DERIVATIONS OF THE LATIN NAMES OF PLANTS. 
Article I. 
By Mr. T. B. Hall. 
According to the request of Mr. Edwin Lees, at Vol. II., p. 420, of The- 
Naturalist , I send you a list of the derivations of the names of our British 
plants; I prepared it for my own use previous to undertaking the study of 
Botany, and have since found it very useful, as it contributed much to fix the 
names in my memory. I was not aware, at the time that I took so much pains 
in collecting the derivations from various old works, that Sir W. J. Hooker had 
given them in his valuable work, the British Flora , but as that may not be in 
the hands of many of your readers, I trust these derivations, imperfect as they 
may be found, will prove acceptable. The remarks that I added at the time 
were principally from Sir J. E. Smith’s English Flora , and the works from which 
I extracted the derivations; but from having access to various botanical works, 
I am enabled to add considerably to them, and trust that they will not be found 
altogether uninteresting. To such as are well acquainted with Botany they may 
perhaps be looked upon as trifling,* but to those who are accustomed to look 
upon Botany as a dry study, these casual remarks may perhaps be the means 
of leading them to reconsider their verdict. I have made such additions from 
Sir W. J. Hooker’s British Flora as will I think make the derivations tolerably 
complete; but should there be any deficiencies, perhaps some of your corres¬ 
pondents will supply them, and correct any that may be wrong or misapplied. 
If you deem them worthy of a place in your valuable magazine, I shall be 
happy to send you a continuation, either with or without the remarks, as you 
may consider best. It gives me great pleasure to revert to the period when 
I first compiled it, in conjunction and with the assistance of a friend who was at 
that time enthusiastically fond of Botany, and to whom I am almost entirely 
indebted for what little knowledge I possess of that study. 
Acer. —From acer , sharp or hard, on account of the sharpness of its juice 
and hardness of the wood. It is the badge of the clan Oliphant. 
Acer campestre , Common Maple.—This was formerly the principal wood lor 
all kinds of cabinet work, and, according to Evelyn, the knobs of ancient trees 
affording beautiful and richly-variegated specimens were collected by the curious 
at high prices. When beautifully veined or spotted, it was much prized by the 
* Were this the case, it is not likely that Mr. Lees would have made the request. We more¬ 
over positively know that many good naturalists are ignorant of the signification of the terms they 
daily employ.—E d. 
