
macromeris--mak krom er iss: with large or many parts.
macropetalus--mak roh pet al us: large-petaled.
macrophyllus--mak roh fill us: large-leaved.
macropodus--mak krop od us: large-stalked.
macropterus--mak krop ter us: large-winged.
macrorhizus--mak roh rye zus: with a large rootstock.
macrospadix--mak roh spay dix: with large spadix.
macrospermus--mak roh sperm us: large-seeded.
macrostachyus--mak roh stak ee us: large-spiked.
macrostemus--mak roh stee mus: with large filaments.
macrostylus--mak roh stye lus: large-styled.
macrourus--mak roh yew rus: large-tailed.
maculatus--mak yew lay tus: spotted.
maculosus--mak yew loh sus: spotted.
margellanicus--maj el lan ik us: of region of Straits of Magellan (South America).
magnificus--mag niff ik us: showy, magnificent.
majalis--maj ay liss: of May (May-blooming).
major (majus)--may jor (may jus): greater, larger.
malacoides--mal ak koy deez: mucilajinous.
maliformis--may lif form iss: Apple-formed.
malvacius--mal vay see us: Mallow (Malva)-like.
malvaeflorus--mal vee floh rus: Mallow-flowered.
mammosus--mam moh sus: with nipple- or breast-like parts.
mandshuricus--mand shoor ik us: of Manchuria.
manicatus--man ik kay tus: long-sleeved (often referring to tube-like calyx).
marcescens--mar sess senz: withering.
marcidus--mar sid us: withering (not falling).
margaritaceus--mar gar it tay see us: pearly.
margaritiferus--mar gar it tif er us: pearl-bearing (of flowers or fruit).
margaritus--mar gar rye tus: pearly.
marginalis--mar jin nay liss: margined, with distinct or different margins.
marginatus--mar jin nay tus: margined.
marginellus--mar jin nell us: somewhat margined.
marianus--mar ee ay nus: referring to Virgin Mary.
marilandicus--mar il land ik us: of or from Maryland.
maritimus--mar rit im us: of the sea or shore.
marmoratus--mar moh ray tus: mottled, marbled.
marmoreus--mar moh ree us: marbled.
marmorophyllus--mar mor oh fill us: leaves marbled.
maroccanus--mar rok kay nus: of Morocco.
martagon--mar tag on: from Italian word for turban.
mas--mass: male.
masculatus--mas kew lay tus: masculine.
masculus--mass kew lus: male, masculine.
matronalis--mat roh nay liss: sedate (sometimes hoary). mauritianus--maw rit ee ay nus: Island of Mauritius.
maxillaris--max il lay riss: pertaining to jaw.
maximus--max im us: very large.
mediterraneus--med it er ray nee us: of the Mediterranean region.
medius--mee dee us: intermediate.
medullaris--med ul lay riss: pertaining to the center (also marrow or pith).
megacanthus--meg ak kanth us: large-thorned.
megalanthus--meg al lanth us: large-flowered.
megaphyllus--meg af fill us: large-leaved.
megapotamicus--meg ap poh tam ik us: referring to (a) large river.
megarrhizus--meg ar rye zus: large-rooted.
megaspermus--meg ass sperm us: large-seeded.
megastachyus--meg ass stay kee us: large-spiked.
megastignus--meg ass stig mus: with large stigma.
melananthus--mel an nanth us: black-flowered (or black-marked flowers).
melancholicus--mel an kol ik us: hanging, drooping.
melanocarpus--mel an oh karp us: black-fruited.
melanocaulon--mel an oh kaw lon: black-stemmed.
melanoccoccus--mel an oh kaw kus: black-berried.
melanoleucus--mel an oh lew kus: black-and-white.
melanoxylon--mel an oh zye lon: black-wooded.
melantherus--mel lanth er us: black-anthered.
meleagris--mel ee ay griss: speckled.
melleus--mell ee us: pertaining to honey.
melliferus--mel lif er us: honey-bearing.
meloformis--mel oh form iss: melon-shaped.
membranceus--mem bran nay see us: thin, somewhat translucent, membranous.
meniscifolius--men iss sif foh lee us: crescent-leaved.
mesoleucus--mess ol lew kus: mixed with white.
metallicus--met tal ik us: metallic (sheen).
mexicanus--mex ik kay nus: of or from Mexico.
micans--mye kanz: glittering, sparkling.
