Biology
2008-08-06
Flowering plants in this document - common names first

Table of contents
Alphabetic listing of genus names and common names of plants
Genus names: A. | B. | C. | D. | E. | F. | G. | H. | I. | J. | K. | L. | M. | N. | O. | P. | Q. | R. | S. | T. | U. | V. | W. | X. | Y. | Z. |

Flowering plants, Plantae
Reference: Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A. & Seberg, O. (2007). Flowering Plant Families of the World, . Royal Botanic Gardens: Kew
A.
African violet, Usambara violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)
almond Prunus dulcis (Prunus amygdalus, Amygdalus communis)
anemone Anemone
apple, common apple Malus X domestica
apple, crabapple Malus sylvestris
apricot Prunus armeniaca (Armeniaca vulgaris)
arrowhead Sagittaria
arum lily Zantedeschia aethiopica
ash tree Fraxinus
avocado Persea gratissima
azalea, rhododendron Rhododendron
B.
balsam, busy Lizzie Impatiens
banana Musa acuminata [Musa (AAA group) "Dwarf Cavendish"]
banksia coastal banksia Banksia integrifolia
barley Hordeum vulgare
beans:
Phaseolus vulgaris common bean, French bean, haricot bean, field bean, snap bean, string bean, wax bean, caraota, poroto
Phaseolus angularis (Vigna angularis) adzuki bean, red bean use in Chinese bean paste
Phaseolus lunatus (Phaseolus limensis) lima bean
Phaseolus coccineus, scarlet runner bean, runner bean, potato bean, white Dutch runner bean
Vicia faba broad bean, fava bean, horse bean, field bean, tic bean, Windsor bean, vetch, tare, hairy vetch
beech tree Fagus
beet, beetroot Beta
begonia Begonia
betel palm, areca palm Areca catechu
birch tree, silver birch, European birch, Betula pendula
bird’s foot trefoil Lotus
bird's nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis
blackberry, bramble Rubus
black currant, blackcurrant Ribes
black mustard Brassica nigra
bladderwort, common bladderwort Utricularia vulgaris
bossiaea Bossiaea scolopendria
bottle gourd Lagenaria siceraria
bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum
breadfruit Artocarpus altilis
broad bean Vicia faba
broomrape, choke weed Orobanche ramosa
bryony, white bryony, English mandrake, kua-lou, ladies' seal Bryonia, Dioica
burrawang palm Macrozamia [not a true palm of monocotyledon family Arecaceae (Palmae)]
buttercup, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris
butcher's broom, ruscus, knee-holly, Ruscus
butterwort [carnivorous] Pinguicula
Byfield fern, cycad fern Bowenia, Cycad, Phylum Cycadophyta
C.
cabbage Brassica
canola, rapeseed, rutabaga, swede, turnip Brassica napus
cauliflower, collard, cabbage, kale, kai-lan, Brussels sprout, kohlrabi, broccoli Brassica oleracea var
Chinese cabbage, bak choi, turnip, rapini Brassica rapa (Brassica chinensis)
Canadian pondweed Elodea canadensis
canna Canna
capsicum:
If hot called: chilli, chillies, chilli peppers, hot peppers, tabasco pepper (chilli, chile peppers in USA) chile, guindilla. Capsicum annuum
If not hot called: capsicums, bell peppers, peppers, sweet peppers, green peppers, red peppers, pimiento, ají. Capsicum annuum
carambola, star fruit, five corners Averrhoa carambola
cardboard palm Zamia
carnation, pink, malmaison, sops-in-wine, gillyvor, gillyflower Dianthus
carrot Daucus
cashew Anarcardium occidentale
cassava, tapioca Manihot esculenta
castor bean, castor oil plant Ricinus
celery, celeriac Apium
ceratium Ceratium, desmid, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
