Ethymology (Latin to English)
It is useful to understand these names because they usually describe the color, shape of leaves, habit, number of parts, size, habitat, place of origin and sometimes the people who found the plants.
Below are some Latin language tips to help you adapt orchid names to Cambodian language.
Noun Endings:
|
masculine |
feminine |
neutral |
|
-us |
-a |
-um |
|
-er |
-ra |
-rum |
|
-is |
-is |
-is |
|
-r |
-ris |
-re |
Example: Coelogyne virescens
Many names of orchids honour people by using their names. These can be easily recognized because they often end in ‘ii’ if the name ends with a consonant, in ‘i’ if the name ends with “-er” or with a vowel except “a”, and in ‘e’ if the name ends with an “a”.
Ex: Dendrobium delacourii
Below is a list of genera and species interpreted from Latin to English. For Latin to Khmer, click here
This work is the result of team work by Chantheanna Jancloes, Nay Sikhoeun, A. Sreynak, Vuthy Phan and Cedric Jancloes, to establish meanings associated with each species, based on their latin terminology. It is hoped that this work along with existing vernacular names used in the country, can help future scholars to establish a list of Cambodian language generic names and species.
Meaning of some listed species:
|
Species |
Genera meaning (E) |
Species meaning (E) |
|
Acampe carinata |
akampas: rigid |
carina: keel of a ship, shell of a nut |
|
Acampe ochracea |
akampas: rigid |
ochre color (yellow, golden, dull red, reddish brown) |
|
Acampe praemorsa |
akampas: rigid |
premorse: as if bitten off. |
|
Acanthophippium gougahensis |
akantha: prickle (pointy) + ephippium: saddle. |
from Gougah Falls in Vietnam |
|
Acriopsis indica |
akris: locust / grasshoper + opsis: having the appearance of / like |
from India |
|
Adenoncos vesiculosa |
adenos: gland + onkos: tumour |
vesicularis: little blister, bladder |
|
Aerides crassifolia |
aer-: airy + belonging to |
crassus: thick + foliage (leaves) |
|
Aerides falcata |
aer-: airy + belonging to |
falc: a sickle + suffix: Sickle-shaped |
|
Aerides falcata var houlletiana |
aer-: airy + belonging to |
French collector and horticulturist Houllet |
|
Aerides multiflora |
aer-: airy + belonging to |
flos: flower ; many flowered |
|
Aerides odorata |
aer-: airy + belonging to |
fragrant |
|
Agrostophyllum planicaule |
agrostos: forage grass + phyllon: leaf |
planus: flat, level + caulis: stem (flat stemmed) |
|
Ainia penangiana |
taeni: ribbon, fillet, stripe |
from Penang (Malaysia) |
|
Anoectochilus lylei |
anoiktos: open + cheilos: lips |
after Lyle the original discoverer of the species |
|
Appendicula hexandra |
small appendage |
hex: six + andros: male; having six pollinia |
|
Arachnis labrosa |
arachne: spider; shaped like a spider |
labrum: lip or edge, rim; large-lipped |
|
Arundina graminifolia |
arundo: a reed |
gramen: grass; grass-like leaves |
|
Brachypeza laotica |
brachys: short + pezos: on foot/walking |
from Laos |
|
Bromheadia aporoides |
Sir Edward Thomas Ffrench Bromhead, British mathematician |
Aporum, an orchid genus, + -oides, resembling |
|
Bromheadia finlaysoniana |
Sir Edward Thomas Ffrench Bromhead |
Scottish naturalist George Finlayson |
|
Bulbophyllum affine |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
affinis: related; neighbouring |
|
Bulbophyllum blepharistes |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
blepharis: eyelash(es), and blepharo-: eyelid. |
|
Bulbophyllum careyanum |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
William Carey, botanist |
|
Bulbophyllum clandestinum |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
clandestinus: hidden; concealed; secret |
|
Bulbophyllum dissitiflorum |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
dis-: away from, divided + florum; with distant flowers |
|
Bulbophyllum haniffii |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
M.Haniff, botanist |
|
Bulbophyllum laxiflorum |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
laxus: loose; loose-flowered |
|
Bulbophyllum lemniscatoides |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
lemniscatus: adorned with ribbons + resembling |
|
Bulbophyllum lepidum |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
lepus: a hare; the flowers resemble the ears of a hare |
|
Bulbophyllum lobbii |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
