English to Latin Names
Although herbs are recognised by their common names, it is essential to know the botanical or latin name of an herb for accurate plant identification. It is possible for the same common plant name to be used for two entirely different plants (as is the case for Knitbone, a common name used for both Eupatorium perfoliatum and Symphytum officinalis).
The Latin name of the plant provides an international language for plant identification and remains consistent throughout the world and despite different languages; thus knowing the Latin name of the plant provides the ability to accurately communicate about a particular plant and easily research herbal medicine by the Latin name regardless of what country one is in.
Often herbal references are presented as two lists, one to translate from Latin into English and another to translate from English into Latin, see below for the English to Latin Names and view the next page for the Latin to English Names of many common plant medicines.
English Name |
Latin Name |
|
|
Agrimony herb |
» |
Agrimonia eupatoria |
|
Alfalfa, Lucerne herb |
» |
Medicago sativa |
| American cranesbill root | » | Geranium maculatum |
|
Angelica root |
» |
Angelica archangelica |
|
Ashwaganda root |
» |
Withania somnifera |
| Astragalus root | » | Astragalus membranaceous |
|
Avens herb |
» |
Geum urbanum |
| Balm of gilead buds | » | Populus candicans |
| Barbary wolfberry fruit | » | Lycium barbarum |
|
Barberry bark |
» |
Berberis vulgaris |
|
Bearberry leaf |
» |
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi |
|
Bethroot rhizome |
» |
Trillium erectum |
|
Bilberries |
» |
Vaccinium myrtillis fructus |
|
Bilberry leaf |
» |
Vaccinium myrtillis fol |
|
Black cohosh root |
» |
Cimicifuga racemosa |
|
Black horehound herb |
» |
Ballota nigra |
|
Black psyllium husks, seed |
» |
Psyllium (Plantago psyllium) |
|
Black walnut hulls |
» |
Juglans nigra |
|
Blackhaw bark |
» |
Viburnum prunifolium |
|
Bladderwrack |
» |
Fucus vesiculosus |
|
Blue cohosh root |
» |
Caulophyllum thalictroides |
|
Blue flag root |
» |
Iris versiuolor |
|
Bogbean leaf |
» |
Menyanthes trifoliata |
| Boldo herb | » | Peumus boldo |
| Boneset herb | » | Eupatorium perfoliatum |
|
Borage flowering herb |
» |
Borago officinalis |
|
Broom flowering tops |
» |
Sarothamnus scoparius |
|
Bryony herb |
» |
Bryonia diocia |
|
Buchu leaf |
» |
Barosma betulina |
|
Buckwheat herb |
» |
Fagopyron esculentum |
|
Bugleweed, Gipsywort herb |
» |
Lycopus europaeus |
|
Burdock root |
» |
Arctium lappa |
| Butcher’s broom root | » | Ruscus aculeatus |
|
Californian poppy |
» |
Eschscholtzia californica |
| Cardamon seed | » | Amomun sublatum |
| Cascara bark | » | Rhamnus purshiana |
| Catnip, catmint herb | » | Nepeta cataria |
| Cat’s claw fruit | » | Uncaria tomentosa |
|
Cayenne fruits |
» |
Capsicum minimum |
|
Celery seed |
» |
Apium graveolens |
|
Centaury, Feverwort herb |
» |
Centarium erythraea |
| Chaga fungus | » | Inonutus obliquus |
| Chamomile flowers | » | Chamomilla recutita |
|
Chasteberries |
» |
Vitex agnus – castus |
|
Chickweed herb |
» |
Stellaria media |
|
Chinese (red) sage root |
» |
Salvia miltiorrhiza radix |
|
Chinese angelica root, Dong gui |
» |
Angelica sinesis |
|
Chinese ginseng root |
» |
Panax ginseng |
|
Cinnamon bark squills |
» |
Cinnamomum zeylanicum |
|
Cleavers herb |
» |
Gallium aparine |
| Codonopsis root | » | Codonopsis pilosula |
|
Coltsfoot leaf |
» |
Tussilago farfara |
|
Comfrey leaf |
» |
Symphytum officinale folia |
|
Comfrey root |
» |
Symphytum officinale radix |
English Name |
Latin Name |
|
|
Coneflower root |
» |
Echinacea angustifolia |
| Coriander seed | » | Coriandrum sativum |
|
Cornsilk |
» |
Zea mays |
