Latin to English Names
English and Latin Names
Although herbs are recognized 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 name to be used for two 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 Latin to English Names and view the previous page for the English common plant names and their Latin equivalent, for many common plant medicines.
Latin Name | English Name | ||
| Achillea millefolium | » | Yarrow herb | |
Acorus calamus | » | Sweet flag root | |
| Actaea racemosa | » | Black cohosh root | |
Aesculus hippocastanum | » | Horse chestnut | |
Agrimonia eupatoria | » | Agrimony herb | |
Agropyron repens | » | Couch grass, triticum, Couch stolon, twitch | |
Alchemilla vulgaris | » | Ladies mantle herb | |
Alchemilla arvensis | » | Parsley piert herb | |
Allium sativa | » | Garlic cloves | |
Althaea officinalis herba | » | Marsh mallow flowering herb | |
Althaea officinalis radix | » | Marsh mallow root | |
| Amni visnaga | » | Khella seed | |
| Amomun sublatum | » | Cardamon seed | |
| Andrographis paniculata | » | King of Bitters, chiretta herb | |
Anenome pulsatilla | » | Pasque flower herb | |
Angelica archangelica | » | Angelica root | |
Angelica sinesis | » | Chinese angelica root, Dong gui | |
Apium graveolens | » | Celery seed | |
Arctium lappa | » | Burdock root | |
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | » | Bearberry leaf, Uva Ursi | |
Armoracia rusticana | » | Horseradish root | |
Artemisia absinthium | » | Wormwood herb | |
Artemisia annua | » | Sweet Annie, Qing hao | |
Artesmisia vulgaris | » | Mugwort leaf | |
Asclepias tuberosa | » | Pleurisy root | |
Astragalus membranaceous | » | Milkvetch root, Huang Qi | |
Avena sativa herba | » | Whole green oats, herb & seed | |
Avena sativa semen | » | Oat seeds | |
Ballota nigra | » | Black horehound herb | |
Baptisia tinctoria | » | Wild indigo root | |
Barosma betulina | » | Buchu leaf | |
Berberis aquilfolium | » | Oregon grape root, Mahonia | |
Berberis vulgaris | » | Barberry bark | |
Betula pendula | » | Silver birch leaves | |
Borago officinalis | » | Borage flowering herb | |
| Boswellia carterri | » | Frankincense resin | |
Bryonia diocia | » | Bryony herb | |
Bupleurum chinense | » | Thorowax root | |
Calendula officinalis flos | » | Marigold flowers | |
Capsella bursa-pastoris | » | Shepherd’s purse herb | |
Capsicum minimum | » | Cayenne fruits | |
Carduus marianus | » | Milkthistle seed, silybum | |
| Carica papaya | » | Papaya leaf | |
Cassia angustifolia | » | Senna pod | |
Caulophyllum thalictroides | » | Blue cohosh root | |
Ceanothus americanus | » | Red root, New Jersey Tea | |
Centarium erythraea | » | Centaury herb | |
Centella asiatica | » | Gotu Kola herb | |
Cetraria islandica | » | Iceland moss lichen | |
Chamaelirium luteum | » | False unicorn root | |
Chamomilla recutita flos | » | German chamomile flowers | |
Chelidonium majus | » | Greater celandine herb | |
Chionanthus virginicus | » | Fringe tree rootbark | |
Chondrus crispus | » | Irish moss seaweed | |
Cimicifuga racemosa | » | Black cohosh root | |
Cinnamomum zeylanicum | » | Cinnamon bark squills | |
Citrus aurantium | » | Bitter Orange | |
Citrus limonum | » | Lemon | |
| Codonopsis pilosula | » | Codonopsis | |
Cola nitida | » | Kola nuts | |
Commiphora mol mol | » | Myrrh resin | |
Convallaria majalis | » | Lilly of the valley leaf | |
| Coptis chinensis | » | Coptis, Huang lian | |
| Coriandrum sativum | » | Coriander seed | |
Crataegus oxyacantha flos | » | Hawthorn flowering tops | |
Crataegus oxyacantha fructus | » | Hawthorn berry | |
Curcuma longa | » | Turmeric root | |
Cynara scolymus | » | Globe artichoke leaves | |
