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[-Home-] Roots: A


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a- (an-)
without, lacking (anacanthus = spineless; amorpha = without a definite form; Arachis = without a rachis, the peanut genus / apetalus = without petals / aphyllus = without leaves / apterus = without a wing)
abr-
delicate (Abrophyllum = delicate leaved)
acanth-
referring to a thorn, spines (Acanthus) (acanthoides = Acanthus-like / chrysanthicum = golden-spined)
-ace(...)
partaking of (rosaceus / rosaceum = rosy)
acaul-
stemless (caul = stem) (acaulis)
acephal-
headless, without a head (ceph = head) (acephalus)
acerb-
harsh, bitter, stinging (acerbifolia)
acer-
referring to the genus, Acer, the ancient Latin name of the maple tree (aceroides = Maple-like)
aceros-
needle-like (acerosus)
acet-
referring to acid (acetophylla = acid + leaf)
acicul-
referring to a needle (acicularis = needle-like)
acin-
referring to a saber (shape) (acinitus / acinaceus)
acri-
acrid, sharp (acris / acrifolia = sharp-leaved)
acro-
referring to the top of an entity, height (Acrocomia = hair at the top, a palm genus with pinnate leaves)
actin-
referring to a ray (Actinidia, the Kiwi Fruit; cut one across and see the rayed arrangement of the carpels (ovaries)) (actinophylla = Rayed leaves)
aculeat-
sting, prickle (aculeatus)
acuminat-
pointed, tapering (acuminatus)
acut-
acute, sharp (acutissima = very pointed / acutangulatus = acute + angle / acutifidus = acutely cut / acutifolius = sharp + leaf / acutus)
ad-
to, on, onto (adnatum = joined to / adpressus = pressed against)
adeno-
referring to a gland (Adenophora = gland-bearing) (adenophylla = glandular leaf)
adnat-
joined (adnatus)
adven-
adventive (advenuus)
aequi- / equi-
equal (aequinoctialis = equinox, )
aer-
referring to the air (aeranthos = air flower)
aethiopi-
referring to Ethiopia - or Africa in general (aethiopium)
aestiv-
referring to summer (aestivus)
affin-
related (affinis / affine)
agerat-
referring to the genus Ageratum (ageratifolia = Ageratum-like leaves)
aggreg-
clustered, aggregated (aggregatus)
agr-
referring to fields or farms (agrarius / agrestis)
alat-
winged or wing-like (alatus)
alb-
white (albiflorens = white-flowered / albidum / albomaculatum = white-spotted / albicans / albicaulis = white-stemmed)
alli-
referring to the genus Allium which contains the onion, garlic, leeks, etc. (alliacea)
alpestr-
alpine (alpestris)
alpin-
referring to alpine regions (alpinus)
altai-
Siberian (altaicus)
altern-
alternate (alternifolia)
alt-
referring to height (altus / altissimus = very tall)
amabil-
lovely (amabilis)
amar-
bitter (amara)
amethysti-
violet-colored (amethysticus)
amoen-
charming, lovely (amoena)
ampel-
referring to a vine (Ampelopsis = like a vine)
amphi-
both, two (amphibius)
amphor-
referring to an urn, a pitcher (amphoricaulis = stem shaped like a pitcher)
amplexi-
clasping (amplexicaulis = clasping the stem)
ampl-
ample, large (amplissimus = very large)
ampul-
referring to a flask (shape) (ampullacea)
amurensis
hailing from Siberia
amygdal-
almond-like (amygdalinus)
anatol-
referring to Asia Minor (anatoliensis)
anceps
two-edged
andi-
referring to the Andes (andicola / andinus)
andr-
referring to the male part, usually the anthers (androgynus = male + female parts, indicating that both male and female flowers are found on the plant)
anemo-
referring to wind (Anemone = wind flower)
angli-
English (anglicum)
angui-
referring to a snake (shape) (anguinus)
angul-
referring to an angle (angularis / angulatus / angulosus)
angust-
narrow (angustus / angustifolia = narrow leaved)
anis-
unequal (Anisacanthus = unequal thorns)
annu-
annual (annuus)
annul-
ringed, annular (annularis / annulatus)
anomal-
anomalous, unusual, abnormal (anomalus)
anth-
referring to a male part (the anther), - a flower (Anthurium = flower + tail)
anti-
against (Antiacantha = against the spine - a bromeliad)
antill-
referring to the West Indies, Antilles (antillaris)
antipod-
referring to the Antipodes or the polar regions (antipodus)
antiqu-
ancient (antiquorus / antiquus)
apenn-
referring to the Apennines Mts. (Italy) (apenninus)
apert-
open, uncovered, bare (apertus)
apiculat-
with a point (apiculatus)
appendic-
referring to an appendage (appendiculatus)
applanatum
flattened
applicatus
joined, attached
aqu-
referring to water (habitat) (aquatica / aquatilis / aqueus)
aquil-
eagle-like (aquilegia / aquilinus)
arab-
referring to Arabia (arabicus)
arachn- / aran-
referring to spiders (araneosa / arachnoides = like a spider)
arbor-
referring to trees (arborescens / arboricola / arborea)
arbus-
referring to a tree (arbusculus)
archont-
majestic, noble (Archontophoenix = majestic (date) palm)
arct-
referring to a bear (Arctotis = bear's ear)
arcuat-
referring to a bow (shape) (arcuatus)
arec-
referring to the genus Areca (palms) which, itself comes from a Malaysian word meaning, a cluster of nuts (arecoides = Areca-like)
arena-
referring to sand (arenarius)
areol-
with an aereole, pitted (areolatus)
arg-
referring to silver (argentea / argentatum / argophyllus = silver-leaved / argyraeus)
argut-
sharp, pointed (argutus)
arist-
referring to a beard (hairy, bristly) (aristatus / aristosus)
arma-
armed (armatus)
arom-
referring to odor (aromatica)
arrect-
erect (arrectus)
articul-
jointed, articulate (articulatus)
arund-
referring to a reed (Arundinaria, the giant native reed) (arundinaceus
arven-
referring to cultivation (arvensis)
ascendens
ascending
asper-
rough (aspera / asperata / asper / aspericaulis = rough-stemmed / asperrimus = very rough)
assimil-
like unto (assimilis)
assurg-
sprawling, clambering (assurgens)
astr-
referring to a star (Astrocaryum, star-nut, referring to the markings on the seeds of this palm genus)
-astr(...)
like unto (liliastrum = like a lily)
ater
black
atr-
extreme, dark (atropurpurea = deep purple) (atratus = black / atrorubens = dark red / atrovirens = dark green)
attenu-
attenuated, drawn-out to a point (attenuatus)
attic-
Greek (atticum)
august-
august, noble, majestic (augusta)
aurant-
referring to the color orange (Citrus aurantifolia, the lime (go figger!); aurantifolia = orange-leaved / auranticus)
aure-
golden (aureus / aurespina = golden-spined)
auri-
referring to an ear (shape) (auritum / auriculatum)
austr-
southern, Australian (australis)
avi-
referring to a bird, birdlike (avium / aviculare)
axill-
referring to axils (axillaris)
azur-
referring to the color blue (azureum)

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Last updated on 10/14/94