etymology

The names of plants, or phytonyms (from Ancient Greek phytón, ‘plant’, and ónoma, ‘name’, ‘noun’), are a very significant part of the lexicon of a language. They represent not only a relevant ‘specialized vocabulary’, but, when investigated through the analysis of the linguistic procedures implemented by speakers to generate them, tell us a lot about the mindset and culture of a population. The etymological reconstructions of phytonyms often hold surprises and challenges for the Linguists who study them and, once completed, enable them to understand the perspectives of a group of individuals and to document their perception of the world. The English language has a very rich botanical lexicon, and English plant names often tell us fascinating stories. Their origins