micranthus--mye kranth us: small-flowered.
microcarpus--mye kroh karp us: small-fruited.
microcephalus--mye kroh seff al us: small-headed.
microdon--mye kroh don: small-toothed.
microglossus--mye kroh gloss us: small-tongued.
microlepis--mye krol ep iss: small-scaled.
micromeris--mye krom er iss: with few or small parts.
micropetalus--mye kroh pet al us: small-petaled.
microphyllus--mye kroh fill us: small-leaved.
micropterus--mye krop ter us: small-winged.
microsepalus--mye kroh sep al us: large-sepaled.
microstemus--mye kroh steem us: with small filaments or stemlets.
millefoliatus--mil ef foh lee ay tus: thousand-leaved.
millefolius--mil ef foh lee us: many (thousand)-leaved.
minax--mye nax: forbidding, repellent.
miniatus--min ee ay tus: Vermillion.
minimus--min im us: very small.
minor--mye nor: rather small.
minitissimus--mye new tiss im us: very tiny, infinitesimal.
minus--mye nus: rather small.
minutus--mye new tus: tiny, minute.
mirabilis--mir rab il iss: unusual, extraordinary.
mitis--mye tiss: mild, tender (gentle).
mitratus--mye tray tus: turbaned.
mixtus--mix tus: mixed.
modestus--mod dest us: shy, inconspicuous.
moldavicus--mol dav ik us: of Moldavia (Romania).
molleoides--mol lee oy deez: seemingly soft-hairy.
mollis--moll iss: soft (soft-hairy).
mollissimus--mol liss im us: very soft-hairy.
monacanthus--mon ak kanth us: single-thorned.
monadelphus--mon ad delf us: in one group (as with stamens).
monandrus--mon nand rus: with one stamen.
mongolicus--mon goll ik us: of Mongolia.
moniliferus--mon il liff er us: bearing a "necklace".
monocephalus--mon oh sef al us: single-headed.
monogynus--mon noj in us: with one pistil.
monoicus--mon oh eye kus: monoeceus (male and female flowers separate but on the same plant).
monopetalus--mon oh pet al us: one-petaled.
monophyllus--mon oh fill us: one-leaved.
monopterus--mon opt er us: one-winged.
monosepalus--mon oh sep al us: one-sepaled.
monospermus--mon on sperm us: one-seeded.
monostachyus--mon oh stak ee us: one-spiked.
monstrosus--mon stroh sus: huge, abnormal or deformed.
montanus--mon tay nus: of mountainous regions.
monticolus--mon tik ol us: native to mountains.
morifolius--moh rif foh lee us: Mulberry-leaved.
mosaicus--moh zay ik us: with definite color pattern.
moschatus--mos kay tus: musky (odor).
mucosus--mew koh sus: mucilaginous, slimy.
mucronatus--mew kron nay tus: sharp-tipped (mucronate).
mucronulatus--mew kron yew lay tus: with a small point.
multibracteatus--mul tib rak tee ay tus: many-bracted.
multicaulis--mul tik kaw liss: many-stemmed.
multicavus--mull tik kay vus: very concave or hollowed out.
multiceps--mull tiss seps: many-leaved (-branched).
multicolor--mull tik kol or: many colored.
multifidus--mull tif id us: much-divided (multifid).
multiflorus--mull tif floh us: many-flowered.
multifurcatus--mull tif fur kay tus: much-forked.
multijugus--mull tij yew gus: yoked in many pairs (leaflets).
multinervis--mull tin nerv iss: many-veined.
multiplex--mull tip lex: multiple.
multiradiatus--mull tihr ray dee ay tus: many-rayed (as with Daisy flower).
multisectus--mull tiss sek tus: much cut (leaves).
multiscapoideus--mull tiss kap poy dee us: many scapes.
mundulus--mun dew lus: trim, neat.
munitus--mew nye tus: armed (as with thorns).
muralis--mew ray liss: wall-growing.
muricatus--mew rik kay tus: rough with hard points (muricate).
musaicus--mew zay ik us: banana-like
muscosus--muss koh sus: moss-like.
mutabilis--mew tab il iss: changeable (color).
mutatus--mew tay tus: changed, changeable.
muticus--mew tik us: blunt, without points.
mutilatus--mew til lay tus: malformed.
myriacanthus--mihr ee ak kanth us: with a great many thorns or spines.
myriocarpus--mihr ee oh karp us: very many-fruited.
myriostygmus--mihr ee oh stig mus: with a great many stygmas.
myrtifolius--mer tif foh lee us: Myrtle-leaved.