cherry Prunus Cerasus (subgenus for all cherries and flowering cherries)
chickweed, starwort Stellaria
chilli, chillies, chilli peppers, chile peppers Capsicum annuum
Chinese cabbage Brassica chinensis
Chinese lantern Abutilon
Chinese taro, tannia, tana, Xanthosoma sagittifolium
chlamydomonas Chlamydomonas, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
chondrus Irish "moss", kelp, Chondrus Brown algae, Phylum Phaeophyta
Christmas fern, shield fern, sword fern Polystichum
chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum (Leucanthemum)
cladophora Cladophora, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
clematis, virgin's bower, traveller's joy Clematis
Cleome Cleome, cleome, spider plant, garden flower
climbing bean Phaseolus vulgaris
closterium Closterium, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
clover, white sweet clover Melilotus
coca shrub Erythroxylon novogranatense (cocaine)
cocoa Theobroma cacao
coconut palm Cocos nucifera
coffee, arabica coffee Coffea arabica
coffee, robusta coffee Coffea canephora
columbine Aquilegia
corallina Corallina Red algae, Phylum Rhodophyta
corydalis, fumewort Corydalis solida
cotton, sea island cotton, Egyptian cotton Gossypium barbadense
couch grass Agropyron (Triticum repens)
cowpea, black-eye pea, southern bean, China pea, Kaffir pea, marble pea Vigna unguiculata
creeping jenny, moneywort, loosestrife Lysimachia
cress, garden cress (not "watercress") pepper grass Lepidium
crocus, Dutch crocus Crocus vernus
cucumber Cucumis sativus
currant Ribes
custard apple Annona
D.
daffodil, jonquil, narcissus, asphodel, lent lily Narcissus pseudonarcissus
dahlia Dahlia
daisy, "day's eye" Bellis
dandelion Taraxacum
date palm Phoenix
dawsonia Dawsonia, Moss, Phylum Bryophyta
deadnettle, henbit, white deadnettle, Lamium [not a nettle and does not sting]
devil's twine Cassytha glabella
dictyota Dictyota, Brown algae, Phylum Phaeophyta
dinobryon Dinobryon, Golden Brown algae, Chrysophyta, Chrysophyceae
dodder Cuscuta
dog rose Rosa canina [not rosehip]
dracaena, dragon's blood Dracaena draco
duckweed fern, water fern, floating fern, mosquito fern Azolla
E.
ecklonia, leather kelp, Ecklonia Brown algae, Phylum Phaeophyta
ectocarpus, Ectocarpus, kelp Brown algae, Phylum Phaeophyta
elms Ulmus
encephalartos, prickly cycad Encephalartos cycad, Phylum Cycadophyta
eucalyptus, "gum tree" Eucalyptus
eudorina Eudorina Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
euglena, euglenoids Euglena, Phylum Euglenophyta (single cell, green, one, two flagella)
F.
fan palms, Chusan palm, windmill palm Trachycarpus fortunei
fennel Foeniculum
fig, edible fig tree Ficus carica
four o'clock flower, marvel-of-Peru, beauty-of-the-night Mirabilis jalapa var. albomaculata
frangipani, temple tree Plumeria
fuchsia Fuchsia, hybrid cv.s
G.
garlic Allium sativum
geranium, cranesbill. "true geraniums" Geranium
geranium, "pelargoniums", "popular geraniums" Pelargonium
gerbera Gerbera
gigartina, giant marine kelp, Gigartina atropurpurea, Red algae, Phylum Rhodophyta
ginger Zingiber officinale
gladiolus Gladiolus
gnetum Gnetum, Phylum Gnetophyta
gonium Gonium Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
gooseberry Ribes
gorse, common gorse, furze Ulex, europaeus
grape, wine grape Vitis
grapefruit Citrus paradisi
grevilleas Grevillea, ground ivy, alehoof, cat's foot Glechoma
groundsel Senecio
guava Psidium guajava
gymnodinium Gymnodinium Phylum Pyrrophyta (naked dinoflagellate)
H.
