The book, beautifully illustrated with old woodcuts, explains how and why plants have been named, includes handy lists of identifying adjectives, and takes the reader down some of the stranger byways of human endeavour and eccentricity.

How did the delphinium get its name? Which parts of the bodylend their names to auriculas and orchids? Who are the gentian, lobelia andheuchera named after? Why are nasturtiums and antirrhinums connected? What doesan everlasting pea have to do with Indian miniature paintings?


A Little Book of Latin for Gardeners, beautifullyillustrated with old woodcuts, explains how and why plants have been named, andtakes the reader down some of the stranger byways of human endeavour andeccentricity.


'Those looking for an excuse to break off from weeding ordeadheading by a sudden desire to know why the Latin name for the foxglove isdigitalis, or what delphiniums have to do with dolphins, will find themselvesstill reading an hour later, unable to break away from the fascinating mixtureof history, literary allusion, anecdote and occasional gardening advice. Theeffect on the reader is sometimes that of being led round an English countrygarden by a charming plantsman' Times Literary Supplement


'An entertaining and invaluable resource' Sunday Times

Those looking for an excuse to break off from weeding or deadheading by a sudden desire to know why the Latin name for the foxglove is digitalis, or what delphiniums have to do with dolphins, will find themselves still reading an hour later, unable to break away from the fascinating mixture of history, literary allusion, anecdote
and occasional gardening advice. The effect on the reader is sometimes that of being led round an English country garden by a charming plantsman