Botanical Latin Translations

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(updated 31 July 2026)





Rosa spinosissima L.

Taxonomic history
   1753: Linnaeus described this species as Rosa spinosissima in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 491 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
   Today: The current name for this species is Rosa spinosissima L. var. spinosissima


original Latin diagnosis
Rosa caule petiolisque aculeatis, calycis foliolis indivisis.

English translation
Rosa with the stem and petioles prickly; [and] of the calyx with leaflets undivided.



English translation with commentary
Rosa Rosa
with the stem caule - ablative singular of third declension masculine noun caulis, caulis
and petioles petiolisque = petiolis (ablative plural) + -que (and)
prickly; aculeatis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective aculeatus, -a, -um; modifies caule and petiolis collectively
[and] [added for smoother reading]
of the calyx calycis - genitive singular of third declension masculine noun calyx, calycis
with leaflets foliolis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun foliolum, -i
undivided. indivisis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective indivisus, -a, um; modifies foliolis


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