Botanical Latin Translations

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V. F. Thomas Co. - P. O. Box 84 - Hulls Cove, Maine  04644
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(updated 19 January 2026)





Scirpus maritimus L.

Taxonomic history:
   1753: Linnaeus described this species as Scirpus maritimus in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 51.
   today: The current name for this species is Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla


original Latin diagnosis
Scirpus culmo triquetro, panicula conglobata foliacea, spicularum squamis trifidis: intermedia subulata.

English translation
Scirpus with a culm three-angled; with a panicle clustered together [and] leafy; [and] of the spikelets the scales three-cleft: the middle subulate.



English translation with commentary
Scirpus Scirpus
with a culm culmo - ablative singular of second declension masculine noun culmus, -i
three-angled triquetro - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective triquetrus, -a, -um; modifies culmo
with a panicle panicula - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun panicula, -ae
clustered together conglobata - ablative singular feminine of perfect passive participle of first conjugation verb conglobo, -are, -avi, -atum; modifies panicula
[and] [added for smoother reading]
leafy; foliacea - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective foliaceus, -a, -um; modifies panicula
[and] [added for smoother reading]
of the spikelets spicularum - genitive plural of first declension feminine noun spicula, -ae
with scales squamis - ablative plural feminine of first declension feminine noun squama, -ae
three-cleft: trifidis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective trifidus, -a, -um; modifies squamis
the middle intermedia - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective intermedius, -a, -um; refers to the central portion of a three-cleft scale
subulate subulata - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective subulatus, -a, -um; modifies intermedia


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