Botanical Latin Translations

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V. F. Thomas Co. - P. O. Box 84 - Hulls Cove, Maine  04644
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(updated 6 January 2025)





Cyperus longus L.

Taxonomic history:
   1753: Linnaeus described this species as Cyperus longus in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 45.
   today: The current name for this species is Cyperus longus L.


original Latin diagnosis
Cyperus culmo triquetro folioso, umbella foliosa supradecomposita, pedunculis nudis[,] spicis alternis.

English translation
Cyperus with the culm three-angled [and] leafy; with an umbel leafy [and] many times divided; with peduncles naked; [and] with spikes alternate .



English translation with commentary
Cyperus Cyperus
with the culm culmo - ablative singular of second declension masculine noun culmus, -i
four-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 foliosa - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective foliosus, -a, -um; modifies umbella
[and] [added for smoother reading]
many times divided; supradecomposita - ablative single femiine of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb supradecompono, supradecomponere, supradecomposui, supradecompositum; modifies umbella
[and] [added for smoother reading]
with spikes spicis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun spica, -ae
alternate. alternis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective alternus, -a, -um; modifies spicis


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