William Lobb plant collector |
|
Bulbophyllum macranthum |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
makros: long or large ; large flowered |
|
Bulbophyllum moniliforme |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
monile: necklace + shape |
|
Bulbophyllum odoratissimum |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
very fragrant or highly scented |
|
Bulbophyllum orientale |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
oriens: rising (as the sun); of the east |
|
Bulbophyllum rufinum |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
rufi-: red; fox red |
|
Bulbophyllum tenuifolium |
bolbos: bulb + phyllon: leaf. |
tenuis: thin; thin, slender leaves |
|
Calanthe cardioglossa |
kalos: beautiful + anthos: flower |
cardium: heart + glossa: tongue |
|
Calanthe lyroglossa |
kalos: beautiful + anthos: flower |
lyrate: lyre-shaped + glossa: tongue |
|
Calanthe triplicata |
kalos: beautiful + anthos: flower |
plicatus: folded; folded three times |
|
Ceratostylis subulata |
cerato: horn, horn-like-parts + stylis: column |
subulatus: awl-like; awl-shaped |
|
Chiloschista exuperei |
cheilos: lip, rim + schistos: split, divided |
Frère Exupère, the discoverer of this species |
|
Chiloschista parishii |
cheilos: lip, rim + schistos: split, divided |
Rev.Charles Samuel Pollock Parish |
|
Cleisomeria lanatum |
kleistos: shut + -mera: part; piece; portion |
lana: wool; wooly |
|
Cleisomeria pilosulum |
kleistos: shut + -mera: part; piece; portion |
pilos: felt (material made from fur, hair) + diminutive; slightly hairy |
|
Cleisostoma arietinum |
kleistos: shut + stoma: mouth |
aries: a ram + like; pertaining to rams |
|
Cleisostoma birmanicum |
kleistos: shut + stoma: mouth |
from Myanmar (ex Burma) |
|
Cleisostoma crochetii |
kleistos: shut + stoma: mouth |
after Commandant Crochet, the discoverer |
|
Cleisostoma discolor |
kleistos: shut + stoma: mouth |
with more than one color |
|
Cleisostoma fuerstenbergianum |
kleistos: shut + stoma: mouth |
of Fürstenberg, a county in Germany. |
|
Cleisostoma rostratum |
kleistos: shut + stoma: mouth |
rostrans: having, or like a beak; likened to a bird’s beak. |
|
Coelogyne brachyptera |
koilos: hollow + gyne: female |
brachi-: arm-shaped or branch-like + pter-: wing |
|
Coelogyne cumingii |
koilos: hollow + gyne: female |
British botanist Hugh Cuming |
|
Coelogyne filipeda |
koilos: hollow + gyne: female |
filum: thread + pedale: foot; with a slender inflorescence stalk |
|
Coelogyne pallens |
koilos: hollow + gyne: female |
pallidus: pale ; fading, waning. |
|
Coelogyne quadratiloba |
koilos: hollow + gyne: female |
quadrus: square + lobos: ear-lobe. |
|
Coelogyne trinervis |
koilos: hollow + gyne: female |
nervata: nerved; three-nerved |
|
Crepidium callophyllum |
crepida: boot, shoe or base |
kalos: beautiful + leaf |
|
Crepidium octodentatum |
crepida: boot, shoe or base |
octo: eight + dentata; teethed |
|
Crepidium ophrydis |
crepida: boot, shoe or base |
ophrys: eyebrow; brow shaped |
|
Cylindrolobus biflorus |
cylindro: cylinder + lobus: relating to a lobe or lobes |
two flowered |
|
Cymbidium aloifolium |
cymba: cup, bowl, boat + idium: a diminutive, little |
aloe + leaf; leaves similar to leaves of Aloe plant |
|
Cymbidium dayanum |
cymba: cup, bowl, boat + idium: a diminutive, little |
after John Day, British orchid collector and illustrator |
|
Cymbidium ensifolium |
cymba: cup, bowl, boat + idium: a diminutive, little |
ensis: sword; sword-shaped leaves |
|
Cymbidium finlaysonianum |
cymba: cup, bowl, boat + idium: a diminutive, little |
Scottish naturalist George Finlayson |
|
Dendrobium anosmum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
an-: no + osme: no smell |
|
Dendrobium chrysotoxum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
chryso: gold + toxon: bow, arch; a golden arch. |
|
Dendrobium crumenatum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
Crumena: a purse; pouch + suffix: like; having. |
|
Dendrobium cumulatum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
cumulatus: piled (up); crowded flowers |
|
Dendrobium cuspidatum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
cuspidis: point; having a prong |
|
Dendrobium delacourii |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
French botanist Lacour-Gouffé |
|
