← Latin for Biologists and Gardeners — Botanical Latin
24.16 In in paludibus marshes planta a plant fronde with fronds māgnā large habitat. lives.
24.17 In in spīcā a spike flōrēs flowers māgnī large purpureī purple dispōnuntur. are arranged.
24.18 Collēctiōnem a collection māgnam large plantārum of plants medicinārum medicinal herbārius the herbalist facit. makes.
24.19 Variētās a variety māgna large fungōrum of mushrooms in in silvīs woods ūvidīs damp crēscit. grows.
24.20 Sub under corticē the bark māgnō large īnsecta insects parva small vīvunt. live.
24.21 Bāccae berries māgnae large nigrae black autumnō in autumn mātūrēscunt. ripen.
24.22 Vim power medicam medicinal rādīx the root māgna large et and carnōsa fleshy habet. has.
24.23 In on caule the stem māgnō large ramī branches multī many laterālēs lateral ōriuntur. arise.
24.24 Specimen a specimen māgnum large novae of a new specieī species botanicus the botanist dēscrībit. describes.
24.25 Folia leaves virida green ē from bulbō the bulb māgnō large ēmergunt. emerge.
24.26 Ventō by the wind cōpia a quantity māgna large seminum of seeds dispergitur. is dispersed.
24.27 In on foliolīs the leaflets māgnīs large guttae drops rōris of dew colliguntur. gather.
24.28 Per through solum the soil rhizōma the rhizome māgnum large horizontāliter horizontally serpit. creeps.
24.29 Ē from stirpe the trunk vetere old surculus a shoot māgnus large novus new ēmergit. emerges.
24.30 Plantās plants rārās rare hortulānus the gardener māgnā with great cūrā care cōnservat. preserves.
25.1 Ex librō herbārium plantās dēscrībit. The herbarium describes plants from the book.
25.2 Nova specimina ē sylvīs colligunt. They collect new specimens from the woods.
25.3 Fructūs perītus ex hortō sēligit. The expert selects fruits from the garden.
25.4 Plantae ex terrā crescunt. Plants grow out of the earth.
25.5 Ē rāmīs germina prōdeunt. Buds emerge from the branches.
25.6 Sē ex gemmīs flōrēs explicant. Flowers unfold themselves from the buds.
25.7 Sēmina ex folliculīs cadunt. Seeds fall from the pods.
25.8 Ē rādīce surculus oritur. A shoot arises from the root.
25.9 Ex cortice succum extrahimus. We extract sap from the bark.
25.10 Folia ē caule ēmergunt. Leaves emerge from the stem.
25.11 Fructūs ex arboribus colligimus. We gather fruits from the trees.
25.12 Ē flōribus botānicus pollen cōnservat. The botanist preserves pollen from the flowers.
25.13 Ex fungīs spōrae līberantur. Spores are released from the mushrooms.
25.14 Ē foliīs aqua ēvaporātur. Water evaporates from the leaves.
25.15 Ex sēminibus plantae nāscuntur. Plants are born from seeds.
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25.1 Ex librō herbārium plantās dēscrībit.
25.2 Nova specimina ē sylvīs colligunt.
25.3 Fructūs perītus ex hortō sēligit.
25.4 Plantae ex terrā crescunt.
25.5 Ē rāmīs germina prōdeunt.
25.6 Sē ex gemmīs flōrēs explicant.
25.7 Sēmina ex folliculīs cadunt.
25.8 Ē rādīce surculus oritur.
25.9 Ex cortice succum extrahimus.
25.10 Folia ē caule ēmergunt.
25.11 Fructūs ex arboribus colligimus.
25.12 Ē flōribus botānicus pollen cōnservat.
25.13 Ex fungīs spōrae līberantur.
25.14 Ē foliīs aqua ēvaporātur.