N

nankinensis--nan kin nen siss: of Nankin (China).
nanus--nay nus: small, dwarf.
napellus--nap pell us: Turnip-rooted.
napiformis--nap if form iss: Turnip-shaped.
narbonensis--nar bon nen siss: of Narbonne (southern France).
natans--nay tanz.
navicularis--nav ik yew lay riss: of (like) a ship.
neopolitanus--nee ap ol it tay nus: of Naples.
nebulosus--neb yew loh sus: cloud-like (of flower mass); obscure (of classification).
neglectus--neg lek tus: overlooked (of little value).
nemoralis--nem or ray liss: of groves or woods.
nemorosus--nem or roh sus: of groves (or shady places).
nepalensis--nep al len siss: of Nepal.
neriifolius--neer ee if foh lee us: Oleander (Nerium) - flowered.
nervosus--ner voh sus: veined.
nevadensis--nev ad den siss: of the Sierra Nevadas (Spain or North America).
nidus--nye dus: Latin for nest.
niger--nye jer: black.
nigratus--nye gray tus: blackish.
nigrescens--nye gress senz: becoming black.
nigricans--nye grik anz: black.
nigricornis--nye grik korn iss: black-horned.
nigripes--nye grip eez: black-stalked or -footed.
nigrofructus--nye groh frook tus: black-fruited.
niloticus--nye lot ik us: of the Nile (region)
nipponicus--nip pon ik us: of or from Japan.
nitidus--nit id us: shining.
nivalis--niv vay liss: referring to snow (snowy white).
niveus--niv ee us: snow-white.
nivosus--niv voh sus: snowy white.
nobilior--noh bill ee or: rather noble, impressive.
nobilis--noh bil iss: noble, outstanding.
nobilissimus--noh bil liss im us: very notable or impressive.
nocturnus--nok turn us: night-blooming.
nodiflorus--nod if floh rus: flowers at nodes.
nodosus--nod doh sus: with nodes or joints.
nodulosus--nod yew loh sus: having nodules or small protuberances (tubercles).
nonscriptus--non skrip tus: undescribed (unclassified).
notatus--noh tay tus: marked.
novae-angliae--noh vee an glih ee: of or pertaining to New England.
novae-caesareae--noh vee see zar ree ee: of or pertaining to New Jersey.
novae-zealandiae--noh vee zee land ih ee: of or from New Zealand.
noveboracensis--noh vee bor ass sen siss: of or pertaining to New York.
novi-belgi--noh vye bell jye: of New York.
nubicolus--new bik ol us: living among clouds.
nuciferus--new sif er us: nut-bearing.
nudatus--new day tus: bare, stripped.
nudicaulis--new dik kaw liss: bare-stemmed.
nudiflorus--new dif floh rus: naked-flowered.
nudus--new dus: bare, naked.
numismatus--new miss may tus: coin-like.
nummularius--num mew lay ree us: coin-like (round and thin).
nutans--new tanz: nodding.
nycticalus--nik tik al us: night-blooming.

O

obconicus--ob kon ik us: inverted-cone-shaped.
obcordatus--ob kor day tus: inverted-heart-shaped (obcordate).
obesus--ob bee sus: fat, large.
obfuscatus--ob fus kay tus: confused, indeterminate.
oblatus--ob lay tus: flattened at ends (oblate).
obliquus--ob lye kwus: lopsided, slanting.
obliteratus--ob lit er ray tus: hidden, not apparent.
oblongatus--ob lon gay tus: oblong.
oblongifolius--ob lon jif foh lee us: oblong-leaved.
oblongus--ob lon gus: oblong.
obovatus--ob oh vay tus: invertedly ovate (obovate: broad part upward).
obscurus--ob skew rus: hidden (or partly).
obsoletus--ob soh lee tus: rudimentary (of a part).
obtusatus--ob tew say tus: blunt (obtuse).
obtusifolius--ob tew sif foh lee us: blunt-leaved.
obtusilobus--ob tew sil loh bus: blunt-lobed.
obtusus--ob tew sus: bluntly rounded (obtuse).
occidentalis--ok sid en tay liss: western, of the western world.
