← Latin for Biologists and Gardeners — Botanical Latin
This lesson introduces the important noun "rēs, reī" (feminine), a fifth declension noun meaning "thing," which forms many important compounds like "rēs pūblica" (commonwealth) and "rēs familiāris" (family property).
36.16 Haec this planta plant aliās other formās forms foliae of leaf quam than prior the previous species species habet. has.
36.17 In in herbāriō the herbarium specimen specimen aliud another melius better servātum preserved est. is.
36.18 Characterēs characteristics aliōs other in in floribus the flowers botānicus the botanist observat. observes.
36.19 Similēs similar proprietātēs properties alia another classis class plantārum of plants exhibet. exhibits.
36.20 Sub under microscōpiō the microscope cellulae cells aliae other appārent. appear.
36.21 Similia similar semina seeds genus genus aliud another prōdūcit. produces.
36.22 Variatās varied formās forms in in aliīs other regionibus regions inveniunt. they find.
36.23 Modus mode alius another germinātiōnis of germination observātur. is observed.
36.24 Sub under cultūrā cultivation varietātēs varieties aliae other crēscunt. grow.
36.25 Exemplar specimen aliud another in in collēctiōne the collection botānicus the botanist quaerit. seeks.
36.26 Similēs similar florēs flowers genera genera alia other habent. have.
36.27 Melius better plantae plants sub under aliīs other condiciōnibus conditions crēscunt. grow.
36.28 Speciem species aliam another in in montibus the mountains inveniunt. they find.
36.29 Systēma system aliud another classificationis of classification propōnit. he proposes.
36.30 Plantae plants in in aliō another habitū habitat variātae varied sunt. are.
37.1 Haec rēs magna est. This thing is great.
37.2 Pulchram rem in hortō videō. I see a beautiful thing in the garden.
37.3 Huius reī causam cognōscere volō. I wish to know the cause of this thing.
37.4 Rēs novae in agrīs crēscunt. New things grow in the fields.
37.5 Multās rēs bonās habeō. I have many good things.
37.6 Dē hāc rē scrībere cupiō. I desire to write about this thing.
37.7 Rem pūblicam servāre dēbēmus. We ought to save the commonwealth.
37.8 Rēs meae familiārēs hīc sunt. My household affairs are here.
37.9 Eī rem magnam nārrāvī. I told him about a great matter.
37.10 Omnēs rēs in hortō crēscentēs cūrō. I tend to all things growing in the garden.
37.11 Rēs nātūrālēs studiōsē observāmus. We eagerly observe natural things.
37.12 Illīus reī memoriam retineō. I retain the memory of that thing.
37.13 Per rēs adversās fortis sum. I am brave through adverse circumstances.
37.14 Rēs mīrābilēs in sylvā vīdimus. We saw wonderful things in the forest.
37.15 Reī herbāriae studium amō. I love the study of botany.
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37.1 Haec rēs magna est.
