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Selected English Common Names,
Crops & Ornamentals

Vernacular names are not underlined, generic names are underlined, family names end in "aceae", subfamily names end in "oideae". And please remember that this is only a small selection of the names we might include, but there is really no end to such a list. Those who have David Mabberley's invaluable The Plant-Book (1997) will find a much greater selection of names, and the families of the plants to which these refer can readily be worked out.

Acacia = Fabaceae (Mimosoideae)
Acanthus = Acanthaceae (Acanthoideae)
Alder = Alnus - Betulaceae
Alfalfa = Medicago - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Allspice = Pimenta - Myrtaceae
Almond = Prunus - Rosaceae (Amygdaloideae)
Aloe - Asphodelaceae
Amaryllis - Amaryllidaceae
Anemone = Ranunculaceae (Ranunculoideae)
Anise = Pimpinella - Apiaceae (Apioideae)
Apple = Malus - Rosaceae (Maloideae)
Apricot - Prunus - Rosaceae (Amygdaloideae)
Arabidopsis - Brassicaceae (Brassicoideae)
Artichoke = Helianthus - Asteraceae
Arum - Araceae
Ash = Fraxinus - Oleaceae
Asparagus - Asparagaceae
Aspen = Populus - Salicaceae
Aster - Asteraceae
Avocado = Persea - Lauraceae
Azalea = Rhododendron - Ericaceae (Ericoideae)
Bamboo = Bambusa = Poaceae (Bambusoideae)
Banana = Musa - Musaceae
Barley = Hordeum - Poaceae (Pooideae)
Barrel medic = Medicago truncatula - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Basil = Ocimum - Lamiaceae
Basswood = Tilia - Malvaceae (Tilioideae)
Bayberry = Myrica - Myricaceae
Bean = Many genera - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Beech = Fagus - Fagaceae
Beet = Beta - Amaranthaceae
Begonia - Begoniaceae
Betelnut = Areca - Arecaceae
Birch = Betula - Betulaceae
Bittersweet
      Celastrus - Celastraceae
      Solanum - Solanaceae
Blackberry = Rubus - Rosaceae (Rosoideae)
Bladdernut = Staphylea - Staphyleaceae
Blueberry = Vaccinium - Ericaceae (Vaccinioideae)
Bluebell
      American Bluebell = Mertensia - Boraginaceae (Boraginoideae)
      British Bluebell = Hyacinthoides - Hyacintheaceae
Box
      Box elder = Acer - Sapindaceae
      Box wood = Buxus - Buxaceae
Brazil nut = Bertholletia - Lecythidaceae
Broccoli = Brassica - Brassicaceae (Brassicoideae)
Buckthorn = Rhamnus - Rhamnaceae
Buckwheat = Fagopyrum - Polygonaceae
Buttercup = Ranunculus - Ranunculaceae
Cabbage
      Brassica - Brassicaceae (Brassicoideae)
      Skunk Cabbage = Symplocarpus - Araceae
Cacao = Theobroma - Malvaceae (Byttnerioideae)
Cactus - Cactaceae
Camellia - Theaceae
Caper = Capparis - Brassicaceae (Capparoideae)
Capsicum - Solanaceae
Cardamom = Elettaria - Zingiberaceae
Carrot = Daucus - Apiaceae
Cashew = Anacardium - Anacardiaceae
Cassava = Manihot - Euphorbiaceae
Cauliflower = Brassica - Brassicaceae (Brassicoideae)
Celery = Apium - Apiaceae (Apioideae)
Cherry = Prunus - Rosaceae (Amygdaloideae)
Chestnut
      Horse Chestnut = Aesculus - Sapindaceae
      Sweet Chestnut = Castanea - Fagaceae
Chickory = Cichorium - Asteraceae
Chick pea = Cicer - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Chickweed = Stellaria - Caryophyllaceae
Chocolate = Theobroma - Malvaceae (Byttnerioideae)
Chokeberry
