← Latin for Biologists and Gardeners — Botanical Latin
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87.1 Tempus time anni of year multās many plantās plants flōrēre to bloom facit causes
87.2 Mūtātiōnēs changes temporum of times vegetātiōnem vegetation spectābiliter noticeably afficiunt affect
87.3 Omne every tempus time aptum suitable est is ad for aliquam some plantam plant colendam to be cultivated
87.4 Agricola farmer tempore by time vernō spring agrōs fields parat prepares
87.5 Flōrēs flowers brevī in short tempore time crēscunt grow et and moriūntur die
87.6 Mūtātiōnēs changes temporis of time ā by botanicīs botanists studiōsē carefully notantur are noted
87.7 Multum much temporis of time in in hortō garden cōnsūmō I spend
87.8 Rādīcēs roots longō in long tempore time crēscunt grow et and rōbōrantur strengthen
87.9 Hōc this tempore time annī of year arbōrēs trees folia leaves āmittunt lose
87.10 Tempus time appropinquat approaches quō in which frūctūs fruits colligentur will be collected
87.11 Propter because of temporis of time brevitātem shortness plūra more things facere to do nōn not possumus we are able
87.12 Nōnnūllae some plantae plants omnī in all tempore time vīrent are green
87.13 Tempus time collēctiōnis of collection sēminum of seeds autumnus autumn est is
87.14 Saepe often tempore from time ad to tempus time hortum garden vīsitāmus we visit
87.15 Quāle what kind of tempus time ad for plantātiōnem planting maxime most idōneum suitable est is
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87.1 Tempus annī multās plantās flōrēre facit. The time of year causes many plants to bloom.
87.2 Mūtātiōnēs temporum vegetātiōnem spectābiliter afficiunt. Changes of the seasons noticeably affect vegetation.
87.3 Omne tempus aptum est ad aliquam plantam colendam. Every season is suitable for cultivating some plant.
87.4 Agricola tempore vernō agrōs parat. The farmer prepares the fields in springtime.
87.5 Flōrēs brevī tempore crēscunt et moriūntur. Flowers grow and die in a short time.
87.6 Mūtātiōnēs temporis ā botanicīs studiōsē notantur. Changes of weather are carefully noted by botanists.
87.7 Multum temporis in hortō cōnsūmō. I spend much time in the garden.
87.8 Rādīcēs longō tempore crēscunt et rōbōrantur. Roots grow and strengthen over a long time.
87.9 Hōc tempore annī arbōrēs folia āmittunt. At this time of year, trees lose their leaves.
87.10 Tempus appropinquat quō frūctūs colligentur. The time approaches when fruits will be collected.
87.11 Propter temporis brevitātem plūra facere nōn possumus. Because of the shortness of time, we cannot do more things.
87.12 Nōnnūllae plantae omnī tempore vīrent. Some plants are green at all times.
87.13 Tempus collēctiōnis sēminum autumnus est. Autumn is the time for collecting seeds.
87.14 Saepe tempore ad tempus hortum vīsitāmus. Often from time to time we visit the garden.
87.15 Quāle tempus ad plantātiōnem maxime idōneum est? What kind of weather is most suitable for planting?
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87.1 Tempus annī multās plantās flōrēre facit.