| Couchgrass rhizome | » | Agropyron repens |
|
Cowslip flowering herb |
» |
Primula veris |
|
Crampbark |
» |
Viburnum opulus |
|
Damiana leaf |
» |
Turnera diffusa |
|
Dandelion leaf |
» |
Taraxacum officinalis folia |
|
Dandelion root |
» |
Taraxacum officinalis radix |
|
Devil’s Claw Root |
» |
Harpagophytum procumbens |
|
Elderberries |
» |
Sambucus nigra fructus |
|
Elderflower |
» |
Sambucus nigra flos |
|
Elecampane root |
» |
Inula helenium |
|
English rose petals |
» |
Rosa gallica flos |
|
Ephedra stems |
» |
Ephedra sinica |
|
Eyebright herb |
» |
Euphrasia officinalis |
|
False unicorn root |
» |
Chamaelirium luteum |
|
Fennel seeds tops |
» |
Foeniculum vulgare |
|
Fenugreek seed |
» |
Trigonella foenum-graecum |
|
Feverfew flowering herb |
» |
Tanacetum parthenium |
|
Figwort herb |
» |
Scrophularia nodosa |
|
Fumitory herb |
» |
Fumaria officinalis |
|
Garlic cloves |
» |
Allium sativa |
|
Gentian root |
» |
Gentiana lutea |
|
German chamomile flowers |
» |
Chamomilla recutita flos |
|
Ginger root |
» |
Zingiber officinalis |
|
Globe artichoke leaves |
» |
Cynara scolymus |
|
Goat’s rue herb |
» |
Galega officinalis |
|
Golden rod flowering herb |
» |
Solidago canadenis |
|
Golden rod flowering herb |
» |
Solidago virgaurea |
|
Goldenseal root |
» |
Hydrastis canadensis |
|
Gotu kola herb |
» |
Hydrocotyle asiatica |
|
Gravelroot |
» |
Eupatorium purpureum |
|
Greater celandine herb |
» |
Chelidonium majus |
|
Green walnut hulls |
» |
Juglans regia |
|
Ground ivy, herb, Nepeta |
» |
Glechoma hederacea |
|
Gumplant herb |
» |
Grindelia caporum (robusta) |
|
Hawthorn berry |
» |
Crataegus oxyacantha fructus |
|
Hawthorn flowering tops |
» |
Crataegus oxyacantha flos |
|
Heartsease flowering herb |
» |
Viola tricolor |
|
Hemp agrimony |
» |
Eupatorium canabinum |
| He shou wu root | » | Polygonum multiflorum |
| Hibiscus flower | » | Hibiscus salbdariffa |
|
Hops strobiles |
» |
Humulus lupulus |
|
Horse chestnut |
» |
Aesculus hippocastanum |
|
Horseradish root |
» |
Armoracia rusticana |
|
Horsetail herb |
» |
Equisetum arvense |
|
Hyssop flowering herb |
» |
Hyssopus officinalis |
|
Iceland moss lichen |
» |
Cetraria islandica |
|
Irish moss seaweed |
» |
Chondrus crispus |
|
Jamaican dogwood bark |
» |
Piscidia erythrina |
| Juniper berries | » | Juniperus communis |
|
Kola nuts |
» |
Cola nitida |
|
Ladies mantle herb |
» |
Alchemilla vulgaris |
|
Lavender herb |
» |
Lavandula angustifolia |
|
Lemon balm herb |
» |
Melissa officinalis |
| Licorice root | » | Glycyrrhiza glabra |
|
Lignum vitae wood |
» |
Guaiacum officinale |
|
Lilly of the valley leaf |
» |
Convallaria majalis |
|
Linden, Lime flowers |
» |
Tilia europea |
|
Linseed |
» |
Linum usitatissium |
|
Liquorice root |
» |
Glycyrrhiza glabra |
|
Lobelia herb |
» |
Lobelia inflata |
|
Long pepper seeds |
» |
Piper longum |
| Maca root | » | Lepidium meyenii |
|
Maidenhair tree leaf |
» |
Ginkgo bilboba |
|
Marigold flowers |
» |
Calendula officinalis flos |
|
Marsh mallow flowering herb |
» |
Althaea officinalis herba |
|
Marsh mallow root |
» |
Althaea officinalis radix |
|
Meadowsweet flowering herb |
» |
Filipendula ulmaira |
|
Melilot herb |
» |
Melilotus officinalis |
|
Milkthistle seed, silybum |
» |
Carduus marianus |
|
Milkvetch root, Huang Qi |
» |
Astragalus membranaceous |
|
Mistletoe flowering herb |
» |
Viscum album |
|
Motherwort flowering herb |
» |
Leonurus cardiaca |
|
Mugwort leaf |
» |
Artesmisia vulgaris |
|
Mullein her flowers |
» |
Verbascum thapsus flos |
|
Mullein whole flowering herb |
» |
Verbascum thapsus herba |
|
Myrrh resin |
» |
Commiphora mol mol |
|
Nettle herb |
» |
Urtica dioica herba |
|
Nettle root |
» |
Urtica dioica radix |
|
Oak bark |
» |
Quercus robusta |
|
Oat seeds |
