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Roots: M

macr-

large (macranthus = large-flowered)

macul-

referring to a spot (maculatus)

magellan-

referring to the area of the Straits of Maggellan (magellanica)

magn-

big, magnificent (magnificus / magnimama = big mama, actually mammary glands, the protuberances on a species of Mammillaria)

maj-

major, larger (major / majus)

majal-

referring to the month of May (flowering) (majalis)

malabar-

referring to an area of India (malabaricum)

malac-

soft (Malacocarpus = soft-fruited) (malacodendron = soft + tree)

malv-

referring to the genus Malva, the Mallow (malvacea)

mamm-

referring to breasts or nipples (mammifera = breast- bearing breasts or nipples) (Mammillaria, a great genus of cactus, because all the bodies of the plants bear many nipple-like protuberances)

manic-

referring to a covering of dense hairs, a sleeve (manicata)

margin-

referring to a margin (marginalis)

mariland-

referring to Maryland (marilandica)

marin-

referring to the sea marinum)

marit-

referring to the seashore (maritima)

marm-

marbled, marbled (marmoratus / marmoreum)

mas

male - usually referring to robustness of the plant, rather than sex of the flowers -- sexist!

maurit-

referring to North Africa (mauritania)

maxim-

largest (maxima)

maxil-

referring to a jaw (maxillaris

medul-

referring to marrow, the center, the pith (medullaris)

mega-

large (megacarpa = large-fruited / megalanthus = large-flowered)

mela-

black (Melaleuca = black (trunk) + white (branches))

mel- / mell-

referring to honey (melliodora = honey-scented) (Melianthus = honey flower)

-meles

referring to an apple, or any fruit (Chaenomeles = split + fruit)

melo-

referring to a melon (meloformis = melon shaped)

men-

referring to a month and, by extension, the moon (Menispermum = moon seed)

menisc-

referring to a crescent (meniscifolius = crescent- shaped foliage)

-mer(...)

referring to parts (trimera = three parts)

merid-

referring to noon (meridionalis = mid-day bloomer)

mes-

mixed, middle (Mesembryanthemum = mid-day flower)

metr-

referring to the center (heart) of an entity (Metroxylon = heartwood)

mica-

referring to mica, glittering (micans)

mic-

referring to mica or glitter (micans)

mille-

referring to the number 1000 or a very large number (millefolius = very many leaves)

mim-

referring to a mime (Mimosa, because of the closing up of the leaflets in many species - also Mimulus, because the flowers are supposedly similar to grinning faces - by extension, a monkey or an ape: Mimusops = like a monkey)

minax

forbidding, threatening (like thorns)

miniat-

of a reddish color (miniata)

minim-

very small (minimus)

minor / minus

smaller

minut-

very small (minutus)

mirab-

wonderful (Mirabilis, the Four-O'Clock genus)

misc-

referring to a stem (Miscanthus = stem flower)

mitis

mild, gentle, unarmed

mitr-

referring to a turban, mitre (mitrocarpus = mitre-shaped fruit)

modest-

modest, unaffected, usually means unadorned (modesta)

moldav-

referring to Rumania (moldavicus)

moll-

soft (hairy) (mollis / mollissima / molle)

molucc-

referring to the East Indies

mon-

referring to the number one (Monanthes = single-flowered) (monophylla = one leaf)

monil-

referring to necklace (monilifera = necklace-bearing)

monst-

monstrous, abnormal (Monstera, because of the unusual, cut leaves)

mont-

referring to a mountain (montanus)

monti-

referring to mts. (monticolus)

mor-

referring to the genus Morus, the mulberry

-mord(...)

to bite (Momordica, referring to the appearance of the seeds)

-morph(...)

referring to form (polymorpha = many forms / callimorphum = beautifully-formed)

mosch-

referring to musk (odor) (Moschosma = musk-like odor / moschata)

mucron-

referring to a point (usually in shape of leaf) (mucronatus)

multi-

many (multiflora = many-flowered / multicaulis = many-trunked)

munit-

referring to defense (with thorns, prickles, etc.) (munitus)

mura-

referring to a wall (muralis)

muric-

rough, knobby (muricata)

mus- / myos-

referring to a mouse (Myosotis = mouse ear - the Forget -Me-Not genus, in reference to the mousy leaves

musc-

referring to musk (Muscari, because of the musky odor of the flowers of M. moschatum) ALSO referring to a fly (muscivorus = fly-eating)

mutab-

referring to change, variability (mutabilis)

mutic-

blunt (mutica)

myr-

referring to myrrh (Myristica, the nutmeg genus, because of the odor)

myri-

numberless, too many to count, myriad (Myriocephalus = with a myriad of heads)

myrmec-

referring to ants (myrmecophilus = beloved of ants)

myrt-

referring to the myrtle genus, Myrtus (Myrtillocactus = myrtle-berried cactus) myrtifolia = myrtle-leaved)