Dendrobium draconis |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
drakon: dragon; like a dragon |
|
Dendrobium ellipsophyllum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
elleipsis: ellipsoid.+leaves |
|
Dendrobium farmeri |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
after W.F.G. Farmer, British orchid grower |
|
Dendrobium gibsonii |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
English mercenary John Gibson |
|
Dendrobium heterocarpum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
hetero: different + karpos: fruit |
|
Dendrobium indivisum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
undivided |
|
Dendrobium infundibulum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
infundibulum: a funnel |
|
Dendrobium intricatum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
intricatus: entangled |
|
Dendrobium jenkinsii |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
Captain Jenkins, officer of the East India Co. |
|
Dendrobium kentrophyllum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
kentro: refers to spur + leaf, |
|
Dendrobium kontumense |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
from the Annam Highlands, Vietnam |
|
Dendrobium lagarum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
lagaros: lax; loose; thin; supple |
|
Dendrobium leonis |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
leo: lion; lion-like |
|
Dendrobium lomatochilum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
lomation: small fringe; hem; border + lip. |
|
Dendrobium macrostachyum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
makros: long or large + stachys: a grain, spike |
|
Dendrobium oligophyllum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
oligos: a little, few; Having few leaves |
|
Dendrobium pachyglossum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
pachys: thick + glossa: tongue |
|
Dendrobium pachyphyllum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
pachys: thick + leaves |
|
Dendrobium parishii |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
Botanist Rev. Charles Samuel Pollock |
|
Dendrobium plicatile |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
plicatus: folded; capable of being folded |
|
Dendrobium polyanthum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
poly: many + anthum: flower |
|
Dendrobium reflexitepalum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
reflexed + tepals |
|
Dendrobium secundum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
secund: in a row, unilateral; leaves on one side |
|
Dendrobium subulatum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
subulatus: awl-like; awl-shaped |
|
Dendrobium trigonopus |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
trigonos: three angled + foot. |
|
Dendrobium unicum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
unicus: singular; unique |
|
Dendrobium venustum |
dendron: tree + bium: ressembling |
Venus goddess of beauty, grace |
|
Dendrolirium lasiopetalum |
dendron: tree + lily |
lasios: wooly, hairy + petals |
|
Diploprora championii |
diploos: double + prora: prow (front of a boat). |
Botanist John George Champion |
|
Dipodium paludosum |
di-: two +-podium: small foot |
paludose: of swamps |
|
Eria scabrilinguis |
erion: wool; of wool; wooly |
scabri-: rough; gritty; scurfy + lingua: tongue |
|
Erythrodes blumei |
erythros: red + like |
Carl Ludwig von Blume German Phytologist |
|
Eulophia andamanensis |
eu: good, well + lophos: mane, crest |
from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Indian territory) |
|
Eulophia bracteosa |
eu: good, well + lophos: mane, crest |
bractea: small leaf ; having many (or large) bracts |
|
Eulophia flava |
eu: good, well + lophos: mane, crest |
yellow color |
|
Eulophia graminea |
eu: good, well + lophos: mane, crest |
gramen: grass; grass-like appearance |
|
Eulophia macrobulbon |
eu: good, well + lophos: mane, crest |
makros: long, large + bulb |
|
Eulophia nuda |
eu: good, well + lophos: mane, crest |
nudus: naked; bare; unadorned; plain; without |
|
Gastrochilus obliquus |
gaster: belly + lip. |
obliquus: oblique |
|
Geodorum siamense |
geo: earth + durum: hard |
from Siam (Thailand) |
|
Geodorum terrestre |
geo: earth + durum: hard |
terra: earth; terrestrial |
|
Grammatophyllum speciosum |
gramma: a line or streak + phyllon: leaf |