Datura stramonium | » | Thorn apple leaf | |
Daucus carota | » | Wild carrot flowering herb | |
Dioscorea villosa | » | Wild yam root | |
Echinacea angustifolia | » | Coneflower root | |
Echinacea purpurea | » | Purple coneflower whole plant | |
Echinacea purpurea rad | » | Purple coneflower root | |
Eleutherococcus senticosus | » | Siberian ginseng root | |
Ephedra sinica | » | Ephedra stems | |
Equisetum arvense | » | Horsetail herb | |
Eschscholtzia californica | » | Californian poppy | |
Eupatorium canabinum | » | Hemp agrimony | |
| Eupatorium perfoliatum | » | Boneset, Feverwort herb | |
Eupatorium purpureum | » | Gravelroot | |
Euphrasia officinalis | » | Eyebright herb | |
Fagopyron esculentum | » | Buckwheat herb | |
Filipendula ulmaira | » | Meadowsweet flowering herb | |
Foeniculum vulgare | » | Fennel seeds tops | |
Fucus vesiculosus | » | Bladderwrack seaweed | |
Fumaria officinalis | » | Fumitory herb | |
| Ganoderma lucidum | » | Reishi mushroom | |
Galega officinalis | » | Goat’s rue herb | |
Gallium aparine | » | Cleavers herb | |
Gelsemium sempervirens | » | Yellow jasmine root | |
Gentiana lutea | » | Gentian root | |
| Geranium maculatum | » | American Cranesbill root | |
Geum urbanum | » | Avens herb | |
Ginkgo bilboba | » | Ginkgo, Maidenhair tree leaf | |
Glechoma hederacea | » | Ground ivy, herb, Nepeta | |
Glycyrrhiza glabra | » | Liquorice root | |
Grindelia caporum (robusta) | » | Gumplant herb | |
Guaiacum officinale | » | Lignum vitae wood | |
Hamamelis virginiana cortex | » | Witch hazel bark | |
Harpagophytum procumbens | » | Devil’s claw root | |
| Hibiscus salbdariffa | » | Hibiscus flower | |
Humulus lupulus | » | Hops strobiles | |
Hydrastis canadensis | » | Goldenseal root | |
Hydrocotyle asiatica | » | Gotu kola herb | |
Hypericum perforatum | » | St John’s wort flowering herb | |
Hyssopus officinalis | » | Hyssop flowering herb | |
Inula helenium | » | Elecampane root | |
Iris versicolor | » | Blue flag root | |
Juglans nigra | » | Black walnut hulls | |
| Juniperus communis | » | Juniper berries | |
Lactuca virosa | » | Wild lettuce herb | |
Lamium album | » | White Dead Nettle Flowering Herb | |
Latin Name | English Name | ||
Lavandula angustifolia | » | Lavender herb | |
Leonurus cardiaca | » | Motherwort flowering herb | |
| Lepidium meyenii | » | Maca root | |
| Ligusticum porteri | » | Osha root | |
Linum usitatissium | » | Linseed | |
Lobelia inflata | » | Lobelia herb | |
| Lycium barbarum | » | Barbary wolfberry | |
Lycopus virginicus | » | Bugleweed herb | |
Marrubium vulgare | » | White horehound leaf | |
Medicago sativa | » | Alfalfa, Lucerne herb | |
Melilotus officinalis | » | Melilot herb | |
Melissa officinalis | » | Lemon balm leaf | |
Mentha piperata | » | Peppermint leaf | |
| Mentha viridis | » | Spearmint leaf | |
Menyanthes trifoliata | » | Bogbean leaf | |
Mitchella repens | » | Squaw vine herb | |
| Myrica cerifera | » | Bayberry herb | |
| Nepeta cataria | » | Catnip, catmint herb | |
Olea europea | » | Olive leaf | |
| Oregano officinalis | » | Oregano herb | |
Paeonia lactiflora | » | White Peony root | |
Panax ginseng | » | Chinese ginseng root | |
Parietaria diffusa | » | Pellitory of the Wall herb | |
Passiflora incarnata | » | Passion flower herb | |
Petroselinum crispum rad | » | Parsley root | |
| Peumus boldo | » | Boldo herb | |
Phytolacca decandra | » | Poke root | |
Picrasma excelsa | » | Quassia bark | |
Piper methysticum | » | Kava kava root | |
Piscidia erythrina | » | Jamaican dogwood bark | |
Plantago lanceolata | » | Ribwort leaf, Lanceleaf plantain | |
| Plantago major | » | Broadleaf plantain leaf | |