oceanicus--oh see an ik us: of the ocean or ocean regions.
ocellatus--os el lay tus: with eyelets, small eyes.
ochroleucus--ok roh lew kus: yellowish white.
octandrus--ok tand rus: eight-anthered.
octopetalus--ok toh pet al us: eight-petaled.
octophyllus--ok toh fill us: eight-leaved.
oculatus--ok yew lay tus: with eyes or eye-like marks.
oculiroseus--ok yew lye roh see us: crimson-eyed.
odontites--od on tye teez: tooth (-like).
odontochilus--od on tok kye lus: with toothed lip or edge.
odoratissimus--oh dor at tiss im us: very fragrant.
odoriferus--oh dor rif er us: having fragrance.
odoratus--oh dor ray tus: odorous, scent or fragrance.
odorus--oh doh rus: fragrant.
officinalis--off iss in nay liss: medicinal (or supposedly medicinal).
officinarum--off iss in nay rum: pertaining to apothecary uses.
oleaefolius--oh lee ee foh lee us: Olive-leaved.
oleiferus--oh lee iff er us: oil-bearing.
oleraceus--oh ler ray see us: of the vegetable garden or the kitchen.
oliganthus--ol ig ganth us: few-flowered.
oligocarpus--ol ig oh karp us: few-fruited.
oligospermus--ol ig oh sperm us: few-seeded.
olitorius--ol it toh ree us: pertaining to vegetable gardens or gardeners.
olivaceus--ol iv vay see us: Olive-like or -colored.
olivaeformis--ol iv ee form iss: Olive-shaped.
olympicus--ol limp ik us: of (Mount) Olympus (Greece).
opacus--op pay kus: pale (clouded, shaded).
oppositiflorus--op pos it if floh rus: opposite-flowered.
oppositifolius--op pos it if foh lee us: opposite-leaved.
opuloides--op yew loy deez: Opulus-like (see opulus).
opulus--op yew lus: old name for Poplar misapplied to a species of Viburnum.
orbicularis--or bik yew lay riss: round.
orbiculatus--or bik yew lay tus: round.
orchideus--or kid ee us: Orchid-like.
orchioides--or kee oy deez: Orchid-like.
oreganus--or eg gay nus: of Oregon.
orgyalis--or jee ay liss: about 6 feet long.
orientalis--or ee en tay liss: of the Orient (eastern world).
origanifolius--or ig an if foh lee us: with Marjoram-like leaves.
origanoides--or ig an nay deez: Marjoram-like.
ornatissimus--or nat tiss im us: very showy.
ornatus--or nay tus: showy, ornamental.
ornithocephalus--or nith oh sef al us: like a bird's head.
ornithopodus--or nith opp od us: like a bird's foot.
ornithorhynchus--or nith or rink us: beak-like.
orthocarpus--orth oh karp us: straight-fruited (see genus of same name).
orthochilus--orth oh kye lus: straight-lipped.
orthopterus--orth opp ter us: straight-winged.
ovalifolius--oh val if foh lee us: oval-leaved.
ovalis--oh vay liss: oval.
ovatifolius--oh vat if foh lee us: ovate-leaved.
ovatus--oh vay tus: of egg shape or egg-shaped pattern, with broad end downward or inward (ovate).
oviferus--oh vif er us: bearing ovules (unfertilized seed).
ovigerus--oh vij er us: ovule-bearing.
ovinus--oh vye nus: pertaining to sheep, woolly, used as sheep fodder.
oxyacanthus--ox ee ak kanth us: sharp-thorned or -spined.
oxygonus--ox ig goh nus: sharp-angled.
oxyphyllus--ox if fill us: sharp-leaved.
oxysepalus--ox iss sep al us: with sharp sepals.