speciosus: beautiful, splendid |
|
Grosourdya appendiculata |
Botanist Renato de Grosourdy |
small appendages + suffix: like; having. |
|
Habenaria dentata |
habena: strap or rein |
toothed |
|
Habenaria lindleyana |
habena: strap or rein |
Prof. John Lindley british phytologist |
|
Habenaria rhodocheila |
habena: strap or rein |
rhodon: rose + lipped |
|
Habenaria rostellifera |
habena: strap or rein |
rostrum + dimin.: having a small beak |
|
Liparis atrosanguinea |
liparos: oily, greasy, shiny |
atro-: strong; dark; blackish + sanguinea: Blood red |
|
Liparis cespitosa |
liparos: oily, greasy, shiny |
caespitose: growing in tufts; patches |
|
Liparis gibbosa |
liparos: oily, greasy, shiny |
gibbus +-osa: having an obvious, prominent hump |
|
Ludisia discolor |
ludere: to play (at) |
with more than one color |
|
Luisia filiformis |
Don Luis de Torres, Portugese botanist |
fili: thread + shape; threadlike |
|
Luisia morsei |
Don Luis de Torres, Portugese botanist |
Samuel F. B. Morse |
|
Luisia psyche |
Don Luis de Torres, Portugese botanist |
psyche: lady with beautiful wings; butterfly like |
|
Luisia zollingeri |
Don Luis de Torres, Portugese botanist |
German botanist Heinrich Zollinger |
|
Macropodanthus alatus |
makros: big, giant + pod: feet + anthus: flower |
alatus: winged |
|
Micropera thailandica |
mikros: small, little + pera: pouch, wallet |
from Thailand |
|
Microsaccus griffithii |
mikros: small + saccus: bag |
Botanist William Griffith |
|
Mycaranthes floribunda |
mykes: mushroom + are: possession + anthus: flower |
abundant in flowers |
|
Mycaranthes oblitterata |
mykes: mushroom + are: possession + anthus: flower |
obliteratus: very poorly developed; |
|
Nephelaphyllum pulchrum |
nephele: cloud; mist + leaf. |
pulchrum: beauty |
|
Nervilia mekongensis |
nervus: nerve |
from the Mekong |
|
Oberonia falcata |
Oberon, king of the fairies or Latin word meaning "flattened" |
falcate: Sickle-shaped |
|
Oxystophyllum carnosum |
oxysto-: (sharp) cutting + phyllum: leaves |
carnosus: fleshy |
|
Paphiopedilum appletonianum |
Paphia: (Aphrodite) goddess of love + pelidon: slippers |
British grower W.M. Appleton |
|
Paphiopedilum callosum |
Paphia: (Aphrodite) goddess of love + pelidon: slippers |
kalon: a lump of wood; calloused; with many calli |
|
Paphiopedilum concolor |
Paphia: (Aphrodite) goddess of love + pelidon: slippers |
with one color |
|
Paphiopedilum villosum |
Paphia: (Aphrodite) goddess of love + pelidon: slippers |
villus: a small, fine, soft, upright hair |
|
Papilionanthe pedunculata |
Papilio: butterfly + anthus: flower |
having, or like a peduncle |
|
Pelatantheria ctenoglossum |
pelates: neighbour; one who is near + flowers; flowery. |
ktenos: a comb + glossa: tongue |
|
Pennilabium acuminatum |
penna: feather, wing, arrow + lip |
acuminate: pointed |
|
Peristylus maingayi |
peri: around + stylos: pillar |
Botanist Alexander Carroll Maingay |
|
Peristylus parishii |
peri: around + stylos: pillar |
Botanist Rev.Charles Samuel Pollock Parish |
|
Peristylus tentaculatus |
peri: around + stylos: pillar |
tentaculatus: having organs, tentacles |
|
Phaius indochinensis |
phaios: dusky or brown |
from Indochina |
|
Phaius tankervilleae |
phaios: dusky or brown |
after Lady Tankerville |
|
Phalaenopsis difformis |
phalaena: a kind of moth + -opsis: like |
difformis: differently formed |
|
Phalaenopsis hygrochila |
phalaena: a kind of moth + -opsis: like |
hygros: moist + lip. |
|
Phalaenopsis mannii |
phalaena: a kind of moth + -opsis: like |
Phytologist Gustav Mann |
|
Phalaenopsis pulcherrima |
phalaena: a kind of moth + -opsis: like |
pulchrum: beauty; Beautiful |
|
Pholidota articulata |
pholidotos: clad in scales |
articulatus: having joints, jointed |
|
Pholidota chinensis |
pholidotos: clad in scales |
from China |
|
Pholidota imbricata |
pholidotos: clad in scales |
imbricatus: overlapped |
|
Pinalia acervata |
Pinalia (from Nepalese): a type of forest yam |
acervatus: piled up; gathered |
|
Pinalia bractescens |
Pinalia (from Nepalese): a type of forest yam |
bractea: small leaf; Developing or turning to bracts |
|
Pinalia floribunda |
Pinalia (from Nepalese): a type of forest yam |
abundant in flowers |
|
Pinalia tenuiflora |
Pinalia (from Nepalese): a type of forest yam |
tenuis: thin; Slender flowered |
|
Pinalia xanthocheila |