      Photinia - Rosaceae (Maloideae)
      Prunus - Rosaceae (Amygdaloideae)
Chrysanthemum - Asteraceae
Cilantro = Coriandrum - Apiaceae (Apioideae)
Cinnamon = Cinnamomum - Lauraceae
Clove = Syzygium - Myrtaceae
Clover = Trifolium - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Cocaine = Erythroxylum - Erythroxylaceae
Cocoa = Theobroma - Malvaceae (Byttnerioideae)
Coconut = Cocos - Arecaceae
Cocoyam = Colocasia - Araceae
Coffee = Coffea - Rubiaceae
Columbine = Aquilegia - Ranunculaceae
Coneflower = Echinacea - Asteraceae
Coriander = Coriandrum - Apiaceae (Apioideae)
Corn = Zea - Poaceae (Panicoideae)
Cotton = Gossypium - Malvaceae (Malvoideae)
Cottonwood = Populus - Salicaceae
Cranberry = Vaccinium - Ericaceae (Vaccinioideae)
Cress = Lepidium - Brassicaceae (Brassicoideae)
Croton (tropical ornamental) = Codiaeum - Euphorbiaceae
Cucumber = Cucumis - Cucurbitaceae
Currant
      Dried fruit = Vitis - Vitaceae
      Black currant = Ribes - Grossulariaceae
Cyclamen - Myrsinaceae
Daffodil = Narcissus - Amaryllidaceae
Daisy = Many genera - Asteraceae
Dandelion = Taraxacum - Asteraceae
Daylily = Hemerocallis - Hemerocallidaceae
Delphinium = Ranunculaceae (Ranunculoideae)
Dock = Rumex - Polygonaceae
Dogwood = Cornus - Cornaceae
Duckweed = Lemna, etc. - Araceae
Durian = Durio - Malvaceae (Helicteroideae)
Dutchman's Pipe = Aristolochia - Aristolochiaceae
Eggplant = Solanum - Solanaceae
Elder = Sambucus - Adoxaceae
Elm = Ulmus - Ulmaceae
Eucalyptus - Myrtaceae
Fennel = Foeniculum - Apiaceae
Fig = Ficus - Moraceae
Filbert = Corylus - Betulaceae
Flame of the Forest = All tropical trees with conspicuous red flowers
Flax = Linum - Linaceae
Forget-Me-Not = Myosotis - Boraginaceae (Boraginoideae)
Foxglove = Digitalis - Plantaginaceae
Frankincense = Boswellia - Burseraceae
Freesia - Iridaceae
Gardenia - Rubiaceae
Garlic = Allium - Alliaceae
Gentian = Gentiana - Gentianaceae
Geranium - Geraniaceae
Ginger
      Cultivated Ginger = Zingiber - Zingiberaceae
      Wild Ginger = Asarum - Aristolochiaceae
Ginseng = Panax - Araliaceae
Goldenrod = Solidago - Asteraceae
Gooseberry = Ribes - Grossulariaceae
Grape = Vitis - Vitaceae
Grass = Many genera - Poaceae
Gum tree = Eucalyptus - Myrtaceae
Hackberry = Celtis - Cannabaceae
Hawthorn = Crataegus - Rosaceae (Maloideae)
Hazel (nut) = Corylus - Betulaceae
Heather = Calluna - Ericaceae (Ericoideae)
Helitrope = Heliotropium - Boraginaceae (Heliotropioideae)
Hemp = Cannabis - Cannabaceae
Henbane = Hyoscyamus - Solanaceae
Hibiscus - Malvaceae (Malvoideae)
Hickory = Carya - Juglandaceae
Holly = Ilex - Aquifoliaceae
Honeysuckle = Lonicera - Caprifoliaceae
Hops = Humulus - Cannabaceae
Hornbeam = Carpinus - Betulaceae
Horseradish = Armoracia - Brassicaceae (Brassicoideae)
Huckleberry = Gaylussacia - Ericaceae (Vaccinioideae)
Hyacinth
      Hyacinthus - Hyacintheaceae
      Water Hyacinth = Eichornia - Pontederiaceae
Ice plant = Mesembryanthemum - Aizoaceae
Indian Pipe = Monotropa - Ericaceae (Monotropoideae)
Iris - Iridaceae
Ivy
      Boston Ivy = Parthenocissus - Vitaceae
      English Ivy = Hedera - Araliaceae
Jack in the Pulpit = Arum - Araceae
Jasmine = Jasminum - Oleaceae
Khat = Catha - Celastraceae
Kiwi = Actinidia - Actinidiaceae
