BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE. 435 



Albizzia. Name derived from the Albizzi, a noble family of Italy, one 

 of whom is said to have introduced this genus into European culti- 

 vation. 



Albus-a-um. White. 



Alchemilla. Lady's mantle. From the Arabic name alkcmclyeh; in refer- 

 ence to the silky pubescence of some species. 



Aletris. Star grass, Colic-root. From Gr. oterp/'f, a female slave who 

 grinds ; in allusion to the mealy appearance of the blossoms. 



Algae. Plural of alga, sea-weed ; probably a shortened form of alliga, from 

 ad, to, + ligo, to bind. 



Allium. Onion, Garlic. The ancient Latin name for garlic ; perhaps con- 

 nected with Lat. oleo, to emit a smell. 



Alnus. Alder. The ancient Latin name. 



Aloe. The ancient Greek name. 



Alsine. Chickweed. ' Greek name of a plant. 



Alstonia. Dita. Named for Dr. Charles Alston, botanist, of Edinburgh 

 (1683-1760). 



Althaea. Marshmallow. Hollyhock. The classical name. From Gr. 

 aMaivu, to heal, cure ; in allusion to the medicinal properties of the 

 plant. 



Alyssum. Greek name of a plant believed to check hydrophobia ; from a 

 priv., + ?.rmra raging madness. Or a plant used to check hiccup ; 

 from a priv., + /U<w, to have the hiccup. 



Amaranthus. Amaranth. From Gr.d^dpairof, unfading; because the bracts 

 are dry and persistent. 



Amarus-a-um. Bitter. 



Amaryllis. Belladonna lily. Greek name of a shepherdess. 



Ambrosia. Ragweed. The Greek and Latin name of several plants, as 

 well as of the food of the immortals. 



Ambrosioides. Gr. afifipoaia -f- o- eitiqe , like, resembling ambrosia. 



Americanus-a-tim. Belonging to America. 



Ammania. Named for Paul Ammann, a German botanist prior to 

 Linnaeus. 



Ammoniacum. A resinous gum which exudes from a tree that grew near 

 the temple of Jupiter Ammon. The Greek name. 



Amomum. Cardamom. Greek name of an Indian spice plant. 



Amorpha. False indigo. From Gr. a/zop^of, deformed, a priv., + //p0#, 

 form ; in allusion to the absence of four of the petals. 



Amygdalus. Almond. Peach. Ancient Greek name. From aftvoau, to 

 tear, rend ; in allusion to the furrows on the endocarp. . 



Amylum. Starch. The Greek name. From a priv., + M-vXr), a mill ; re- 

 ferring to its fineness, which makes it unnecessary for it to be ground. 



Anacardium. Cashew. From Gr. dvd, similar to, + Kapdia, heart. The 

 fruit of the plant is thought to resemble the heart of a bird. 



Anacyclus. Pellitory. An abbreviation for ananthocyclus. From Gr. a 

 priv., -f- avttof, flower, -f- KVK^^ circle ; in allusion to the pistillate 

 or infertile rays. Meaning rather vague. 



