434 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



Abelmoschus. Muskmallow. From Arab. Abu-l-misk, father of musk; 



producing musk. 



Abies. Fir. The classical Latin name. 

 Abrotanum. Southernwood. Gr. afipdrovov ', from aflpoToc ? sacred to the 



gods, immortal ; probably in allusion to the odor. 

 Abrus. Indian licorice. From Gr. a/fydf, graceful; in allusion to the 



flowers. 



Absinthium. Wormwood. The ancient Greek name. 

 Abyssinicus-a-um. Pertaining to Abyssinia. 

 Acacia. The ancient Greek name of an Egyptian species. From a*i?, a 



point ; referring to the thorns. 

 Acer. Maple. The classical Latin name. 

 Acer, acris, acre. Sharp, pungent. From root ak, to be sharp. 

 Achillea. Yarrow, Milfoil. Named for the Greek warrior Achilles, who 



is said to have discovered the virtues of the plant. 

 Aconitum. Monkshood, Wolfsbane. The ancient Greek name. 

 Acorus. Sweet flag. The ancient classical name. 

 Actaea. Baneberry, Cohosh. Ancient Greek name of the elder. 

 Acuminatus-a-um. Acuminate, tapering. Lat. acumino, to make pointed. 

 Acutifolius-a-um. Having sharp-pointed leaves. Lat. acutus, sharp, -f- 



folium, a leaf. 

 Adiantum. Maidenhair. The ancient name. From Gr. , priv., + diaivu, to 



wet, hence unwetted, incapable of being wet. 

 Adonis. Pheasant's eye. A plant fabled to have sprung from the blood 



of the beautiful Adonis. 

 Advena. Yellow pond lily. From Lat. advena, strange, foreign. (Of 



doubtful application.) 

 Aegle. Bengal quince. Name of a nymph in Greek mythology. Perhaps 



from aty/b?, brightness, splendor. 



^sculus. Horsechestnut. The Latin name of an oak or some other mast- 

 bearing tree. 

 ystivalis-e. Pertaining to the summer. The classical Latin word is 



(ustivalis. 



Agaricus. Mushrooms. Gr. ayapmov. Lat. agarici ( m, a tree fungus. 

 Agave. American aloe. Gr. dyaw?, noble, illustrious. Appropriately 



applied to Agave americana, the century plant. 

 Agrimonia. Probably a corruption from argemone. According to others, 



it is derived from Gr. dypdf, field, + JJLOVO^^ alone. 

 Agropyron. Wheat grass. From Gr. dypdr, field, + nvpos, wheat ; alluding 



to the fact that it grows wild in wheat fields. 



Agrostemma. Corn cockle. From Gr. dypdf, field, + <n-f////a, a crown. 

 Ailanthus. Tree of heaven. Said to be from aylanto, the name of the 



tree in the Moluccas, in allusion to its height. 

 Ajuga. Bugle weed. From Gr. a priv., + (.vyov (Lat. iugum), a yoke. 



From the fact that the lower lip of the corolla has a single, con- 

 spicuous middle lobe. 