» |
Avena sativa sem |
|
Olive leaf |
» |
Olea europea |
|
Oregon grape root, Mahonia |
» |
Berberis aquilfolium |
| Osha root | » | Ligusticum porteri |
| Papaya leaf | » | Carica papaya |
|
Parsley piert herb |
» |
Alchemilla arvensis |
|
Parsley root |
» |
Petroselinum crispum rad |
|
Pasque flower herb |
» |
Anenome pulsatilla |
|
Passion flower herb |
» |
Passiflora incarnata |
|
Pau d’arco bark |
» |
Tabebuia impetiginosa |
|
Pellitory of the Wall herb |
» |
Parietaria diffusa |
|
Peony root |
» |
Paeonia lactiflora |
|
Peppermint leaf |
» |
Mentha piperata |
|
Periwinkle herb |
» |
Vinca minor |
| Plantain leaf | » | Plantago lanceolata |
|
Poke root |
» |
Phytolacca decandra |
|
Prickly ash bark |
» |
Zanthoxylum species cortex |
|
Prickly ash berry |
» |
Zanthoxylum species fructus |
| Puncture vine fruit | » | Tribulus terrestris |
|
Purple coneflower root |
» |
Echinacea purpurea rad |
|
Purple coneflower whole plant |
» |
Echinacea purpurea |
|
Quassia bark |
» |
Picrasma excelsa |
|
Raspberry leaf |
» |
Rubus idaeus |
|
Red Clover flowers |
» |
Trifolium praetense |
| Red root | » | Ceanthus americanus |
| Red rose petals | » | Rosa centifolia |
|
Rehmania root |
» |
Rehmania glutinosa |
| Reishi mushroom | » | Ganoderma lucidum |
| Rhodiola root | » | Rhodiola rosea |
|
Ribwort leaf plantain |
» |
Plantago lanceolata |
|
Rosemay leaf |
» |
Rosmarinus officinalis |
| Rue leaf | » | Ruta graveolens |
|
Sage flowering herb |
» |
Salvia officinalis |
|
Sarsparilla root |
» |
Smilax ornata |
| Sassafras bark | » | Sassafras albidum |
|
Saw palmetto berries |
» |
Serenoa seruiata |
|
Schisandra berries, Wu wei zi |
» |
Schisandra chinesis |
| Self-heal herb | » | Prunella vulgaris |
|
Senna pod |
» |
Cassia angustifolia |
|
Shepherd’s purse herb |
» |
Capsella bursa-pastoris |
|
Siberian ginseng root |
» |
Eleutherococcus senticosus |
|
Silver birch leaves |
» |
Betula pendula |
|
Skullcap herb |
» |
Scutellaria lateriflora |
|
Slippery elm bark |
» |
Ulmus fulva |
| Spearmint herb | » | Mentha viridis |
|
Squaw vine herb |
» |
Mitchella repens |
| Stevia leaf | » | Stevia rebaudiana |
|
St John’s wort flowering herb |
» |
Hypericum perforatum |
|
Sweet Annie, Qing hao |
» |
Artemisia annua |
|
Sweet flag root |
» |
Acorus calamus |
|
Sweet violet leaves |
» |
Viola odorata |
|
Tansy flowering herb |
» |
Tanacetum vulgaris |
|
Thorn apple leaf BHPP 83 |
» |
Datura stramonium (500ml) |
|
Thorowax root |
» |
Bupleurum chinense |
|
Thyme herb |
» |
Thymus vulgaris |
|
Tormentil root |
» |
Potentilla erecta |
|
Tree of life buds |
» |
Thuja occidentalis |
|
Triticum, Couch stolon, Twitch |
» |
Agropyron repens |
|
Turkey rhubarb root |
» |
Rheum palmatum |
|
Turmeric root |
» |
Curcuma longa |
| Uva ursi leaf | » | Arctostaphylos uva ursi |
|
Valerian root |
» |
Valeriana officinalis |
|
Vervain flowering herb |
» |
Verbena Officinalis |
|
White dead nettle flowering herb |
» |
Lamium album |
|
White horehound leaf |
» |
Marrubium vulgare |
| White oak bark | » | Quercus alba |
| White popular bark | » | Populus tremuloides |
|
White willow bark |
» |
Salix alba |
|
Whole green oats, herb & seed |
» |
Avena sativa herba |
|
Wild carrot flowering herb |
» |
Daucus carota |
|
Wild Cherry bark |
» |
Prunus serotina |
|
Wild dogrose hips |
» |
Rosa canina fructus |
|
Wild indigo root |
» |
Baptisia tinctoria |
|
Wild lettuce herb |
» |
Lactuca virosa |
|
Wild yam root |
» |
Dioscorea villosa |
|
Witch hazel bark |
» |
Hamamelis virginiana cortex |
|
Wood betony herb |
» |
Stachys betonica |
|
Wormwood herb |
» |
Artemisia absinthium |
|
Yarrow leaf, flower |
» |
Achillea millefolium |
|
Yellow dock root |
» |
Rumex crispus |
|
Yellow jasmine root |
» |
Gelsemium sempervirens |