| Name |
Pronunciation |
Meaning |
| Plectostachys | 1: plek-toh-STAK-iss
2: plek-toh-STAY-kiss | From plecto (plaited, braided, twisted); and stachys (spike, ear of grain) |
| serpyllifolia | ser-pil-ly-FOH-lee-uh | Having leaves like Thymus serpyllum |
| transsylvanica | trans-il-VAN-ik-uh | Variant of transylvanica, meaning of or from Transylvania (U.S.) |
| delagoense | 1: del-uh-go-EN-see
2: del-uh-go-EN-say | Of or from Delagoa Bay (Mozambique) |
| delagoensis | del-uh-go-EN-sis | Of or from Delagoa Bay (Mozambique) |
| polyscias | 1: pol-ISS-skee-as
2: pol-ISS-see-as | From the Greek poly (many) and scias (canopy, or umbel) |
| Aeranthes | ay-er-AN-theez | From the Greek aer (air) and anthos (flower) |
| Aerva | AY-er-va | Latinized form of the Arabic name for this plant |
| Aframomum | af-RA-mom-um | From or of Africa and Amomum (another genus it resembles) |
| Agalmyla | ag-al-MY-luh | From the Greek agalma (glory) and hyle (woods); refers to its showy flowers and woodland habitat |
| Aganisia | ag-an-IZ-ee-uh | From the Greek aganos (gentle) and refers to its neat appearance |
| Agastachys | 1: ah-guh-STAK-iss
2: ah-guh-STAY-kiss | From the Greek agan (numerous) and stachys (spike); refers to the many flower spikes |
| Agathosma | ag-ath-OHS-muh | From the Greek agathos (good) and osme (fragrance); refers to the pleasant smell |
| Aglaia | ah-GLAY-uh | Named for one of hte the three Graces; the goddess of fertility or charm |
| Aglaomorpha | ag-lay-oh-MOR-fuh | From the Greek aglaos (bright, pleasing) and morphe (shape) |
| Aldrovanda | al-dro-VAN-duh | Named for Ulisse Aldrovandi, 16th century Italian botanist |
| Aletris | 1: AY-let-riss
2: AL-et-riss | Greek word for a female slave who grinds the meal; referring to the powdered appearance |
| Aleuritopteris | al-yoor-ry-TOP-ter-riss | From the Greek Aleurite (the genus) and pteris (fern) |
| Allioniella | al-lee-oh-nee-EL-uh | Diminutive form of the genus Allionia |
| Alloplectus | al-loh-PLEK-tus | From the Greek allos (diverse) and pleco (to plait); the calyx segments overlap |
| Alniphyllum | al-ny-FIL-lum | Having leaves like Alnus (Alder genus) |
| Alphitonia | al-fit-OH-nee-uh | From the Greek alphiton (barley meal) and refers to the dry, mealy quality of the mesocarp in the fruits |
| Alseuosmia | al-syoo-OHS-mee-uh | From the Greek alsos (grove) and euosmos (fragrant); refers to the strong smelling flowers |
| Alsine | AL-sigh-nee | Derivation is obscure |
| Alsophila | al-SO-fil-uh | from the Greek alsos (grove) and philos (loving) |
| Alstonia | al-STON-ee-uh | Named for Dr. Charles Alston, 18th century Scottish Professor of Botany at Edinburgh |
| Alyssoides | 1: al-iss-OY-deez
2: al-iss-EE-deez | Resembling the Alyssum genus |
| Alyxia | al-IKS-ee-uh | From the Greek halusis (chain) and refers to the fruits |
| Amasonia | am-uh-SON-ee-uh | Named for Thomas Amason, an American traveler in colonial days |
| Ammocharis | am-oh-KAR-iss | From the Greek ammos (sand) and charis (beauty); refers to the habitat and quality of these plants |
| Ammophila | am-oh-FY-luh | From the Greek ammos (sand) and philos (loving) |
| Amomum | am-OH-mum | From the Greek amomon (the name of an Indian spice plant) |
| Anacamptis | an-uh-KAMP-tiss | From the Greek anakampto (bend back); refers to the flower spur |