hakea Hakea
hawthorn Crataegus (rose family)
hazelnut, cobnut, filbert Corylus
heather Calluna, hemp fibre plant, Indian hemp, marijuana Cannabis sativa
hibiscus flower Hibiscus
hollyhocks Alcea (Althaea)
honesty, money plant, Lunaria
hoop pine Araucaria
hormosira Neptune's necklace, kelp, Hormosira Brown algae, Phylum Phaeophyta
horse-chestnut tree, common horse-chestnut, conker, buckeye Aesculus hippocastanum
hyacinth Hyacinthus
hydrangea Hydrangea
I.
iris Iris
ivy Hedera
J.
jackfruit, kathal, jaca Artocarpus heterophyllus
Jerusalem artichoke, i.e. "girasole articiocca" the sunflower artichoke Helianthus tuberosus, Asteraceae
jonquil, narcissus, daffodil Narcissus ute Corchorus
juniper trees Juniperus
K.
kapok, pochote Ceiba pentandra
kurrajong tree Brachychiton
L.
laminaria kelp, olive-brown kelp, Japanese kombu Laminaria Brown algae, Phylum Phaeophyta
lantana Lantana
larch trees Larix sp Conifers Phylum Pinophyta
larkspur delphinium, staves-acre, housewort Delphinium
lemon Citrus
lentils Lens, lettuce Lactuca sativa
lilac tree Syringia vulgaris
lily Lilium
lime (fruit) Citrus aurantifolia
linden tree, lime tree Tilia europaea (T. cordata X T. platyphyllos)
loranthus, mulberry mistletoe Ramulus loranthis
love-in-a-mist Nigella
lucerne Medicago sativa
lupin Lupinus
M.
macrocystis, bull kelp, giant kelp MacrocystisBrown algae, Phylum Phaeophyta
macadamia nut, Queensland nut Macadamia
maidenhair tree, ginkgo,  Ginkgo biloba, Phylum Ginkgophyta
maize, corn, sweet corn, Indian corn, Zea mays
male ferns, shield ferns, wood ferns, autumn ferns Dryopteris
mallow Malva
mango Mangifera indica
mangosteen Garcinia
mangrove Avicennia
marchantia MarchantiaLiverworts, Phylum Hepatophyta
marsh marigold Caltha
mastigocladus [thermophilic, lives in hot springs] Mastigocladus laminosus Blue-green algae, Cyanobacteria
Michaelmas daisy, aster Callistephus
mildews, powdery mildews Erysiphales Phylum Ascomycota (ascomycetes)
maple Acer
marrow, squash Cucumis
mint, garden mint Mentha Mentha spicata
mung bean, green gram bean Phaseolus aureus
mistletoe Loranthus
mulberry, white mulberry Morus alba
musk grass, stoneworts [submerged aquatic plants] Chara, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
mustard, brown Indian mustard Brassica juncea,
mustard, black mustard, table mustard Brassica nigra
mustard, white, yellow mustard (mustard and cress sandwich) Sinapsis alba (Brassica alba)(Brassica hirta)
N.
nasturtium, "nose-twister" Tropaeolum polyphyllum
navicula [boat-shaped diatom] Navicula Phylum Bacillariophyta
Nemalion Nemalion Red algae, Phylum Rhodophyta
Nereocystis, giant kelp Nereocystis, Brown algae, Phylum Phaeophyta
nettle, stinging nettle, common nettle Urtica dioica
nitella Nitella clavata, noctiluca, Noctiluca scintillans, dinoflagellates Phylum Pyrrophyta
nostoc Nostoc Blue-green algae / Cyanobacteria, Phylum Cyanidophyta
nutmeg, Myristica fragrans
O.