87.2 Mūtātiōnēs temporum vegetātiōnem spectābiliter afficiunt.
87.3 Omne tempus aptum est ad aliquam plantam colendam.
87.4 Agricola tempore vernō agrōs parat.
87.5 Flōrēs brevī tempore crēscunt et moriūntur.
87.6 Mūtātiōnēs temporis ā botanicīs studiōsē notantur.
87.7 Multum temporis in hortō cōnsūmō.
87.8 Rādīcēs longō tempore crēscunt et rōbōrantur.
87.9 Hōc tempore annī arbōrēs folia āmittunt.
87.10 Tempus appropinquat quō frūctūs colligentur.
87.11 Propter temporis brevitātem plūra facere nōn possumus.
87.12 Nōnnūllae plantae omnī tempore vīrent.
87.13 Tempus collēctiōnis sēminum autumnus est.
87.14 Saepe tempore ad tempus hortum vīsitāmus.
87.15 Quāle tempus ad plantātiōnem maxime idōneum est?
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The noun "tempus" has several important features for English speakers to understand: -
Form and Gender: -
Third declension neuter noun -
Nominative singular: tempus -
Genitive singular: temporis -
Shows the common -us to -or- stem change -
Declension Pattern:
Singular: -
Nominative: tempus -
Genitive: temporis -
Dative: temporī -
Accusative: tempus -
Ablative: tempore
Plural: -
Nominative: tempora -
Genitive: temporum -
Dative: temporibus -
Accusative: tempora -
Ablative: temporibus -
Special Uses: -
Ablative of time when: "tempore vernō" (in spring time) -
Accusative of duration: "per longum tempus" (for a long time) -
Genitive of description: "temporis brevitātem" (shortness of time) -
Dative with aptus/idōneus: "temporī aptum" (suitable for the time) -
Common Expressions: -
tempore ad tempus (from time to time) -
omnī tempore (at all times) -
hōc tempore (at this time) -
brevī tempore (in a short time) -
longō tempore (over a long time) -
In Botanical Context: -
Often refers to seasons or growing periods -
Used to describe timing of plant life cycles -
Appears in phrases about when plants bloom, fruit, or go dormant -
Critical for describing cultivation schedules
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For English speakers learning botanical Latin, understanding "tempus" requires cultural context: -
Botanical Significance: -
Romans organized their agricultural activities strictly by seasonal time -
Precise timing was critical for planting, harvesting, and garden maintenance -
Ancient botanical texts like Theophrastus's "Historia Plantarum" emphasized temporal cycles -
Roman agricultural writers (Cato, Varro, Columella) organized advice by seasons -
Calendar Understanding: -
Roman agricultural calendar divided year into planting/harvesting periods -
Different from our modern calendar system -
Marked by natural phenomena rather than fixed dates -
Key events included solstices, equinoxes, and star positions -
Scientific Relevance: -
Modern botanical Latin inherits this temporal focus -
Plant descriptions include flowering time, fruiting periods -
Phenology (study of cyclical natural phenomena) uses temporal terms -
Botanical field guides organize information by seasonal appearance -
Linguistic Connections: -
Root of English "temporal," "temporary," "contemporary" -
Appears in scientific terms like "temporal lobe," "temporal bone" -
Used in botanical classification and description systems -
Common in horticultural literature for cultivation timing -
Practical Application: -
Understanding temporal terms essential for garden planning -
Botanical instructions often reference specific times of year -
Plant catalogs describe growth periods using temporal terminology -
Research papers track plant development through temporal markers
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From Pliny's "Naturalis Historia" (Book 16, Chapter 41):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Haec this est is nātūra nature arbōrum of trees, ut that aliae some aliō at another tempore time folium leaf dēperdant lose, et and haud not omnēs all eōdem at the same tempore time videantur are seen pati to suffer fōrmam appearance hiemis of winter.*
"Haec est nātūra arbōrum, ut aliae aliō tempore folium dēperdant, et haud omnēs eōdem tempore videantur pati fōrmam hiemis."
This is the nature of trees, that some lose their leaves at one time and others at another, and not all appear to experience the appearance of winter at the same time.
Pliny is describing the varied timing of leaf loss among different tree species. He uses "tempus" to emphasize how tree species each have their own schedule for seasonal changes. The passage demonstrates how botanical observations relied heavily on temporal understanding.
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"aliō tempore" - ablative of time when -
"eōdem tempore" - ablative of time when with demonstrative adjective -
"ut" introduces a result clause with subjunctive "dēperdant" -
"aliae...aliō" - correlative construction showing distribution -
"videantur" - passive subjunctive in subordinate clause -
Note how Pliny positions "tempore" after its modifiers, which is typical in Latin prose
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87.16 Cyclāminum cyclamen florēscit blooms tempore at time hiemāli winter quandō when aliae other plantae plants dormiunt sleep
87.17 Temporibus in times antīquīs ancient herbāria herbariums plantās plants siccātās dried cōnservābant preserved ad for studium study
87.18 Flōrum of flowers āpertiō opening certō at certain dieī of day tempore time accidit happens secundum according to speciēs species
87.19 Multae many plantae plants tempus time germinātiōnis of germination habent have vēre in spring vel or autumnō in autumn
87.20 Breve short tempus time inter between sēminātiōnem sowing et and germinātionem germination interest exists
87.21 Botānicus botanist diū for a long time exspectāre to wait debet must ut so that temporis of time effectūs effects in on plantīs plants observet he may observe
87.22 Per through omne all tempus time aestātis of summer hortulānus gardener irrigātiōnem watering cūrat takes care of
87.23 Tempore with time plantae plants annuae annual moriuntur die sed but sēmina seeds relinquunt they leave behind
87.24 Frūctuum of fruits mātūrātiō ripening longius longer tempus time requīrit requires quam than flōrum of flowers apertio opening
87.25 Maximō in greatest temporis of time spatiō space arbōrēs trees crēscunt grow et and flōrent bloom
87.26 Quīdam certain fungī fungi brevissimō in very brief tempore time appārent appear post after pluviam rain
87.27 Tempus time messis of harvest variātur varies secundum according to climatis of climate condiciōnēs conditions
87.28 Ex from longō long tempore time botanicī botanists plantārum of plants cyclōs cycles vītae of life investigant investigate
87.29 Tempus time optimum best ad for arbōrēs trees plantandās to be planted autumnus autumn vel or vēr spring putātur is considered
87.30 Diūturnō in prolonged tempore time siccitātis of dryness multae many plantae plants moriuntur die nisi unless irrigentur they are watered
87.16 Cyclāminum florēscit tempore hiemāli quandō aliae plantae dormiunt. Cyclamen blooms in winter time when other plants are dormant.
87.17 Temporibus antīquīs herbāria plantās siccātās cōnservābant ad studium. In ancient times, herbariums preserved dried plants for study.
87.18 Flōrum āpertiō certō dieī tempore accidit secundum speciēs. The opening of flowers happens at a certain time of day according to species.
