The A to Z of Plant Names

May 15, 2012

Coombes (coordinator, scientific collections, Univ. Botanic Garden, Puebla, Mexico; The Book of Leaves) arranges this concise dictionary of plant names alphabetically by genus and then by species, with common and Latin names interfiled. In the introduction, he explains the arrangement of the entries and the how and why of the names. For plant lovers and gardeners, this introduction makes for enjoyable and informative reading. The brief, unillustrated entries use many abbreviations, which are explained in a one-page list (e.g., "spp." means species (plural), "ca." means approximately, "med." means medicinal). Pronunciation guidance is included in each entry--for example, readers who look up "Smoke Tree" are directed to "cotinus coggygria," where they are instructed that the plant's Latin name is pronounced either "kot-i-nos" or "kot-ee-noos" and is derived from the Greek name for the wild olive. The selected bibliography lists the books and websites consulted--plant and Latin dictionaries, a Greek-English lexicon, etc. VERDICT Recommended as a general purchase that will be useful as a quick reference tool and engaging reading for plant enthusiasts.--Frances Eaton Millhouser, formerly with Chantilly Regional Lib., Falls Church, VA

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2012
Noting that a plant's name offers up its origin and identifying characteristics, this small yet comprehensive guide lists the botanic names of 4,000 common garden plants. No photos or illustrations, but pronunciations, common names, and classifications are included, making this a quick and simple ready-reference guide.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)