My book, A Georgia Native Plant Guide, incorporates the Latin terminology of the plants so that there is no misunderstanding of the plant of topic. I grew up calling Forsythia "goldenrod" for as long as I can remember… and Forsythia is definitely not the Solidago "Goldenrod". To make it easier to get a general idea of what a plant is like by deciphering its Latin botanical name, I've listed 50 of such epithets to be a guideline and perhaps perk an interest in pursuing more knowledge.
Aborescens - tree like
Aestivalis, aestivale - of summer
Alatus, alata, alatum - winged
Albus, alba, album - white, pale
Angustifolius, angustifolia, angustifolium - narrow leaves
Aphyllus, aphylla, aphyllum - leafless
Aquaticus, aquatica, aquaticum - in water
Aristosus, aristosa, aristosum - bearded
Canadensis, canadense - Northeast American, Canadian
Clauses, clausa, clausum - closed
Coccineus, coccinea, coccineum - scarlet
Crinitus, crinita, crinitum - long haired
Diffusus, diffusa, diffusum - spreading
Dipterus, diptera, dipterum - 2 winged
Falcatus, falcata, falcatum - sickle shaped
Fistulosus, fistulosa, fistulosum - tubular
Flavus, flava, flavum - yellow
Floridus, florida, floridum - flowering
Fruticosus, fruticosa, fruticosum - shrubby
Geminatus, geminata, geminatum - paired, doubled
Glabra - hairless, smooth
Grandifolius, grandifolia, grandifolium - great leaves
Heterophyllus, heterophylla, heterophyllum - differently leaved
Humilis, humile - low growing
Incanus, incana, incanum - gray
Indicus, indica, indicum - Indian
Inodorus, inodora, inodorum - unscented
Laevigatus, laevigata, laevigatum - smooth
Laevis, laeve - smooth
Lyratus, lyrata, lyratum - lyre shaped
Maritumus, maritima, maritimum- of the sea
Maximus, maxima, maximum - largest
Minus, minor - smaller
Nivalis, nivale - of the snow
Officinalis, officinale - medicinal
Ovata, ovatum - egg shaped
Parvifolius, parvifolia, parvifolium - small leaved
Racemosus, racemosa, racemosum - with racemes, clusters
Rotundifolius, rotundifolia, rotundifolium - round leaved
Rubra, rubrum - red
Serrulatus, serrulata, serrulatum - small teeth
Stipulatus, stipulata, stipulatum - with stipules, blades
Strepens - making noise
Sylvaticus, sylvatica, sylvaticum - wild, in woods
Thyoides - citrus like
Tomentosus, tomentosa, tomentosum - hairy
Tripartitus, tripartita, tripartitum - 3 parts
Tuberosus, tuberosa, tuberosum - tuberous, a hump
Umbellatus, umbellata, umbellatum - in umbels
Viscosus, viscosa, viscosum - sticky
