Last revised: November 2009
Plants: Common and Scientific Names
Scope: This guide is a selected list of information sources for plant names for both the United States and the world. The topics range from Plants in General, to specific categories such as Exotic Plants and Trees, Shrubs and Vines. The areas covered include: Taxonomy, Classification and Nomenclature of plants. If you have any questions, please contact the UMCP's Biology Librarian, Tom Harrod
Internet Resources
- Index of All Plant Fact Sheets
Features basic information as well as nomenclature for many plant species, search by common name or scientific name. Produced by a group at North Carolina State University. - Integrated Taxonomic Information System
(ITIS)
Produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ITIS is a searchable list of biological names focusing on the biota of North America. - International Code of Botanical Nomenclature
Here are the electronic versions of the International Botanical Conference's "International Code of Botanical Nomenclature" (ICBN) from the 2005 Vienna Conference, the 1999 St. Louis Conference, and the 1994 Tokyo Conference. -
The International Plant Names Index (IPNI)
IPNI was designed to be a comprehensive source for the names "of all seed plants, ferns, and fern allies". Additionally, this resource provides bibliographic information regarding these names. - Multi-Lingual Multiscript Plant Name Database
A tool from the University of Melbourne, this site gives plant names in different languages. -
Names in Current Use for Extant Plant Genera
From the International Association for Plant Taxonomy, this resource allows users to search an electronic version of NCU-3. - National Collection of Endangered Plants
This website, maintained by the Center for Plant Conservation, features the names of endangered plant species in the United States. - Non-flowering Plant Names
A searchable list of non-flowering plant names from the Sagehan Creek Field Station (University of California). - Plants Database (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
This site contains information about plants of the United States including names, pictures, regional distribution, and more.
Finding books on a topic
Subject or Keyword searches will locate words and terms when they appear in the title, subject headings or notes of a record. Using the terms "plant" or "plants" could retrieve thousands of records, so be sure to limit your search by adding additional terms, such as the type of plant: edible or range, or by the geographical region: North American, etc. or otherwise narrowing the scope of your search. Examples of words and terms you may wish to use for retrieving books on plant names are:
"Plants" and: "Nomenclature." "Classification," or "Taxonomy"
Use your term(s) of interest in the search box below - or consult a Reference Librarian.
Plants, In General
- Elsevier’s Dictionary of Plant Names and Their Origin
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK13 .E565 2000 - Flowering Plants of the World
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK495.A1F58 1993 - Gardener's Latin: A Lexicon
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK9.N42 1992 - Hortus Third: A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United
States and Canada
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB45.B22 1976 - Index Hortensis: A Modern Nomenclature for Botanists,
Horticulturists, Plantsmen and the Serious Gardener. Vol 1.
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK96.T74 1989 - International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Vienna Code)
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK96 .R4 vol.146 - Names of Plants
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks & UMCP Online Resources
Call Number: QK96 .G54 2002 - The Kew Record of Taxonomic Literature
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK95.K4 - The New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of
Horticulture
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB317.58.E94 - The Plant Book: A Portable Dictionary of the Vascular Plants
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK11 .M29 1997 - Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK9.H37 1994 - Plants and Their Names: A Concise
Dictionary
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK96.P35 1995 - Taxonomic Literature: A Selective Guide to
Botanical Publications and Collections with Dates, Commentaries and Types
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK97.S8
(Supplement, MCK STACKS Z5351.S7 Vol. 125)
Exotic Plants
- Tropica: Color Cyclopedia of Exotic Plants and Trees for Warm-Region Horticulture, in Cool Climate, the Summer Garden, or Sheltered Indoors
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB407 .G73 1992 - Exotica Series 4 International: Pictorial Cyclopedia of Exotic Plants from Tropical and Near-tropic Regions
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB407.G7 1985
Flowerless Plants
- Elsevier's Dictionary of Edible Mushrooms: Botanical and
Common Names in Various Languages of the World
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK617.C44 1989 - Encyclopaedia of Ferns: An Introduction to Their Structure, Biology, Economic
Importance, Cultivation and Propagation
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK522.J65 1987 - Encyclopedia of Garden Ferns
Location: McKeldin Library Folio
Call Number: SB429 .O47 2007 - A Field Manual of the Ferns & Fern - Allies of the United
States
& Canada
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK524.5.L45 1985 - Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy
Fungi
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK617.A69 1986 - Mushrooms of North America in Color : A Field Guide Companion to Seldom-Illustrated Fungi
