Gone are the days when many learnt Latin in school. Never fear, when it comes to plant names, it's simple.
The first word of a plant's name in Latin refers to its genus. This is always written with a capital letter and is usually placed in italics. The genus can be thought of as a plant's surname. It is an indication of similarities with plants that have characteristics in common.
Next comes the plant's species, the second name its Latinised botanical name. The species may give hints as to location, colour, form, use, tribal or local affiliation, the discoverer's name, and so forth. It's a mixed basket and it's usually rendered in one Latin form or another.
If there is a name following the Latin name of the plant, this may indicate the cultivar. This is not always present, as it depends on whether or not someone has been deliberately breeding the plant to create variations. It's most commonly associated with plants that humans find useful, from crops to garden plants.