oak trees Quercus, sp
oats, common oat Avena sativa
ochromonas Ochromonas, golden / golden brown algae, Phylum Chrysophyta
odontella, marine diatom, Odontella, Phylum Bacillariophyta
oedogonium Oedogonium Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
okra, lady's finger Abelmoschus esculentus (Hibiscus esculentus)
olax Olax stricta
oleander Nerium
olive Olea europaea, onion Allium, cepa var. cepa
ophiocytium Ophiocytium, Yellow-Green Algae, Phylum Xanthophyta
opium poppy [morphine]Papaver somniferum
orange Citrus, sinensis
orchis, military orchid Orchis, militaris
Oscillatoria Oscillatoria Blue-green algae / Cyanobacteria, Phylum Cyanidophyta
oxalis, wood sorrel, Oxalis
P
padina Padina, Brown algae, Phylum Phaeophyta
pandorina Pandorina, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
palms, Family Palmae, monocotyledon, e.g. coconut palm Cocos nucifera, oil palm Elaeis guineensis, betel palm Areca catechu
papaya, pawpaw Carica papaya
parsley, curly leaf parsley Petroselinum crispum
passionfruit Passiflora edulis
pea, garden pea, table pea Pisum sativum var. hortense
pea, field pea, pulse used for dal and green manure Pisum sativum var. arvense
peach Prunus persica
peanut, groundnut Arachis hypogaea
pear Prunus
pellia Pellia, Liverworts, Phylum Hepatophyta
pepper Capsicum,
periwinkle Vinca major (Catharanthus, also called "periwinkle)
phlox, Phlox,
pimento, allspice Pimenta dioica
pimpernel, "scarlet pimpernel" Anagallis
pine tree Pinus, Conifers, Phylum Pinophyta
pineapple Ananas, comosus
pitcher plants, North American pitcher plants Sarracenia
pitcher plants Nepenthes, platycerium [epiphyte] staghorn fern, elkhorn fern, Platycerium Ferns, Phylum Pteridophyta
pleodorina [aquatic, algal blooms] Pleodorina, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta, pleurococcus Pleurococcus (Protococcus) Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
plum Prunus domestica
podocarp, plum pines, real yellowwood, kusamaki, mahogany pine, Podocarpus Conifers, Phylum Pinophyta
polysiphonia Polysiphonia, Red algae, Phylum Rhodophyta
pomegranate Punica granatum
poplar, European poplar, American cottonwood tree, Populus
poppy Papaver
porphyra, "nori" [Japanese food] Porphyra, Red algae, Phylum Rhodophyta
potato, Irish potato Solanum, tuberosum
prickly cycad, bread tree, white-haired cycad Encephalartos altensteinii, Cycad, Phylum Cycadophyta
primrose, common evening primrose, Oenothera biennis
primrose, Primula vulgaris
privet, common hedge plant Ligustrum
psilotum, whisk ferns, fork ferns, Psilotum, Phylum Psilophyta
pumpkin Cucurbita moschata
pyrethrum Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium
Q.
quince Cydonia oblonga
R.
radish Raphanus sativus
rafflesia [the largest flower] Rafflesia
raspberry, red raspberry Rubus idaeus
red clover Trifolium pratense
redcurrent, red currant Ribes rubrum
redwood, coast redwood, california redwood, sequoia, giant sequoia, redwood pine, giant redwood, Sequoia, sempervirens
rhododendron, azalea Rhododendron
Rhodolith, corraline red algae, Lithothamnium, Red algae, Phylum Rhodophyta
riccia [floating liverwort] Riccia Liverworts, Phylum Hepatophyta
rice Oryza sativa
rose, dog rose Rosa canina
roselle, rosella, rama Hibiscus sabdariffa
rowan, mountain ash, wiggentree, witchen, whitebeam, service tree Sorbus
rubber, natural rubber, para rubber, hevea rubber Hevea brasiliensis
runner bean, scarlet runner bean Phaseolus coccineus
S.