Location: McKeldin Library Stacks
Call Number: QK617 .M84 1995 - The Oxford Book of Flowerless Plants: Ferns, Fungi, Mosses,
and Liverworts, Lichens, and Seaweeds
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK513.G7N5
Garden/Edible Plants
- The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden
Plants
Location: McKeldin Library Folio
Call Number: SB403.2 .A45 1997 - The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB450.95 .A45 2003 - Cornucopia: A Source Book of Edible Plants
Location: MCK FOLIO
Call Number: SB175.F33 1990 - Index of Garden Plants
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB407.G77 1994 - A Gardener's Guide to Plant Names
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK11.H4 - Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of
Perennials
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB434.P48 1993 - Stearn's Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners: A Handbook
on the Origin and Meaning of the Botanical Names of Some Cultivated Plants
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK11.S6 1992
Grasses/Range Plants
- Grasses, An Identification Guide
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK495.G74B69 - Field Guide to the Grasses, Sedges and Rushes of the
United States
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK495.G74K718 1977 - The Grass Genera of the World
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK495.G74W38 1992 - North American Wildland Plants: A Field Guide
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB193.3.N67 S88 2003 - North American Range Plants
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB193.3.N67 S88 1997
Herbs/Medicinal Plants
- American Medicinal Plants
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK99.U6M54 1974 - The Dictionary of Healing
Plants
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK99.A1D6713 1989 - Handbook of Medicinal Plants
Location: McKeldin Library Stacks
Call Number: RS164 .H273 2005 - A Modern Herbal
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK99.A1G72 1971
Indoor Plants
- The Complete Book of Cacti and Succulents
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB438 .H44 1993 - A Handbook of Succulent Plants; Descriptions, Synonyms,
and
Cultural Details for Succulents Other Than Cactaceae
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB438.J286 1960 v. 1 - v. 3 - The Manual of Cultivated
Orchid Species
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB409.B43313 1992
Poisonous Plants
- A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants: A
Handbook for Pharmacists, Doctors, Toxicologists, and Biologists.
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK100.A1F7613 1984 - A Field Guide to Venomous Animals and
Poisonous Plants, North America, North of Mexico
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QL100.F63 1994 - Handbook of Poisonous and
Injurious Plants
Location: Chemistry Stacks
Call Number: RA1250 .L27 2007 - Poisonous Mushrooms of
the United States and Canada.
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: RA1242.M9 A45 1985 - Poisonous Plants of the United States
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK100.U6M8 1975
Trees, Shrubs, and Vines
- The Complete Trees of North America
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks, Architecture Stacks
Call Number: QK481.E38 - Elsevier's Dictionary of Trees and Shrubs
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK474.87.V38 1986 - Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK495.P17H44 1995 - Flowering Vines of the World, an Encyclopedia of Climbing Plants
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK477.M42 - The International Book of Trees
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK475.J56 - North American Trees
Location: McKeldin Library Stacks
Call Number: QK110 .P74 2002
Weeds
- Weeds of the United States and Their Control
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB612.A2L67 1987 - Weeds and Words: The Etymology of the Scientific Names of Weeds and Crops
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: SB611.Z56 1989
Wildland Plants
- Wild Flowers of the United States
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK115.R5 - Infraspecific Classification of Wild and Cultivated Plants
Location: McKeldin Library Reference Stacks
Call Number: QK95.I53 1986
Indexes and Abstracts
- Agricola
Produced by the National Agricultural Library (NAL), this resource allows users to retrieve articles pertaining to all areas of agriculture - including animal breeding, farm management, environmental pollution, food & feeds, and rural sociology. - BIOSIS Previews
BIOSIS Previews provides the most comprehensive coverage to the literature of the life sciences. Coverage includes primary research articles in the basic areas of biology: botany, zoology and microbiology, as well as related fields such biomedicine, agriculture, pharmacology and ecology. Online access is available from 1970-present. - CAB Abstracts
CAB Abstracts indexes articles, conference proceedings, theses, books, and more covering a range of agricultural topics - Garden, Landscape, and Horticulture Index
This index feature articles on a variety of topics including: Plant and Garden Conservation, Botany, Ecology, and much more - Web of Science
Web of Science (WoS) is a multidisciplinary resource that allows users to see the cited references (bibliography) of a particular article, number of times an article has been cited and related records. Online access is available from 1945-present for the Science Citation Index portion of WoS.
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