Pinalia (from Nepalese): a type of forest yam |
xanthos: brownish yellow + lip |
|
Plocoglottis bokorensis |
ploke: bound together + tongue. |
from the Bokor Mountain |
|
Podochilus lucescens |
pod: foot + lip. |
lux + suffix: becoming shiny |
|
Podochilus microphyllus |
pod: foot + lip. |
mikros: small + leaves |
|
Polystachya concreta |
poly: many + stachys: spike |
concretus: stiff; hardened, |
|
Porpax elwesii |
porpax: handle of a shield ref: the pair of small leaves at the pseudobulb |
botanist Henry John Elwes |
|
Porpax muscicola |
porpax: handle of a shield ref: the pair of small leaves at the pseudobulb |
muscus: moss, -cola: growing; growing in moss |
|
Porpax verrucosa |
porpax: handle of a shield ref: the pair of small leaves at the pseudobulb |
verrucosus; covered with warts |
|
Pteroceras teres |
pter-: wing + ceras: horn(s). |
teres: rounded; cylindrical; smooth |
|
Renanthera coccinea |
renis: kidney + anther: flower |
scarlet / crimson color |
|
Rhynchostylis coelestis |
rhynchos: beak + stylis: column |
caelestis: heavenly, celestial; sky blue |
|
Rhynchostylis gigantea |
rhynchos: beak + stylis: column |
like giant |
|
Rhynchostylis retusa |
rhynchos: beak + stylis: column |
retusus: notched |
|
Robiquetia spathulata |
Pierre Jean Robiquet, French chemist |
spatula shaped |
|
Schoenorchis gemmata |
schoenos: reed + orchis: testicle |
gemma: a bud + suffix |
|
Seidenfadenia mitrata |
Danish botanist Gunnar Seidenfaden |
a head covering; cap.(Bishop's Mitre) |
|
Smitinandia helferi |
Thai forest botanist Tim Smitinand |
after J.W. Helfer, Czech naturalist |
|
Smitinandia micrantha |
Thai forest botanist Tim Smitinand |
mikros: small, anther: flower; having small flowers |
|
Spathoglottis affinis |
spathe: broad blade + glottis: throat |
closely related to, or akin to |
|
Spathoglottis eburnea |
spathe: broad blade + glottis: throat |
of ivory |
|
Spathoglottis pubescens |
spathe: broad blade + glottis: throat |
ripening or hairy |
|
Strongyleria pannea |
strongyl: round; rounded + Eria: of wool; wooly |
pannus: piece of cloth; (like) wool, or felt cloth, |
|
Taeniophyllum pusillum |
tainia: ribbon, fillet, band, stripe + phyllon: leaf |
pusillus: very small |
|
Tainia latifolia |
tainia: ribbon, fillet, band, stripe |
lati: broad + leaf
|
|
Thecostele alata |
theke: a case, container + stele: base; stand. |
winged |
|
Thelasis perpusilla |
thele: nipple; nipple-like |
perpusilla: insignificant; very small |
|
Thrixspermum centipeda |
thrix: hair + sperma: seed |
like a centipede; referring to the inflorescence |
|
Thunia pulchra |
Count von Thun Hohenstein of Tetschin, Bohemia (Czechoslovakia) |
pulchrum: beautiful |
|
Trichoglottis fasciata |
trichos: hair + glottis: tongue |
fasciate: banded, striped |
|
Trichoglottis orchidea |
trichos: hair + glottis: tongue |
Orchis, an orchid genus, + resembling |
|
Trichoglottis retusa |
trichos: hair + glottis: tongue |
retusus: notched |
|
Trichoglottis seidenfadenii |
trichos: hair + glottis: tongue |
Danish botanist Gunnar Seidenfaden |
|
Trichoglottis triflora |
trichos: hair + glottis: tongue |
three flowers |
|
Trichotosia dasyphylla |
trichos: hair, very hairy + covered |
dasys: hairy + phyllon: leaf |
|
Trichotosia pulvinata |
trichos: hair, very hairy + covered |
referring to a cushion |
|
Tropidia angulosa |
tropidos: keel + of. the labellum |
strongly-angled |
|
Vanda denisoniana |
vanda (Sanskrit): mistletoe |
after Sir William Denison |
|
Vanda dives |
vanda (Sanskrit): mistletoe |
dives: rich; very wealthy |
|
Vanda lilacina |
vanda (Sanskrit): mistletoe |
lilac: a pale violet |
|
Vanda liouvillei |
vanda (Sanskrit): mistletoe |
Liouville, Joseph, French mathematician |
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Vanda miniata |
vanda (Sanskrit): mistletoe |
miniate: having vermilion or bright red color |
|
Vanilla aphylla |
vaina + dimin: a small sheath |
missing leaves |
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Vanilla atropogon |
vaina + dimin: a small sheath |
atro: strong; dark; blackish + bearded; beard-like (Pogonia) |
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Vrydagzynea albida |
Dutch chemist Theodore Daniel Vrydag Zynen |
alba: white, whitish, pale |
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Zeuxine nervosa |
zeuxis: joining, yoking |
with conspicuous nerves |