37.2 Pulchram rem in hortō videō.
37.3 Huius reī causam cognōscere volō.
37.4 Rēs novae in agrīs crēscunt.
37.5 Multās rēs bonās habeō.
37.6 Dē hāc rē scrībere cupiō.
37.7 Rem pūblicam servāre dēbēmus.
37.8 Rēs meae familiārēs hīc sunt.
37.9 Eī rem magnam nārrāvī.
37.10 Omnēs rēs in hortō crēscentēs cūrō.
37.11 Rēs nātūrālēs studiōsē observāmus.
37.12 Illīus reī memoriam retineō.
37.13 Per rēs adversās fortis sum.
37.14 Rēs mīrābilēs in sylvā vīdimus.
37.15 Reī herbāriae studium amō.
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For English speakers, "rēs" presents several important features: -
Declension: -
Fifth declension noun (like "diēs") -
Feminine gender -
Singular: rēs, reī, reī, rem, rē -
Plural: rēs, rērum, rēbus, rēs, rēbus -
Special Uses: -
Often forms compound expressions: -
rēs pūblica = commonwealth, state -
rēs familiāris = family property, household affairs -
rēs herbāria = botany -
rēs mīlitāris = military affairs -
Common Meanings: -
Thing, matter, affair -
Circumstance, situation -
Property, possession -
Fact, reality -
Event, occurrence -
Important Combinations: -
With adjectives: rēs novae (revolution), rēs adversae (adversity) -
With demonstratives: haec rēs, illa rēs -
In prepositional phrases: dē hāc rē, in rē
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For English speakers, understanding "rēs" requires grasping several cultural concepts: -
Roman Practical Mindset: -
Romans valued concrete thinking -
"Rēs" reflected their focus on tangible matters -
Important in legal and political language -
Scientific Context: -
Used extensively in scientific writing -
Key term in botanical texts -
Essential for describing natural phenomena -
Historical Usage: -
Evolution from concrete to abstract meanings -
Important in philosophical texts -
Central to political discourse -
Modern Relevance: -
Still used in scientific Latin -
Important for understanding botanical terms -
Appears in legal phrases
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From Linnaeus's "Philosophia Botanica" (1751):
37.1 Haec this rēs thing magna great est. is
37.2 Pulchram beautiful rem thing in in hortō the garden videō. I see
37.3 Huius of this reī thing causam cause cognōscere to know volō. I wish
37.4 Rēs things novae new in in agrīs the fields crēscunt. grow
37.5 Multās many rēs things bonās good habeō. I have
37.6 Dē about hāc this rē thing scrībere to write cupiō. I desire
37.7 Rem commonwealth pūblicam public servāre to save dēbēmus. we ought
37.8 Rēs affairs meae my familiārēs household hīc here sunt. are
37.9 Eī to him rem matter magnam great nārrāvī. I told
37.10 Omnēs all rēs things in in hortō the garden crēscentēs growing cūrō. I tend to
37.11 Rēs things nātūrālēs natural studiōsē eagerly observāmus. we observe
37.12 Illīus of that reī thing memoriam memory retineō. I retain
37.13 Per through rēs circumstances adversās adverse fortis brave sum. I am
37.14 Rēs things mīrābilēs wonderful in in sylvā the forest vīdimus. we saw
37.15 Reī of botany herbāriae herbal studium study amō. I love
Fundamenta Botanices duplex est: Dispositio et Denominatio. Dispositio plantarum divisionēs seu conjunctionēs docet; estque vel Theoretica vel Practica. Rēs herbāriae initia ab dispositiōne et inde factā dēnōminatiōne exōrta sunt.
The foundations of Botany are twofold: Arrangement and Naming. Arrangement teaches the divisions or combinations of plants; and is either Theoretical or Practical. The beginnings of botanical science have arisen from arrangement and the naming derived from it.
Linnaeus uses "rēs herbāriae" as a technical term for botanical science. The passage shows how Latin remained the language of science well into the 18th century, with "rēs" forming important technical compounds.
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"Rēs herbāriae" is genitive singular -
"initia" is nominative plural neuter -
"exōrta sunt" is perfect passive -
Note the technical vocabulary characteristic of scientific Latin
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This passage focuses on botanical subjects (rēs herbāriae) and natural history. Here are the key grammatical patterns:
Nominative + Verb: - 37.16: haec rēs...flōret (this thing blooms) - 37.17: omnēs rēs vīvae...crēscunt (all living things grow) - 37.29: haec rēs pulchra...flōrēbit (this beautiful thing will bloom)
Accusative Objects: - 37.18: rēs nātūrālēs (direct object of explicat) - 37.20: rēs novās (direct object of examinant) - 37.27: illās rēs herbāriās (direct object of colligēmus)
Prepositional Phrases: - in hortō (in the garden) - locative - sub arboribus (under trees) - inter plantās (among plants) - per adversitātem (through difficulty)
- Adjective agreement: rēs vīvae, herbae medicālēs, fōlia viridia - Perfect participles: crēscentēs, adversās, inventae - Future tense: colligēmus (37.27), flōrēbit (37.29) - Dative construction: studiōsīs (37.18 - indirect object)
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37.16 Haec rēs herbāria nova in hortō nostrō flōret. This new botanical specimen blooms in our garden.