P

pabularis--pab yew lay riss: suitable for fodder.
pachyanthus--pak ee anth us: thick-flowered.
pachyneurus--pak in new rus: thick-veined.
pachypterus--pak kip ter us: thick-winged.
pacificus--pas sif ik us: of the Pacific Ocean (regions).
palaestinus--pal ee stye nus: of Palestine.
paleaceus--pal ee ay see us: chaffy.
pallens--pal enz: pale.
pallescens--pal less senz: fading, becoming pale.
palliatus--pal lee ay tus: cloaked.
pallidiflorus--pal lid if floh rus: pale-flowered.
pallidifolius--pal lid if foh lee us: pale-leaved.
pallidispinus--pal lid iss spye nus: pale-spined.
pallidus--pal id us: pale.
palliflavens--pal lif flay venz: pale-yellow.
palmatifidus--pal mat tif id us: palmately cut (like fingers).
palmatus--pal may tus: divided or lobed (like hand and fingers: palmate).
palmifolius--pal mif foh lee us: with handlike leaves.
paludosus--pal yew doh sus: marsh-loving.
palustris--pal lust riss: marsh-loving.
panduratus--pan dew ray tus: fiddle-shaped.
paniculatus--pan ik yew lay tus: having type of flower cluster classified as a panicle.
paniculigerus--pan il yew lij er us: having panicles.
pannosus--pan noh sus: ragged, tattered-looking.
papaveraceus--pap av er ray see us: Poppy (Papaver) -like.
papilionaceus--pap il ee on nay see us: with butterfly-like flowers.
papillosus--pap il loh sus: with tiny nipple-like protuberances.
papyraceus--pap ihr ray see us: papery.
papyriferus--pap ihr rif er us: having paper-like part or parts.
paradisiacus--par ad iss sye ak us: of parks or gardens (type or use).
paradoxus--par ad dox us: strange, contrary to type.
parasiticus--par ass sit ik us: parasitical.
pardalinus--par dal lye nus: leopard-spotted.
pardinus--par dye nus: leopard-spotted.
partitus--par tye tus: divided, separated.
parviflorus--par vif floh rus: small-flowered.
parvifolius--par vif foh lee us: small-leaved.
parvissimus--par viss im us: very small.
parvulus--par vew lus: very small or slight.
parvus--par vus: small.
patellaris--pat el lay riss: disk-like.
patens--pay tenz: spreading.
patulus--pat yew lus: spreading.
pauciflorus--paw sif floh rus: scanty-flowered.
paucifolius--paw sif foh lee us: scanty=leaved.
pauperculus--paw perk yew lus: poor, meager.
pavoninus--pav on nye nus: peacock-like.
pectinaceus--pek tin nay see us: comb-like.
pectinatus--pek tin nay tus: comb-like (pectinate).
pectiniferus--pek tin nif er us: comb-bearing.
pectoralis--pek tor ray liss: with a breastbone-shaped part.
pedatus--ped day tus: footed, of significance for the foot or base; also with bird-like foot; also hand-like (palmate).
pedemontanus--ped em on tay nus: of Piedmont (Italy).
peduncularis--ped unk yew lay riss: with a stalk (peduncle).
pedunculatus--ped unk yew lay tus: stalked (pedunculate).
pedunculosus--ped unk yew loh sus: with many stalks or peduncles.
pekinensis--pee kin nen siss: of Pekin (Peiping, China).
pellucidus--pel lew sid sus: with translucent tissues or spots.
peltatus--pel tay tus: with leaf-stalk attached toward center of leaf (peltate), not at edge.
peltifolius--pel tif foh lee us: with peltate leaves.
pelviformis--pel vif form iss: pelvis-shaped.
penduliflorus--pen dew lif floh rus: pendulous-flowered.
pendulinus--pen dew lye nus: somewhat drooping.
pendulus--pen dew lus: drooping, hanging.
penicillatus--pen iss sil lay tus: like a little brush; very finely divided (pinnate).
pennatus--pen nay tus: feathered, with feathery veins or lobes; also pinnate.
penninervis--pen nin nerv iss: feather-veined.
pennsylvanicus--pen sil van ik us: of Pennsylvania.
pentagonus--pen tag goh nus: five-angled.
pentagynus--pen taj eye nus: with five pistils.
pentandrus--pen tand rus: five-stamened.
pentanthus--pen tanth us: five-flowered.
pentaphyllus--pen taf fill us: five-leaved.
perbellus--per bell us: very beautiful.
peregrinus--per eg grye nus: foreign (exotic).
perennans--per ren nanz: perennial.
perennis--per ren niss: perennial (living more than 2 years).
perfoliatus--per foh lee ay tus: with leaf surrounding stem (perfoliate).
perforatus--per for ray tus: with holes.
pergracilis--per grass il iss: very slender.
permixtus--per mix tus: much confused (as to type, origin, etc.).
persicaefolius--per siss ee foh lee us: see below.
persicifolius--per siss if foh lee us: Peach-leaved.