25.15 Ex sēminibus plantae nāscuntur.
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The preposition "ex" (or "ē" before consonants) takes the ablative case and indicates: -
Physical Movement -
Motion from inside something -
Emergence from a source -
Separation from an origin point -
Origin or Source -
Where something comes from -
The material from which something is made -
The source of development -
Form Changes -
"Ex" with ablative shows transformation -
Used in biological processes -
Indicates developmental stages
Key Grammar Points: -
Always takes the ablative case -
"Ex" becomes "ē" before consonants for easier pronunciation -
Cannot be used with accusative case -
Different from "ab" (from the vicinity of) and "dē" (down from)
Common Constructions in Botanical Latin: -
ex + plant part (source) -
ex + location (origin) -
ex + material (composition)
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For English speakers learning botanical Latin, understanding "ex" requires appreciating several key contexts: -
Scientific Usage -
Essential in describing plant morphology -
Used in taxonomic descriptions -
Critical for explaining plant development -
Historical Development -
Used extensively by Linnaeus -
Standard in botanical descriptions -
Part of scientific Latin tradition -
Modern Application -
Found in contemporary botanical works -
Used in plant databases -
Essential for understanding scientific literature -
Comparison with English -
More precise than English "from" -
Specific to internal origin -
Important in technical descriptions
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25.1 Ex From librō the book herbārium the herbarium plantās plants dēscrībit. describes
25.2 Nova New specimina specimens ē from sylvīs the woods colligunt. they collect
25.3 Fructūs Fruits perītus the expert ex from hortō the garden sēligit. selects
25.4 Plantae Plants ex out of terrā the earth crescunt. grow
25.5 Ē From rāmīs the branches germina buds prōdeunt. emerge
25.6 Sē themselves ex from gemmīs the buds flōrēs flowers explicant. unfold
25.7 Sēmina Seeds ex from folliculīs the pods cadunt. fall
25.8 Ē From rādīce the root surculus a shoot oritur. arises
25.9 Ex From cortice the bark succum sap extrahimus. we extract
25.10 Folia Leaves ē from caule the stem ēmergunt. emerge
25.11 Fructūs Fruits ex from arboribus the trees colligimus. we gather
25.12 Ē From flōribus the flowers botānicus the botanist pollen pollen cōnservat. preserves
25.13 Ex From fungīs the mushrooms spōrae spores līberantur. are released
25.14 Ē From foliīs the leaves aqua water ēvaporātur. evaporates
25.15 Ex From sēminibus seeds plantae plants nāscuntur. are born
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Flores ex eādem gemmā ac folia vernālia prōdeunt. Flowers emerge from the same bud as the spring leaves.
This passage demonstrates Linnaeus's precise observational style. The use of "ex" shows the exact point of origin, typical of scientific Latin's emphasis on accurate description.
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"ex" takes ablative "gemmā" -
"eādem" agrees with "gemmā" -
"ac" coordinates the comparison -
Present tense "prōdeunt" shows typical action
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25.16 Rādīcēs Roots ex from humiditāte moisture aquam water extrahunt. extract.
25.17 Liquor Milky fluid lacteus milky ē from vāsīs the vessels fluit. flows.
25.18 Ex From tuberibus tubers nova new germina shoots creāntur. are created.
25.19 Saccus The sac ē of membrānā a membrane tenui thin constat. consists.
25.20 Ex From flōribus the flowers mellīferīs honey-bearing nectar nectar dēstillat. drips.
25.21 Oleum Essential oil essentiale essential ex from cortice bark arōmāticō aromatic extrahitur. is extracted.
25.22 Ē From fructū the fruit mātūrō ripe sēmina seeds spargunt. scatter.
25.23 Resīna Resin ex from vulneribus the wounds arboris of the tree exsūdat. oozes.
25.24 Ē From rhizōmate the rhizome stolōnēs runners horizontālēs horizontal ēmittuntur. are sent out.
25.25 Pigmenta Special pigments speciālia special ex from cellulīs cells sēcernuntur. are secreted.
25.26 Ex From apice the tip folii of the leaf guttae drops exsūdant. exude.
25.27 Pollinis Pollen grāna grains ē from antherīs the anthers dēhiscentibus dehiscing ēmittuntur. are released.
25.28 Ex From embryōne the embryo prīmō first rādīcula the radicle ēvolvitur. develops.
25.29 Vapōrēs Water vapors aquae of water ex from stōmatibus the stomata ēmanant. emanate.
25.30 Ē From medullā the pith rāmī of the branch adventīciī adventitious ōriuntur. arise.
