Botanical Latin Translations

a project of
V. F. Thomas Co. - P. O. Box 84 - Hulls Cove, Maine  04644
info@vfthomas.com

(updated 11 November 2025)





Aira caerulea L.

Taxonomic history:
   1753: Linnaeus described this species as Aira caerulea in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 63 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
   Today: The current name for this species is Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench


original Latin diagnosis
Aira foliis planis, panicula coarctata, floribus pedunculatis muticis convoluto[-]subulatis.

English translation
Aira with leaf blades flat; with a panicle narrowed; [and] with flowers pedunculate, awnless, [and] convolute-subulate.



English translation with commentary
Aira Aira
with leaf blades foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i
flat; planis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective planus, -a, -um; modifies foliis
with a panicle panicula - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun panicula, -ae
narrowed; coarctata - ablative singular feminine of perfect passive participle of first conjugation verb coarcto, -are, -avi, -atum; modifies panicula
with flowers floribus - ablative plural of third declension masculine noun flos, floris
pedunculate, pedunculatis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective pedunculatus, -a, -um; modifies floribus
awnless, muticis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective muticus, -a, -um; modifies floribus
[and] [added for smoother reading]
convolute-subulate. convoluto-subulatis - convoluto- (combining form of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb convoluo, convoluere, convolui, convolutum) + subulatis (ablative plural masculine of group A adjective subulatus, -a, -um); modifies floribus


For a list of botanical Latin translations, please click here.         To access the botanical Latin concordance, please click here.