Kudzu = Pueraria - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Laurel
      Laurel wreath = Laurus - Lauraceae
      Mountain Laurel = Kalmia - Ericaceae (Ericoideae)
Leek
      Leek (edible) = Allium - Alliaceae
      House Leek = Sesmpervivum - Crassulaceae
Lemon = Citrus - Rutaceae
Lentil = Lens - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Lettuce = Lactuca - Asteraceae
Lilac = Syringa - Oleaceae
Lily = Lilium - Liliaceae (most)
Lime
      Lime (to eat) = Citrus - Rutaceae
      Lime Tree/Linden = Tilia - Malvaceae (Tilioideae)
Linden = Tilia - Malvaceae (Tilioideae)
Locust = Several genera - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Lotus = Nelumbo - Nelumbonaceae
Lupine = Lupinus - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Macadamia (nut) - Proteaceae
Madder = Rubia - Rubiaceae
Magnolia - Magnoliaceae
Maize = Zea - Poaceae (Panicoideae)
Mallow = Several genera - Malvaceae (Malvoideae)
Mango = Mangifera - Anacardiaceae
Mangosteen = Garcinia - Clusiaceae
Mangrove
      Red Mangrove = Rhizophora - Rhizophoraceae
      White Mangrove = Laguncularia - Combretaceae
      Black Mangrove = Avicennia - Acanthaceae
Maple = Acer - Sapindaceae
Marigold = Calendula - Asteraceae
Marijuana = Cannabis - Cannabaceae
Mignonette = Reseda - Resedaceae
Milkweed = Asclepias - Apocynaceae
Millet = Various grasses - Poaceae (mostly Panicoideae)
Mimosa - Fabaceae (Mimosoideae)
Mint = Mentha - Lamiaceae
Morning Glory = Ipomoea - Convolvulaceae
Mulberry = Morus - Moraceae
Mullein = Verbascum - Scrophulariaceae
Mustard = Brassica - Brassicaceae (Brassicoideae)
Myrrh = Commiphora - Burseraceae
Myrtle
      Myrtus - Myrtaceae
      Crepe Myrtle = Lagerstroemia - Lythraceae
Nasturtium (flower) = Tropaeolum - Tropaeolaceae
Nettle = Urtica - Urticaceae
Nightshade
      Solanum - Solanaceae
      Atropa - Solanaceae
Nutmeg = Myristica - Myristicaceae
Oak = Quercus - Fagaceae
Oats = Avena - Poaceae (Pooideae)
Okra = Abelmoschus - Malvaceae (Malvoideae)
Oleander = Nerium - Apocynaceae
Olive = Olea - Oleaceae
Onion = Allium - Alliaceae
Opium = Papaver - Papaveraceae
Orange = Citrus - Rutaceae
Orchid = Many genera - Orchidaceae
Oregano = Origanum - Lamiaceae
Palm = Many genera - Arecaceae
Pansy = Viola - Violaceae
Papaya = Carica - Caricaceae
Papyrus = Cyperus - Cyperaceae
Passionfruit = Passiflora - Passifloraceae
Pawpaw = Asimina - Annonaceae
Pea = Several genera - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Peanut = Arachis - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Peach = Prunus - Rosaceae (Amygdaloideae)
Pear = Pyrus - Rosaceae (Maloideae)
Pecan = Carya - Juglandaceae
Peony = Paeonia - Paeoniaceae
Pepper
      Red Pepper = Capsicum - Solanaceae
      Black Pepper = Piper - Piperaceae
Periwinkle = Vinca - Apocynaceae
Persimmon = Diospyros - Ebenaceae
Petunia - Solanaceae
Phlox - Polemoniaceae
Pimento = Pimenta - Myrtaceae
Pineapple = Ananas - Bromeliaceae
Pink = Dianthus - Caryophyllaceae
Pistacio = Pistacia - Anacardiaceae
Pitcher plant
      American Pitcher Plant = Sarracenia - Sarraceniaceae
      Malesian Pitcher Plant = Nepenthes - Nepenthaceae
Plantain
      Banana = Musa x paradisica - Musaceae
      weed = Plantago - Plantaginaceae