25.16 Rādīcēs ex humiditāte aquam extrahunt. Roots extract water from moisture.
25.17 Liquor lacteus ē vāsīs fluit. Milky fluid flows from the vessels.
25.18 Ex tuberibus nova germina creāntur. New shoots are created from tubers.
25.19 Saccus ē membrānā tenui constat. The sac consists of a thin membrane.
25.20 Ex flōribus mellīferīs nectar dēstillat. Nectar drips from the honey-bearing flowers.
25.21 Oleum essentiale ex cortice arōmāticō extrahitur. Essential oil is extracted from aromatic bark.
25.22 Ē fructū mātūrō sēmina spargunt. Seeds scatter from the ripe fruit.
25.23 Resīna ex vulneribus arboris exsūdat. Resin oozes from the tree's wounds.
25.24 Ē rhizōmate stolōnēs horizontālēs ēmittuntur. Horizontal runners are sent out from the rhizome.
25.25 Pigmenta speciālia ex cellulīs sēcernuntur. Special pigments are secreted from cells.
25.26 Ex apice folii guttae exsūdant. Drops exude from the leaf tip.
25.27 Pollinis grāna ē antherīs dēhiscentibus ēmittuntur. Pollen grains are released from dehiscing anthers.
25.28 Ex embryōne prīmō rādīcula ēvolvitur. The radicle first develops from the embryo.
25.29 Vapōrēs aquae ex stōmatibus ēmanant. Water vapors emanate from the stomata.
25.30 Ē medullā rāmī adventīciī ōriuntur. Adventitious branches arise from the pith.
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25.16 Rādīcēs ex humiditāte aquam extrahunt.
25.17 Liquor lacteus ē vāsīs fluit.
25.18 Ex tuberibus nova germina creāntur.
25.19 Saccus ē membrānā tenui constat.
25.20 Ex flōribus mellīferīs nectar dēstillat.
25.21 Oleum essentiale ex cortice arōmāticō extrahitur.
25.22 Ē fructū mātūrō sēmina spargunt.
25.23 Resīna ex vulneribus arboris exsūdat.
25.24 Ē rhizōmate stolōnēs horizontālēs ēmittuntur.
25.25 Pigmenta speciālia ex cellulīs sēcernuntur.
25.26 Ex apice folii guttae exsūdant.
25.27 Pollinis grāna ē antherīs dēhiscentibus ēmittuntur.
25.28 Ex embryōne prīmō rādīcula ēvolvitur.
25.29 Vapōrēs aquae ex stōmatibus ēmanant.
25.30 Ē medullā rāmī adventīciī ōriuntur.
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In botanical descriptions, "ex/ē" has several specialized functions essential for describing plant processes and structures: -
Physical Processes -
Secretion: ex cellulīs sēcernuntur -
Exudation: ex vulneribus exsūdat -
Emission: ex antherīs ēmittuntur -
Development: ex embryōne ēvolvitur -
Anatomical Relationships -
Source tissues: ē medullā -
Origin points: ex apice folii -
Structural development: ē rhizōmate -
Physiological Processes -
Water movement: ex stōmatibus ēmanant -
Growth patterns: ex tuberibus creāntur -
Developmental sequences: ex embryōne ēvolvitur
Common Patterns in Botanical Latin: -
With Passive Verbs -
ēmittuntur (are sent out) -
extrahitur (is extracted) -
sēcernuntur (are secreted) -
With Active Processes -
exsūdat (oozes) -
ēmanat (emanates) -
dēstillat (drips) -
Special Terminology -
Plant parts (rhizōma, medulla, anthera) -
Technical processes (dēhiscentia, exsūdātiō) -
Developmental terms (ēvolūtiō, germinātiō)
Key Grammar Points for Students: -
Ex/ē always takes ablative case -
Forms often include technical adjectives -
Word order can vary for emphasis -
Passive voice common in descriptions
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