37.17 Omnēs rēs vīvae in sylvā nostrā crēscunt. All living things grow in our forest.
37.18 Magister rēs nātūrālēs studiōsīs explicat. The teacher explains natural phenomena to the students.
37.19 Huius reī pulchrae fōlia viridia sunt. The leaves of this beautiful specimen are green.
37.20 Rēs novās in hortō botanicō examinant. They examine new specimens in the botanical garden.
37.21 Inter rēs crēscentēs hae plantae optimē vigent. Among growing things, these plants thrive best.
37.22 Multae rēs mīrābilēs sub arboribus inventae sunt. Many wonderful specimens have been found under the trees.
37.23 Dē rēbus herbāriīs librum novum scrībit. He writes a new book about botanical matters.
37.24 Ad rēs medicās hae herbae colliguntur. These herbs are collected for medicinal purposes.
37.25 Per rēs adversās hic flos crēscit. This flower grows through adverse conditions.
37.26 Reī rārae speciem in montibus invēnimus. We found a specimen of a rare species in the mountains.
37.27 Illās rēs herbāriās in prātō colligēmus. We will collect those botanical specimens in the meadow.
37.28 Studiōsī rēs nātūrālēs in hortō observant. The students observe natural phenomena in the garden.
37.29 Haec rēs pulchra in vāse flōrēbit. This beautiful specimen will bloom in the vase.
37.30 Rērum herbāriārum scientiam augēre studeō. I strive to increase knowledge of botanical matters.
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37.16 Haec rēs herbāria nova in hortō nostrō flōret.
37.17 Omnēs rēs vīvae in sylvā nostrā crēscunt.
37.18 Magister rēs nātūrālēs studiōsīs explicat.
37.19 Huius reī pulchrae fōlia viridia sunt.
37.20 Rēs novās in hortō botanicō examinant.
37.21 Inter rēs crēscentēs hae plantae optimē vigent.
37.22 Multae rēs mīrābilēs sub arboribus inventae sunt.
37.23 Dē rēbus herbāriīs librum novum scrībit.
37.24 Ad rēs medicās hae herbae colliguntur.
37.25 Per rēs adversās hic flos crēscit.
37.26 Reī rārae speciem in montibus invēnimus.
37.27 Illās rēs herbāriās in prātō colligēmus.
37.28 Studiōsī rēs nātūrālēs in hortō observant.
37.29 Haec rēs pulchra in vāse flōrēbit.
37.30 Rērum herbāriārum scientiam augēre studeō.
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In botanical Latin, "rēs" takes on specialized meanings and forms particular compound expressions: -
Technical Terms: -
rēs herbāria: botanical specimen or matter -
rēs nātūrālis: natural phenomenon -
rēs medica: medicinal matter -
Common Constructions in Botanical Texts: -
Genitive of Description: reī rārae (of a rare species) -
Purpose Clauses: ad rēs medicās (for medicinal purposes) -
Ablative of Means: per rēs adversās (through adverse conditions) -
Important Adjective Combinations: -
With Present Participles: rēs crēscentēs (growing things) -
With Technical Adjectives: rēs botanica (botanical matter) -
With Descriptive Adjectives: rēs pulchra (beautiful specimen) -
Case Usage in Scientific Context: -
Accusative for Classification: in rēs variās dīvidimus (we divide into various types) -
Ablative for Technical Processes: dē rēbus herbāriīs (concerning botanical matters) -
Genitive for Scientific Categories: rērum herbāriārum scientia (knowledge of botanical matters)
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