By Henry Flowers

In continuing with our look at Latin used in botanical names (click here for our previous post), here are some words that are used to describe texture:

anthocomus, schidigera, spinosus—spiny

acicularis—needle-like

aculeatus, echinatus, horridus, hystrix—prickly

anacanthus—lacking prickles or thorns

arachnoides—cobwebby

armatus—thorny

aspericaulis/asperifolius—rough-stemmed/rough-leaved

barbatus—barbed or bearded

cartilaginous—cartilage-like in texture

cerefolius/ceraceus—waxy-leaved

copallinus, gummosus, resinosus, viscosus—sticky – gummy – resinous

durus—hard

eriophorous, lanigera, lanatus, tomentosus—wooly

exudans—producing sticky secretions

ferox—ferociously thorny

fulgens—shining

furfuraceus—scurfy – flaking – scaly

glaber, laevigatus, laevis—smooth, polished

hebephyllus—with downy leaves

hirsutus, hirtus/hirsutissimus—hairy / very hairy

mucosus—slimy

papyraceous—papery

pustulatus—covered in blisters or pimples

rugosus—wrinkled

scaber/scaberrimus—rough/very rough

succulentus—fleshy

undulatus—wavy

Here are a few plant names in which some of these words are used:

Acanthus spinosus – spiny bear’s breeches

Glycyrrhiza glabra – licorice

Penstemon barbatus – beardtongue

Rosa rugosa – rugosa or “wrinkle-leaved” rose

Photo Credits: 1) Aloe ferox, cape aloe (courtesy of the author); 2) Anthriscus cerefolium, chervil (courtesy of the author); 3) Penstemon barbatus, beartongue (Sten Porse)

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Henry Flowers is a graduate of Texas A&M University and holds both Bachelor and Master of Agriculture degrees in Horticulture. He is currently a horticulturist with Glasco & Co. Landscaping in Brenham, TX, where he enjoys doing a wide variety of tasks. He worked for the Antique Rose Emporium for 12 years and was Garden Director at the Round Top Festival Institute for 16 years, where he worked with Madalene Hill and oversaw a variety of display gardens with the support of a large number of volunteers and also coordinated a variety of educational garden-related events. At home, he and his wife, Melissa, grow a wide variety of herbs that they enjoy for their beauty and usefulness in the kitchen. He is a lifetime member of The Herb Society of America and was the 2009 recipient of The HSA’s Joanna McQuail Reed Award for the Artistic Use of Herbs.