Botanical Latin Translations

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(updated 21 January 2026)





Scirpus sylvaticus L.

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


original Latin diagnosis
Scirpus culmo triquetro folioso, umbella foliacea, pedunculis nudis supradecompositis, spicis confertis.

English translation
Scirpus with a culm three-angled [and] leafy; with an umbel leafy; with peduncules naked [and] divided many times; [and] with spikes packed closely together.



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
[and] [added for smoother reading]
leafy; folioso - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective foliosus, -a, -um; modifies culmo
with an umbel umbella - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun umbella, -ae
leafy; foliacea - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective foliaceus, -a, -um; modifies umbella
with peduncles pedunculis - ablative plural of second declension masculine noun pedunculus, -i
naked nudis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective nudus, -a, -um; modifies pedunculis
[and] [added for smoother reading]
divided many times; supradecompositis - ablative plural masculinne of perfect passive participle of supradecompono, supradecomponere, supradecomposui, supradecompositum; modifies pedunculis
[and] [added for smoother reading]
with spikes spicis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun spica, -ae
packed closely together. confertis - ablative plural feminine of perfect passive participle of fourth conjugation verb confercio, confercire, confersi, confertum; modifies spicis


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