| Polygonum multiflorum | » | He shou wu, fleeceflower | |
| Populus candicans | » | Balm of gilead buds | |
| Populus tremuloides | » | White popular bark | |
| Poria cocos | » | Poria, hoelen | |
Potentilla erecta | » | Tormentil root | |
Primula veris | » | Cowslip flowering herb | |
| Prunella vulgaris | » | Self-heal herb | |
Prunus serotina | » | Wild Cherry bark | |
Psyllium (Plantago psyllium) | » | Black psyllium husk, seed | |
Quercus alba | » | Oak bark, white | |
Rehmania glutinosa | » | Rehmania root | |
Rhamnus purshiana | » | Cascara bark | |
Rheum palmatum | » | Turkey rhubarb root | |
| Rhodiola rosea | » | Rhodiola, russian rhodiola, golden root, hong jing tian | |
Rosa canina fructus | » | Wild dogrose hips | |
| Rosa damascena | » | Damascene rose petals | |
Rosa gallica flos | » | English rose petals | |
Rosmarinus officinalis | » | Rosemay leaf | |
Rubus idaeus | » | Raspberry leaf | |
| Rumex crispus | » | Yellow dock root | |
| Ruscus aculeatus | » | Butcher’s broom root | |
Ruta graveloens | » | Rue leaf | |
Salix alba | » | White willow bark | |
Salvia officinalis | » | Sage flowering herb | |
Sambucus nigra flos | » | Elderflower | |
Sambucus nigra fructus | » | Elderberries | |
Sarothamnus scoparius | » | Broom flowering tops | |
| Sassafras albidum | » | Sassafras bark | |
Schisandra chinesis | » | Schisandra berries, Wu wei zi | |
Scrophularia nodosa | » | Figwort herb | |
Scutellaria lateriflora | » | Skullcap herb | |
Serenoa serulata | » | Saw palmetto berries | |
Smilax ornata | » | Sarsparilla root | |
Solidago canadenis | » | Golden rod flowering herb | |
Solidago virgaurea | » | Golden rod flowering herb | |
Stachys betonica | » | Wood betony herb | |
Stellaria media | » | Chickweed herb | |
Symphytum officinale folia | » | Comfrey leaf | |
Symphytum officinale radix | » | Comfrey root | |
Tabebuia impetiginosa | » | Pau d’arco bark | |
Tanacetum parthenium | » | Feverfew flowering herb | |
Tanacetum vulgaris | » | Tansy flowering herb | |
Taraxacum officinalis folia | » | Dandelion leaf | |
Taraxacum officinalis radix | » | Dandelion root | |
Thuja occidentalis | » | Tree of life buds | |
Thymus vulgaris | » | Thyme herb | |
| Tribulus terrestris | » | Puncture vine fruit | |
Tilia europea | » | Linden, Lime flowers | |
Trifolium praetense | » | Red Clover Flowers | |
Trigonella foenum-graecum | » | Fenugreek seed | |
Trillium erectum | » | Bethroot | |
Turnera diffusa | » | Damiana leaf | |
Tussilago farfara | » | Coltsfoot leaf | |
| Uncaria tomentosa | » | Cat’s claw bark and fruit | |
Ulmus fulva | » | Slippery elm bark | |
Urtica dioica herba | » | Nettle herb | |
Urtica dioica radix | » | Nettle root | |
Vaccinium myrtillis fol | » | Bilberry leaf | |
Vaccinium myrtillis fructus | » | Bilberries | |
Valeriana officinalis | » | Valerian root | |
Verbascum thapsus flos | » | Mullein herb and flowers | |
Verbascum thapsus herba | » | Mullein whole flowering herb | |
Verbena officinalis | » | Vervain flowering herb | |
Viburnum opulus | » | Crampbark | |
Viburnum prunifolium | » | Blackhaw bark | |
| Vinca major | » | Greater periwinkle herb | |
Vinca minor | » | Periwinkle herb | |
Viola odorata | » | Sweet violet leaves | |
Viola tricolor | » | Heartsease flowering herb | |
Viscum album | » | Mistletoe flowering herb | |
Vitex agnus – castus | » | Chasteberry, Agnus castus, chaste tree berry | |
Withania somnifera | » | Ashwaganda root | |
Zanthoxylum species cortex | » | Prickly ash bark | |
Zanthoxylum species fructus | » | Prickly ash berry | |
Zea mays | » | Cornsilk | |
Zingiber officinalis | » | Ginger root |