Botanical Latin Translations

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(updated 2 April 2023)



Pinus sylvestris L.

Taxonomic history:
   1753: Linnaeus described this species as Pinus sylvestris in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 1000 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
   today: The current name for this species is Pinus sylvestris L.


original Latin description
Pinus foliis geminis: primordialis solitariis glabris.

English translation
Pinus with leaves two together, the first-formed solitary [and] glabrou.


English translation with commentary
Pinus Pinus
with leaves foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i
two together, geminis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective geminus, -a, -um; modifies foliis
the first-formed primordialibus - ablative plural neuter of group B adjective primordialis, -is, -e; agrees with foliis
solitary solitariis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective solitarius, -a, -um; agrees with foliis
[and] [added for smoother reading]
glabrous. glabris - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective glaber, glabra, glabrum; agrees with foliis


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