Botanical Latin Translations

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 (updated 2 November 2025)


Rhododendron maximum L.

Taxonomic history:
    1753: Linnaeus described this species as Rhododendron maximum in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 392 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
   today: The current name for this species is Rhododendron maximum L.


original Latin diagnosis
Rhododendron foliis nitidis ovalibus margine acuto reflexo.

English translation
Rhodendron with leaf blades shiny [and] oval [and] with the margin acute [and] reflexed.


English translation with commentary
Rhododendron Rhododendron
with leaf blades foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i
shiny nitidis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective nitidus, -a, -um; modifies foliis
[and] [added for smoother reading]
oval ovalibus - ablative plural neuter of group B adjective ovalis, -is, -e; modifies foliis
[and] [added for smoother reading]
with the margin margine - ablative singular of third declension masculine noun margo, marginis
acute acuto - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective acutus, -a, -um; modifies margine
[and] [added for smoother reading]
reflexed. reflecto - ablative singular masculine of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb reflecto, reflectere, reflexi, reflexum; modifies margine



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