Literally hundreds of thousand of plants have been given botanical names. Of this huge number very few have English names, and these have become established more by use than by anything else. Thus, there has long been a need for a comprehensive guide to plant nomenclature and the standard classification system in the plant world. This is that book.

Here is the first compact dictionary that combines definitions of botanical names in general usage, with information on their derivation and guides to pronunciation. For the vast number of horticulturalists, gardeners, and plant lovers interested in the origin and derivation of plant names, this book will be an invaluable reference.

Generic and specific names are listed in alphabetical order, and for each name the author, a noted botanical expert, identifies the root words in Greek and Latin, gives the accepted definition derived from them, and indicates the preferred English pronunciation. In numerous instances he offers interesting historical information or anecdotes about plants and their introduction to gardens. An especially useful feature of this work is a monumental index, which provides a cross-reference from some 1,800 common plant names to corresponding botanical ones.

For the specialist, the thoroughness and authoritativeness of this book make it an indispensable resource. The layperson will appreciate its convenience, usefulness, and reliability in identifying and classifying plants, as well as its abundance of interesting facts and lore — all leavened with touches of humor.