Botanical Latin Translations

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(updated 3 January 2026)





Quercus ilex L.

Taxonomic history
   1753: Linnaeus described this species as Quercus ilex in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 995 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
   Today: The current name for this species is Quercus ilex L.


original Latin diagnosis
Quercus foliis ovato-oblongis indivisis serratisque, cortice integro.

English translation
Quercus with leaf blades ovate-oblong, undivided [and] serrate; [and] with bark entire.



English translation with commentary
Quercus Quercus
with leaf blades foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i
ovate-oblong; ovato-oblongis = ovato- (combining form of group A adjective ovatus, -a, -um) + oblongis (ablative plural neuter of group A adjective oblongus, -a, -um); modifies foliis
undivided indivisis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective indivisus, -a, -um; modifies foliis
and serrate; serratisque = serratis (ablative plural neuter) + -que (and); modifies foliis
[and] [added for smoother reading]
with bark cortice - ablative singular of third declension masculine noun cortex, corticis
entire. integro - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective integer, integra, integrum


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