How did different Plants get their Names?

            Ever since the evolution of languages, different plants and trees have been given names to distinguish one plant form the other. The nomenclature is essential for general use for a gardener’s catalogue and is often very interesting and hence worth-knowing.

The names of all the trees have interesting origins 

            Some names have simply been borrowed form other languages, while some others take the name of the places of their origin. Some plants have been named according to their shapes and colors while others owe their names to some unique features. Some may have come after the names of their discoverers. Over the years even the names have undergone changes. The origin of names of some important plants and trees are discussed below.

            The pine tree got its name from the Latin word pinus that means a point. The spruce tree should really be called the Prussia tree because it was long thought to be a native of Prussia. The name gradually got corrupted to spruce.

            A buttercup is a flower, which has the shape of a cup and the color of butter. Lady’s mantle was the name given when ladies wore collars that were plated with serrated edges like the leaves of the plant. Honeysuckle has flowers rich in nectar and is, therefore, popular with bees collecting substance for making honey.

            The magnolia has been named after Pierre Magnol of France who was a professor of botany. The cypress is called so because it was first brought from the island of Cyprus. In Madagascar, there is a tree called, The Travelers Tree. It has large, fan-shaped leaves that catch the rainwater and the passing travelers sometimes quench their thirst with this water.

            The barber plant has been named so because the natives of orient used to rub its leaves on their faces to check the beard from growing. The names dandelion comes from the French words dent die lion because the leaves of this plant resemble the teeth of a lion. Thyme comes form the Latin word thymus that means to sacrifice; the Romans used to burn this plant on their altars.

            A plant called self-heal got its name because it was thought to have a healing effect on wounds. Since carpenters are supposed to cut wood with sharp tools more often than other people. This plant is also called carpenter’s herb. The farm workers used this plant as a bandage and hence it has two other names also- hook-heal and sickle-wart.

            The names of many plants often carry a warning. Deadly nightshade is a poisonous plant that grows among the ruins supposedly haunted by ghosts and evil spirits.

Why don’t Some Trees Shed Their Leaves?

            Most of the trees and plants shed their leaves once a year usually during autumn, and new leaves sprout on them during spring. After the defoliation, these trees appear quite barren. The trees which shed leaves every year are called deciduous trees. However, there are other trees, which do not shed all their leaves at once, and thus they appear green throughout the year. Such trees are called evergreen trees. Why these trees do not shed their leaves at once?

Cypress Tree

Fir Tree

 Fir and cypress are well-known evergreen trees with dark leaves and hard wood

            The leaves of the trees, which undergo defoliation every year, live only for one year. On the other hand, leaves of the evergreen trees last for two to three years. As soon as leaf withers, it falls down and a new leaf takes its place. Thus all leaves of not fall at a time. As a result, the tree always retains a large number of leaves and this cycle continues.

            Among the well-known evergreen trees are pines and firs. Besides these, there are many other trees that always remain green. The Italian cypress found in Europe is one such tree. The olive plant also comes under the category of evergreen plants. Its oil is very useful to us. The magnolia plants are used for decoration because their white flowers are very beautiful and do not undergo defoliation.

            Perfumes are extracted from the evergreen plants of the rosemary. The juniper plants, having short and bitter leaves, which are found in North Britain, are famous for their greenness.

            In addition to these, other evergreen plants and trees are myrtle of Britain, oleander of North Africa, oak tree, ivy creeper, orange tree and tall palm tree. The tea plant also comes under the category of the evergreen plants.