Plum = Prunus - Rosaceae (Amygdaloideae)
Plumbago - Plumbaginaceae
Poison Ivy = Toxicodendron - Anacardiaceae
Pomegranate = Punica - Lythraceae
Poplar = Populus - Salicaceae
Poppy = Papaver - Papaveraceae
Potato
      Irish Potato = Solanum - Solanaceae
      Sweet Potato = Ipomoea - Convolvulaceae
Primrose = Primula - Primulaceae
Pumpkin = Cucurbita - Cucurbitaceae
Purslane = Portulaca - Portulacaceae
Qat = Catha - Celastraceae
Quince = Cydonia - Rosaceae (Maloideae)
Radish = Raphanus - Brassicaceae (Brassicoideae)
Rapeseed = Brassica - Brassicaceae (Brassicoideae)
Ragweed = Artemisia - Asteraceae
Raspberry = Rubus - Rosaceae (Rosoideae)
Redbud = Cercis - Fabaceae (Cercideae)
Rhododendron - Ericaceae (Ericoideae)
Rhubarb = Rheum - Polygonaceae
Rice = Oryza - Poaceae (Ehrhartoideae)
Rose = Rosa - Rosaceae (Rosoideae)
Rush = Juncus - Juncaceae
Rye = Secale - Poaceae (Pooideae)
Sage = Salvia - Lamiaceae
Sago = Metroxylon - Arecaceae
Sarsaparilla = Smilax - Smilacaceae
Sassafras - Lauraceae
Saxifrage = Saxifraga - Saxifragaceae
Sedge = Carex - Cyperaceae
Sesame = Sesamum - Pedaliaceae
Snapdragon = Antirrhinum - Plantaginaceae
Snowdrops = Galanthus - Amaryllidaceae
Sorghum - Poaceae (Panicoideae)
Sorrel
      Rumex - Polygonaceae
      Wood sorrel = Oxalis - Oxalidaceae
Sour sop = Annona muricata - Annonaceae
Soybean = Glycine - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Spanish moss = Tillandsia usneoides - Bromeliaceae
Spiderwort = Tradescantia - Commelinaceae
Spinach = Spinacia - Amaranthaceae
Squash = Cucurbita - Cucurbitaceae
Star anise = Illicium - Illiciaceae
Star fruit = Averrhoa - Oxalidaceae
Stonecrop = Sedum - Crassulaceae
Strawberry = Fragaria - Rosaceae (Rosoideae)
Sugar cane = Saccharum - Poaceae (Panicoideae)
Sumac = Rhus - Anacardiaceae
Sundew = Drosera - Droseraceae
Sunflower = Helianthus - Asteraceae
Sweet gum = Liquidambar - Altingiaceae
Sweet sop = Annona squamosa - Annonaceae
Sycamore
      American sycamore = Platanus - Platanaceae
      British Isles sycamore = Acer - Sapindaceae
Tamarisk = Tamarix - Tamaricaceae
Tapioca = Manihot - Euphorbiaceae
Taro = Colocasia - Araceae
Tea = Camellia - Theaceae
Teasel = Dipsacus - Dipsacaceae
Thistle = Cirsium, Carduus (anything with prickles) - Asteraceae
Thyme = Thymus - Lamiaceae
Tobacco = Nicotiana - Solanaceae
Tomato = Solanum - Solanaceae
Trillium - Melanthiaceae
Trumpet vine = Campsis - Bignoniaceae
Tulip
      Tulip (flower) = Tulipa - Liliaceae
      Tuliptree or Tulip Poplar = Liriodendron - Magnoliaceae
Tupelo = Nyssa - Nyssaceae
Turnip = Brassica - Brassicaceae (Brassicoideae)
Valerian = Valeriana - Valerianaceae
Vanilla - Orchidaceae
Venus Flytrap = Dionaea - Droseraceae
Verbena - Verbenaceae
Vervain = Verbena - Verbenaceae
Vetch = Vicia - Fabaceae (Faboideae)
Violet = Viola - Violaceae
Walnut = Juglans - Juglandaceae
Wasabi = Wasabia - Brassicaceae (Brassicoideae)
Waterlily = usually Nymphaea & Victoria - Nymphaeaceae
Watermelon = Citrullus - Cucurbitaceae
Wheat = Triticum - Poaceae (Pooideae)
Willow = Salix - Salicaceae
Wintergeen = Gaultheria - Ericaceae (Vaccinioideae)
Witch hazel = Hamamelis - Hamamelidaceae
Yam = Dioscorea - Dioscoreaceae
Yucca - Agavaceae