Pronunciation of Scientific Names
They tell us that Latin is a dead language, and so it is. No one knows how it sounded in ancient Rome. But we'd have a hard time understanding one another if we each made up our own pronunciations, so guidelines have evolved.

After hearing it spoken, you start to pick up on its cadence or rhythm. And when you say a name out loud, it's a lot easier to remember it....

We are grateful to the folks below for being the voices of NameThatPlant.net.

To read more about the pronunciation of scientific names (including some of the various schools of thought), turn to page xxxvii of A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina, and check out the links below:

California Plant Names: Latin and Greek Meanings and Derivations — A Dictionary of Botanical Etymology
http://www.calflora.net/botanicalnames/

---

Southern California Wildflowers — Guide to the Pronunciation of Plant Names
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/pronunciationguide.html

---

Pronunciation of Vascular Plant Genera & Families of New England
http://neatlas.huh.harvard.edu/BotPron/A.html

---