Stearn's Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners. A Handbook on the Origin and Meaning of the Botanical Names of some Cultivated Plants. 1992. (Reprint 1994). 363 p. gr8vo. Cloth.

Second hand copy in good condition.

In this book the author gives the meaning and origin of some 6000 botanical names, selecting those most likely to be encountered by gardeners and horticulturists. No other single source provides so much etymological information for the gardener, much of it out of the way, all of it enlightened by a wealth of detail, the result of years of scholarship and original research by the author. Also listed are 3000 of the most widely accepted vernacular names, cross-indexed to their correct botanical names, and invaluable reference for gardeners, writers and historians. Both the dictionary sections are prefaced byl earned and entertaining introductions. Plant classification and binomial nomenclature are explained, and there are notes on the structure and pronunciation of botanical Latin. Extensive bibliographies direct the reader to recommended sources for further enquiry.