87.19 Multae plantae tempus germinātiōnis habent vēre vel autumnō. Many plants have their germination time in spring or autumn.
87.20 Breve tempus inter sēminātiōnem et germinātionem interest. A short time exists between sowing and germination.
87.21 Botānicus diū exspectāre debet ut temporis effectūs in plantīs observet. A botanist must wait for a long time to observe the effects of time on plants.
87.22 Per omne tempus aestātis hortulānus irrigātiōnem cūrat. Throughout the entire time of summer, the gardener takes care of watering.
87.23 Tempore plantae annuae moriuntur sed sēmina relinquunt. With time, annual plants die but leave behind seeds.
87.24 Frūctuum mātūrātiō longius tempus requīrit quam flōrum apertio. The ripening of fruits requires a longer time than the opening of flowers.
87.25 Maximō temporis spatiō arbōrēs crēscunt et flōrent. Trees grow and bloom over the greatest span of time.
87.26 Quīdam fungī brevissimō tempore appārent post pluviam. Certain fungi appear in a very brief time after rain.
87.27 Tempus messis variātur secundum climatis condiciōnēs. The time of harvest varies according to climate conditions.
87.28 Ex longō tempore botanicī plantārum cyclōs vītae investigant. For a long time, botanists have been investigating the life cycles of plants.
87.29 Tempus optimum ad arbōrēs plantandās autumnus vel vēr putātur. Autumn or spring is considered the best time for planting trees.
87.30 Diūturnō tempore siccitātis multae plantae moriuntur nisi irrigentur. During a prolonged time of drought, many plants die unless they are watered.
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87.16 Cyclāminum florēscit tempore hiemāli quandō aliae plantae dormiunt.
87.17 Temporibus antīquīs herbāria plantās siccātās cōnservābant ad studium.
87.18 Flōrum āpertiō certō dieī tempore accidit secundum speciēs.
87.19 Multae plantae tempus germinātiōnis habent vēre vel autumnō.
87.20 Breve tempus inter sēminātiōnem et germinātionem interest.
87.21 Botānicus diū exspectāre debet ut temporis effectūs in plantīs observet.
87.22 Per omne tempus aestātis hortulānus irrigātiōnem cūrat.
87.23 Tempore plantae annuae moriuntur sed sēmina relinquunt.
87.24 Frūctuum mātūrātiō longius tempus requīrit quam flōrum apertio.
87.25 Maximō temporis spatiō arbōrēs crēscunt et flōrent.
87.26 Quīdam fungī brevissimō tempore appārent post pluviam.
87.27 Tempus messis variātur secundum climatis condiciōnēs.
87.28 Ex longō tempore botanicī plantārum cyclōs vītae investigant.
87.29 Tempus optimum ad arbōrēs plantandās autumnus vel vēr putātur.
87.30 Diūturnō tempore siccitātis multae plantae moriuntur nisi irrigentur.
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In botanical Latin, "tempus" appears in several specialized constructions that help describe plant life cycles and care requirements: -
Temporal Ablative Constructions (When Something Happens): -
Simple ablative: "tempore hiemāli" (in winter time) -
With adjective: "certō tempore" (at a specific time) -
With genitive: "tempore siccitātis" (during a time of drought) -
With preposition: "ex longō tempore" (for a long time) -
Genitive Constructions (Time Of): -
Descriptive: "temporis spatium" (span of time) -
Possessive: "tempus germinātiōnis" (time of germination) -
Partitive: "temporis effectūs" (effects of time) -
With adjective: "maximō temporis spatiō" (over the greatest span of time) -
Accusative Uses: -
Direct object: "tempus requīrit" (requires time) -
Duration: "per omne tempus" (throughout all time) -
With prepositions: "inter sēminātiōnem" (between sowing) -
Subject/Predicate Uses: -
Simple subject: "tempus variātur" (time varies) -
With linking verb: "tempus optimum est" (time is best) -
Complex subject: "breve tempus interest" (a short time exists) -
Botanical Temporal Phrases: -
Growth timing: "tempus germinātiōnis" (time of germination) -
Seasonal reference: "tempore hiemāli" (in winter time) -
Harvest reference: "tempus messis" (time of harvest) -
Care schedule: "tempore siccitātis" (during drought time) -
Life cycle: "cyclōs vītae" (life cycles) - related temporal concept -
Word Order in Botanical Descriptions: -
Adjective before noun: "breve tempus" (short time) -
Adjective after noun: "tempore hiemāli" (in winter time) -
With genitive before: "flōrum āpertiō tempore..." (the opening of flowers at the time...) -
With genitive after: "tempus germinātiōnis" (time of germination) -
In Scientific Observation: -
Comparative time: "longius tempus quam" (longer time than) -
Conditional time: "nisi irrigentur" (unless they are watered) -
Temporal clauses: "quandō plantae dormiunt" (when plants sleep) -
Purpose clauses: "ut effectūs observet" (in order to observe effects)
These constructions are essential for botanical literature, allowing precise description of plant phenology (timing of recurring life cycle events), cultivation requirements, and scientific observations.
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