persicus--per sik us: of Persia (Iran); also pertaining to the Peach.
perspicuus--per spik yew us: clear, transparent.
pertusus--per tew sus: perforated.
perulatus--per oo lay tus: pocket-like.
peruvianus--per oo vee ay nus: of Peru.
petaloideus--pet al loy dee us: petal-like.
petiolaris--pet ee ol lay riss: with a leaf-stalk (petiole).
petiolatus--pet ee ol lay tus: with a leaf-stalk, petioled.
petraeus--pet ree us: rock-inhabiting.
phaeacanthus--fee ak kanth us: dark-thorned.
philadelphicus--fil ad delf ik us: of Philadelphia.
philippinensis--fil ip in nen siss: of the Philippine Islands.
phlogiflorus--floj if floh rus: flame-flowered.
phoeniceus--fee niss ee us: purple-red.
phoenicolasius--fee nik ol lay see us: purple-haired.
phyllomaniacus--fil om an nye ak us: abnormally leafy.
picturatus--pik tew ray tus: variegated.
pictus--pik tus: painted, variegated.
pileatus--pye lee ay tus: with a cap.
piliferus--pye lif er us: having soft hairs.
pilosiuseulus--pye loh see usk yew lus: somewhat shaggy or hairy.
pilosus--pye loh sus: hair, softly shaggy (pilose).
pilularis--pil yew lay riss: globular, with globules.
pululiferus--pul yew lif er us: having globules.
pineus--pye nee us: of or pertaining to Pines.
pinifolius--pye nif foh lee us: Pine-leaved.
pinnatifidus--pin nat tiff id us: leaves cut or divided (pinnatifid) but not separate about a common axis (pinnate) or compound (leaves in groups).
pinnatifrons--pin nat if fronz: with finely divided fronds or foliage.
pinnatinervis--pin nat in nerv iss: with finely divided veins.
pinnatus--pin nay tus: with leaflets on the sides of the main leaf axis (pinnate).
pisiferus--pye siff er us: bearing Pea-like seed or fruit.
pisocarpus--pye soh karp us: Pea-fruited.
placatus--plak kay tus: quiet, serene.
planiflorus--plan if floh rus: flat-flowered.
planifolius--plan if foh lee us: flat-leaved.
plantagineus--plan taj inn ee us: Plantain-like.
planus--play nus: flat.
platanoides--plat an noy deez: like the Plane-tree (Platanus).
platanthus--plat tanth us: broad-flowered.
platycanthus--plat ik kanth us: broad-thorned.
platycarpus--plat ik karp us: broad-fruited.
platycentrus--plat iss sent rus: broad-centered.
platyceras--plat iss see rass: having broad horns.
platycladus--plat ik klay dus: broad-branched.
platyglossus--plat ig gloss us: broad-tongued.
platypetalus--plat ip pet al us: broad-petaled.
platyphyllus--plat if fill us: broad-leaves.
pleioneurus--plye oh new rus: many-veined.
pleniflorus--plen if floh rus: with "double" or many-petaled flowers.
plenissimus--plen niss im us: very "double" or full.
plenus--pleen us: full, "double" (denoting many petaled flowers).
plicatus--plye kay tus: plaited or folded lengthwise (plicate).
plumarius--plew may ree us: plumed.
plumatus--plew may tus: plumed.
plumosus--plew moh sus: feathery.
pluriflorus--plew rif floh rus: many-flowered.
poculiformis--pok yew lif form iss: deep-cup-shaped.
podocarpus--pod oh karp us: with stalked fruit.
poeticus--poh et ik us: specific name usually recalling Poet's Narcissus (N. poeticus).
polifolius--pol if foh lee us: whitish-leaved (of irrelevant origin).
politus--pol lye tus: shining, polished.
polyacanthus--pol ee ak kanth us: many-thorned.
polyandrus--pol ee and rus: with many stamens.
polyanthus--pol ee anth us: many-flowered.
polycephalus--pol iss sef al us: many-headed.
polydactylus--pol id dak til us: many-fingered.
polygamus--pol lig am us: having perfect (with both male and female parts) and imperfect (one-sexed) flowers on the same plant.
polylophus--pol il loh fus: much-crested or -tufted.
polymorphus--pol im morf us: variable, of many forms.
polypetalus--pol ip pet al us: many-petaled.
polyphyllus--pol if fill us: many-seeded.