| Anacardium | an-uh-KAR-dee-um | Name used for the heart-shaped fruit of an Indian tree, but applied to the cashew by Linnaeus |
| Anagyris | an-uh-GY-ris | The Greek name for this plant |
| Anastatica | an-uh-STAT-ih-kuh | From the Greek anastasis (resurrection) and refers to the plants ability to revive with the application of water |
| Caudex | KAW-deks | From the Latin, meaning a woody stem |
| Andira | An-DY-ruh | Latinized form of the Brazilian name for these trees |
| Anemia | an-NEE-mee-uh | From the Greek aneimon (naked, unclad) |
| Anemonopsis | an-nem-oh-NOP-sis | Anemone-like |
| Anisotome | an-iss-OH-to-mee | From the Greek anisos (unequal) and tome (cut); refers to the uneven leaf margins |
| Anoectochilus | an-oh-ek-to-KY-lus | From the Greek anoiktos (open) and cheilos (lip) |
| Anopteris | an-OP-ter-iss | From the Greek ana (upward) and pteris (fern) |
| Ansellia | an-SELL-ee-uh | Named for John Ansell, 19th century English botanist and explorer who discovered the genus |
| Antiaris | an-tee-AR-iss | Latinized form of the Javanese name for the plants poisonous juice which is used as an arrow poison |
| Antidesma | an-tid-ESS-muh | From the Greek anti (against) and desma (Burman term for poison); an oblique reference to its supposed use as an anti-venom |
| Aphyllanthes | a-fill-AN-theez | From the Greek a (without), phyllon (leaf), and anthos (flower); the flowers appear on leafless stems |
| Apios | A-pee-os | The Greek word meaning pear; referring to the shape of the tubers |
| Aplectrum | a-PLEK-trum | From the Greek a (without) and plektron (spur); the flowers have no spurs |
| Arabidopsis | a-rab-id-OP-sis | Resembling Arabis (rock-cress) |
| Arachis | a-RAK-is | From the ancient Greek plant name given to this plant |
| Arecastrum | ar-ek-KAS-trum | Resembling the genus Areca (Betelnut) |
| Aristotelia | ar-ris-to-TEE-lee-uh | Named for Aristotle, 4th century Greek philosopher and naturalist |
| Arpophyllum | ar-poh-FILL-um | From the Greek arpe (sickle) and phyllon (leaf); referring to the leaf shape |
| Arracacia | 1: ar-ra-KAW-chee-uh
2: ar-ra-KAW-see-uh | Latinized form of the Spanish name for these plants |
| Arrhenatherum | ah-ren-AH-ther-um | From the Greek arren (male) and anther (bristle); the male flowers have awns or bristles; occasionally spelled Arrhenantherum |
| Artabotrys | ar-TAY-bot-riss | From the Greek artao (support) and botrys (bunch of grapes); a tendril supports the fruits |
| Arthocereus | ar-tho-SEER-ee-us | From the Greek arthron (joint) and cereus (cactus) |
| Aspasia | a-SPAY-zee-uh | Named for Aspasia, the beautiful mistress of the Athenian statesman Pericles |
| Asperugo | as-per-roo-go | Rough |
| Astroloba | ass-TROH-low-buh | From the Greek astron (star) and lobos (lobe); refers to the star-spreading lobes of the perigon |
| Astrophyton | ass-troh-FY-ton | From the Greek astron (star) and phyton (plant); refers to the form of the plant |
| Asyneuma | as-sy-NEW-muh | from the Greek a (without), syn (together), and Phyteuma (a genus); refers to the lacking of the joined corolla lobes during flowering |
| Athamanta | ath-uh-MAN-tuh | Of or fromMount Athamas in Sicily, where some of these plants are found |
| Atropa | AT-row-puh | Named for Atropos, one of the 3 Fates, who snipped the thread of life |
| Attalea | at-TY-lee-uh | From the Latin attalus (splendid, magnificent) and refers to the quality of these palms |
