Botanical Latin Pronunciation

Often, the proper botanical plant names may only be needed for clarification when talking amongst your gardener or plant enthusiast friends. However, in some situations it is imperative to use the botanical names when referring to plants. The common names vary so much that you may not end up with the plant you wanted... or worse, you could end up very sick or dead if you ingest the wrong plant.

Many people are put off from using the botanical plant names for fear of embarrassment from mispronunciation. (This was me!) Now, I tend to agree with those that believe that the pronunciation is not that important as long as those concerned understand. Still, I would like to have at least a partial grasp on how the words are most commonly and properly pronounced.

These sites will point you on the right track to comfort when speaking botanical plant names:

•The Plants Database: Botanary

quite complete; no WAV files

•Pronunciation of Biological Latin

a short page on overall pronunciation rules for biological latin names

•Pronouncing Latin Names at MushroomExpert.com

a humorous outlook that I agree with

•Fine Gardening's Guide to Pronouncing Botanical Latin

very good; includes WAV files; but neglects family names