The "family name" is the main grouping and can be recognized because it always ends in –aceae. The name is capitalized and in italics. The word 'genera' is plural for 'genus' (see below). Related genera are grouped into a family. This list is assisted by the "all family listing" at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Here is Wikipedia's etymology.

The words "botanical name" and "scientific name" and "binomial name" can be used interchangeably. The botanical name is always in the language of Latin or Greek, but more commonly Latin. As in many languages, the Latin language utilizes gender words for masculine, feminine, and neuter, so the first and second word in the name need to have matching genders. Binomial means two terms put together. Nomenclature means choosing a name for something. Hence Binomial Nomenclature means creating a name with two words.

The botanical name is in the form of two parts: (1) genus and (2) species. It is generally formatted in italics. The first part of 'genus' is always capitalized, and the second part of 'species' is lower case. When listing several species of the same genus, the genus is often abbreviated, often with only the first letter and a period on the second and subsequent listings. The genus is a noun and the species is most often an adjective, but sometimes a descriptive noun. A species is sometimes referred to as the specific epithet. An epithet is an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality or characteristic of the plant.

Some plants have a subspecies and these are preceded by the initials 'subsp' or sometimes 'ssp.'

Some plants utilize forma to distinguish minor variations such as color and these are preceded by the abbreviation 'f.'

The cultivar is the variety of the plant, which is propagated (also known as breeding or cultivating) to retain or enhance certain traits of a plant. A variety is written after the genus and species using single quotation marks or preceded by the initials 'var'. These are usually creative and fun names.

A hybrid is a cross between two plants bred or cultivated in a similar manner to a cultivar. The names of hybrids are written with a multiplication sign (an x shape) between the two plant names utilized. For hybrids that are grafted one species onto another species of a different genera, the plus sign (+) is used.

The abbreviation of 'syn' for synonym is uses preceding a word when there multiple names but some are incorrect.

The common name is what we use in everyday talk. Sometimes the same common name is used for multiple plants of varying botanical names.

Height Conversion Quick Reference

½ foot = 6 inches

1 foot = 12 inches

1 ½ feet = 18 inches

2 feet = 24 inches

2 ½ feet = 30 inches

3 feet = 36 inches

4 feet = 48 inches

5 feet = 60 inches

6 feet = 72 inches

Scientific Name Pronunciation Helps

Here are some pronunciaton helps that might be useful, or you might just like to ignore them.

Name ending in "aceae" and "ae" are pronounced a wide varieity of ways by professionals, but mostly:

Say "ae" as "eye," "ee," or "ay."

Say "aceae" as "ay-see-eye" or "ay-see-ee", and a whole lot of other ways. I decided to use "ay-see-eye" and to stick with it consistently, but that was before I realized that the way was more common "across the pond" and that "ay-see-ee" was more common in America. I've begun to become accomstomed to the way I chose, so it is sticking for me! That is the version you see above in the index.

Say "ii" at the end of words like "ee."
Say "i" like "ee", not "eye," (like the Spanish language does)
Say "a" like "ah", not "ay".
Say "e" like "eh", not "ee".
"Ch" is usually said like a "k", not a ch, but sometimes as a "ch."

I also found Rainy Side Gardener's chart and am linking it here for my own reference as well as yours.

Garden Index by Family Name

Amaranthaceae family (Amaranth Family) Pronounced AM-ar-an-THAY-see-eye

Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis family) Pronounced am-uh-ril-uh-DAY-see-I

Apiaceae (Carrot Family) (Umbellifers) Pronounced Ah-pee-aye-see-eye

Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family) Pronounced Ah-pos-eh-NAY-cee-eye

Araceae (Arum Family) Pronounced a-RAY-see-eye

Asparagaceae (Asparagus Family) Pronounced ah-spare-a-gay-see-eye

Asphodelaceae (Asphodel Family) Pronounced As-PHO-del-aye-see-eye

Asteraceae (Daisy and Sunflower Family) Pronounced ass-ter-AY-see-eye

Balsaminaceae (Impatiens Family) Pronounced bal-SOME-eh-nee-see-eye

Boraginaceae (Borage or Forget-me-not Family) Pronounced Bor-AJ-ee-NEE-cee-eye

Brassicaceae (Cabbage or Mustard) Pronounced brass-ih-KAY-see-eye

Campanulaceae (Bellflower Family) Pronounced Cam-PAN-yew-lay-see-eye

Cannaceae (Canna Family) Pronounced KAN-aye-see-eye

Caryophyllaceae (Pink or Carnation Family) Pronounced Carry-o-fuh-lace-ee-eye

Commelinaceae (Spiderwort or Dayflower Family) Pronounced Com-mel-LIN-aye-see-eye

Crassulaceae (Stonecrop or Orpine Family) Pronounced KRAS-ew-luh-see-eye

Fabaceae (Pea Family) Pronounced fuh·bay·see·eye

Ericaceae (Heather Family) Pronounced Eric-KAY-see-eye

Fabaceae (Leguminosae) (Legume Family) Pronounced Fuh-bay-see-eye

Geraniaceae (Geranium Family) Pronounced Ger-Ay-nee-ay-see-eye

Hydrangeaceae (Hydrangea Family) Pronounced High-drange-ee-aye-see-eye

Iridaceae (Iris Family) Pronounced Eye-reh-DAY-see-eye

Lamiaceae (Mint family) Prounounced lay-mee-AY-see-eye

Liliaceae (Lily Family) Pronounced Lil-ee-a-see-eye

Lythraceae (Loosestrife family) Pronounced Lie-THRAY-see-eye

Malvaceae (Mallow Family) Pronounced Mal-vay-cee-eye

Montiaceae (Miner's Lettuce Family) Pronounced Mont-tee-ACE-ee-eye or Mont-tee-AH-chee, Montia for short

Musaceae Family (Pronounced Myuz-ay-cee-eye)

Nephrolepidaceae (Fern Family) Pronounced Neh-frow-leh-pi-day-see-eye

Oleaceae (Olive or Lilac Family) Pronounced O-lee-A-see-eye

Onagraceae (Willowherb or Evening Primrose Family) Pronounced Oh-nah-GRACE-ee-eye

Paeoniaceae (Peony Family) Pronounced Pee-own-ee-aye-see-eye

Pinaceae (Pine Family) Pronounced pih-NAY-see-eye

Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family) Pronounced Plant-tage-in-aye-see-eye

Polemoniaceae (Jacob's Ladder or Phlox family) Pronounced pol-uh-MOH-nee-ay-see-eye

Polygonaceae (Buckwheat, Knotweed or Smartweed Family) Prounounced poll-ee-gun-AY-see-eye

Plumbaginaceae (Leadwort or Plumbago Family) Pum-badge-e-NAY-see-eye

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) Pronounced Ruh-nunc-you-lace-ee-eye

Rosaceae (Rose family) Pronounced roe-ZAY-see-eye

Ranunculaceae ( Buttercup Family) Pronounced Ruh-nunc-you-lace-ee-eye

Sapindaceae (Soapberry or Maple family) Pronounced Sap-in-DAY-see-eye

Saxifragaceae (Saxifraga Family) Pronounced Saks-uh-fray-gay-see-eye

Verbenaceae (Vervain Family) Pronounced Verb-en-aye-see-eye

Vitaceae (Grape Family) Pronounced Vi-tay-cee-eye

About Plant Scientific Names

Height Conversion Quick Reference

Scientific Name Pronunciation Helps

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Thank you for visiting.