polyspermus--pol iss sperm us: many-seeded.
polystachyus--pol iss stak ee us: many-spiked.
polystictus--pol iss stik tus: many-dotted.
pomaceus--poh may see us: resembling Apples or Pears.
pomeridianus--pom er id ee ay nus: afternoon (blooming).
ponderosus--pon der roh sus: heavy, massive.
ponticus--pont ik us: of Pontus (Asia Minor).
populifolius--pop yew lif foh lee us: leaves like Poplar (Populus).
populneus--pop ull nee us: pertaining to the Poplar, Poplar-like.
portoricensis--por toh riss sen siss: of Porto Rico.
praealtus--pree al tus: very tall.
portulaceus--por tew lay see us: thick-leaved (after genus Portulaca).
praecox--pree cox: very early.
praestans--preess tanz: distinguished, outstanding.
praetextus--pree text us: bordered.
prasinatus--prass in nay tus: greenish.
prasinus--prass sye nus: grass-green.
pratensis--prat ten siss: of the meadows.
pravissimus--prav viss im us: very crooked.
primulinus--prim yew lye nus: Primrose-like.
primuloides--prim yew loy deez: Primrose-like.
princeps--prin seps: of first quality.
prismaticus--pris mat ik us: prism-shaped (parts).
proboscideus--proh bos sid ee us: nose-shaped.
procerus--proh see rus: tall.
procumbens--proh kumm benz: trailing (procumbent) but not rooting.
procurrens--proh kur renz: extended (parts).
productus--proh dukk tus: lengthened (parts).
profusus--proh few sus: profuse (flowering).
proliferus--proh lif er us: producing offshoots; having abnormally numerous parts.
prolificus--proh lif ik us: flowering or fruiting abundantly, prolific.
propendens--proh pen denz: hanging down.
propinquus--proh pin kwus: closely related.
prostratus--pross tray tus: lying flat.
protrusus--proh trew sus: protruding (parts).
provincialis--prov in see ay liss: provincial; of Provence (southern France).
pruinatus--prew in nay tus: with a whitish "bloom" (pruinose).
pruinosus--prew in noh sus: with whitish "bloom" (of fruit).
prunifolius--prew nif foh lee us: Plum- or Cherry-leaved.
pruritus--prew rit us: causing itching.
pseud--sood, pseuda-, pseudo-: when prefixed to (usually) generic name and used as a specific name, indicates a lack of trueness to type or classification despite implied similarity.
psycodes--sye koh deez: fragrant.
ptarmicus--tar mik us: sneeze-producing.
pteranthus--ter ranth us: wing-flowered.
pubens--pew benz: downy.
puberulus--pew behr yew lus: somewhat hairy.
pubescens--pew bess senz: downy (pubescent).
pudicus--pew dik us: bashful, retiring.
pugioniformis--pew jee on if form iss: dagger-shaped.
pulchellus--pull kell us: pretty.
pulcher--pull ker: handsome.
pulcherrimus--pull kehr im us: very handsome, beautiful.
pullus--pull us: dusky, almost black.
pulverulentus--pull ver oo lent us: dusty, powdery.
pulvinatus--pull vin nay tus: cushion-like.
pumilus--pew mil us: small, dwarf.
punctatissimus--punk tat tiss im us: much-spotted.
punctatus--punk tay tus: with spots or dots, as on leaves or petals(punctate).
punctilobulus--punk til loh bew lus: with dotted or spotted lobes.
pungens--pun jenz: sharp-pointed; pungent.
puniceus--pew niss ee us: red-purple.
purpuraceus--pur pew ray see us: purple.
purpurascens--pur pew rass senz: purplish.
purpuratus--pur pew ray tus: purple.
purpureus--pur pew ree us: purple.
pusillus--pew sill us: very dwarf; insignificant.
pycnacanthus--pik nak kanth us: densely spined.
pycnanthus--pik nanth us: densely flowering.
pycnocarpon--pik noh karp on: densely fruiting.
pycnostachyus--pik noh stak ee us: densely spiked.
pygmaeus--pig mee us: very small.
pyramidalis--pihr am id day liss: of pyramidal form.
pyrenaicus--pye ren nay ik us: of the Pyrenees.
pyrifolius--pye rif foh lee us: with Pear (Pyrus)-like leaves.
pyriformis--pye rif form iss: Pear-shaped.