sago palm [not a true palm] fern palm Cycas
salix, weeping willow, Salix × sepulcralis (Chinese Peking Willow X European White Willow)
salvinia, giant water fern [serious water weed] Salvinia molesta
sandalwood Santalum
Sargassum Sargassum, Brown algae, kelp, Phylum Phaeophyta
screwpine, pandanas Pandanus tectorius
sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnosides
sea lettuce Ulva, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
selaginella, spike moss, little club moss, peacock moss, queen of the night Selaginella Club moss, Phylum Lycopodiophyta
sensitive plant [weed] Mimosa pudica
shepherd's purse Capsella bursa-pastoris
snake gourd Trichosanthes cucumerina
snapdragon Antirrhinum
Solomon's seal Polygonatum, X hybridum
spiderwort Tradescantia (monocotyledon)
sphaerella Sphaerella (Haematococcus) Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
spiderwort Tradescantia (monocotyledon)
spinach, English spinach Spinacia oleracea
spinfex Spinifex sp
spirogyra [spiral chloroplast] Spirogyra, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
spirulina[edible nutrititous algae] Spirulina maxima, and Spirulina platensis, Blue-green algae / Cyanobacteria, Phylum Cyanidophyta
spruce, common spruce, Norway spruce [the traditional "Xmas tree"] Picea abies
squash, marrow Cucumis
stag-horn fern, elkhorn fern Platycerium Ferns, Phylum Pteridophyta
stag's-horn clubmoss, ground pine Lycopodium clavatum Club moss, Phylum Lycopodiophyta.
star fruit, carambola, five corners Averrhoa carambola
stangeria, Stangeria eriopsis, Cycad, Phylum Cycadophyta
stocks, gillyflower Mathiola
strawberry Fragaria, x ananassa (cv.)
sugar cane Saccharum edule, and Saccharum officinarum
sun dew, sundew Drosera rotundifolia
sunflower Helianthus annuus
sweet pea, sweet pea, grass pea, singletary pea Lathyrus
sweet potato Ipomoea batatas
sycamore tree, great maple, plane tree Acer
T.
tamarind, Indian date Tamarindus indica,
tannia, tana, Chinese taro, Xanthosoma sagittifolium
taro, dasheen Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta
tea Camellia sinensis
tea tree, Australian tea tree Leptospermum
thale cress, rock cress Arabidopsis thaliana (the first plant to have its entire genome sequenced)
hanging fork fern Tmesipteris
tobacco Nicotiana, tabacum
tomato Solanum lycopersicum (Lycopersicon esculentum)
toothworts [root parasites] Lathraea
trefoil, bird's foot trefoil, asparagus pea, winged pea Lotus (many clovers, genus Trifolium, are called trefoils, meaning 3 leaflets)
tribonema Tribonema, Yellow-Green Algae, Phylum Xanthophyta
tulip Tulipa
tumeric Curcuma longa
turnip Brassica rapa, var. rapa
U.
ulothrix, Ulothrix, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
V.
vaucheria Vaucheria, Yellow-Green Algae, Phylum Xanthophyta
Venus' fly trap, Venus fly trap Dionaea
violet, pansy Viola
Virginia creeper, woodbine Parthenocissus tricuspidata
volvox Volvox, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta
W.
water hyacinth, common water hyacynth [fast-growing aquatic weed, "worst weed in the world"] Eichhornia crassipes
wallflower Cheiranthus
walnut, black walnut Juglans nigra
watercress Nasturtium (Rorippa)
water lily Nymphaea
watermelon, camel melon Citrullus lanatus
waterweed, Elodea canadensis
wattle, black wattle Acacia
wax flower Eriostemon
wheat, durum wheat Triticum durum
white bryony, bryony, English mandrake Bryonia
white mustard (mustard and cress sandwiches) Sinapsis alba (Brassica alba)
wild cherry Prunus avium
willow tree, weeping willow Salix
wood avens Geum
wood ferns Dryopteris
Y.
yams Dioscorea
yellow vetchling Lathyrus aphaca
Z.
zebrina, wandering jew, Tradescantia zebrina (T. fluminensis, T. pallida) (formerly Zebrina pendula)
zygnema [two stellate chloroplasts, found near Spirogyra] Zygnema, Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta