Species Epithets - C

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Epithet	Meaning	Reference
caerulea	Sky blue, true blue.	Z
caerulescens	Bluish, slightly blue.	Z
caeruleum	Sky blue, true blue.	Z
caeruleus	Sky blue, true blue.	Z
caesius	Dull, milky blue, lavender blue or grey blue.	Z
caespitosa	Growing in tufts.	Z
caespitosum	Growing in tufts.	Z
calabrica	From Calabria, S. Italy.	Z
calamus	A reed, also applied to sedges and grasses.	Z
calcarea	Lime, chalk-loving, or chalk white.	Z
calcareus	Lime, chalk-loving, or chalk white.	Z
calcitrapa	Foot-trap, man-trap.	Z
caledonicum	From the Caledon River in South Africa. .	Z
calicaris	Cup-shaped	DBE
californica	Of Californian origin.	Z
californicum	Of Californian origin.	Z
californicus	Of Californian origin.	Z
callosa	Hard skin, bearing callosities or hard in texture.	Z
calvum	Bare, naked, hairless.	Z
calycina	In the nature or form of a calyx.	Z
calycinum	In the nature or form of a calyx.	Z
cambrica	Of Welsh origin (Cambria).	Z
cambricum	Of Welsh origin (Cambria).	Z
cambricus	Of Welsh origin (Cambria).	Z
campanulata	Bell shaped, applied to corolla.	Z
campanulatum	Bell shaped, applied to corolla.	Z
campestre	Growing in fields.	Z
campestris	Growing in fields.	Z
camporum	Growing in meadows.	Z
camtschatcensis	From Kamschatka, N.E. Asia.	Z
camtschatica	From Kamschatka, N.E. Asia.	Z
cana	Ash grey, or as grey felt.	Z
canadense	Of Canadian origin.	Z
canadensis	Of Canadian origin.	Z
canariense	From the Canary Islands, or Canary-like.	Z
canariensis	From the Canary Islands, or Canary-like.	Z
cancellata	Resembling a grill or latticed, as in the lattice stink-horn and lattice-leaf plant.	Z
candida	Pure white.	Z
candidum	Pure white.	Z
canescens	Greyish-white, hoary.	Z
canina	Very common, as plentiful as dogs.	Z
caninus	Very common, as plentiful as dogs.	Z
cannabina	Resembling hemp, Cannabis.	Z
cannabinum	Resembling hemp, Cannabis.	Z
cantabrica	From the Cantabrian Mountains in North Spain.	Z
canum	Ash grey, or as grey felt.	Z
capense	From Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain).	Z
capensis	From Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain).	Z
capillaceum	Hair shaped, hair like.	Z
capillare	Fine as hair.	Z
capillaris	Fine as hair.	Z
capitata	Head-shaped, as ahead of composite bloom.	Z
capitatum	Head-shaped, as ahead of composite bloom.	Z
capitatus	Head-shaped, as ahead of composite bloom.	Z
capnoides	Smoke coloured.	Z
cappadocicum	From Cappadocia, in eastern Turkey.	Z
caprea	Goat or Deer.
capreolata	Having tendrils.	Z
caprina	Goat-like.	Z
capsicoides	Resembling Capsicum, Cayenne Pepper.	Z
capsularis	Bearing seeds in capsules.	Z
caracasana	From Caracas in Venezuela.	Z
caracasanus	From Caracas in Venezuela.	Z
cardiaca	Common Mother-wort (Leonurus Cardiaca).	Z
cardinalis	Cardinal or deep scarlet.	Z
cardiophyllum	With heart-shaped leaves.	Z
cardiophyllus	With heart-shaped leaves.	Z
cardunculus	Spanish artichoke.	Z
carica	From Caria in Turkey (ancient geography).	Z
carinata	With keel, like a boat.	Z
carinatum	With keel, like a boat.	Z
carnea	Flesh coloured.	Z
carniolica	From Krain (Carniola) a province of Austria.	Z
carolina	From Carolina, North America.	Z
caroliniana	From Carolina, North America.	Z
carolinianum	From Carolina, North America.	Z
carota	Carrot.
carpathicum	From the Carpathian Mountains.	Z
carthusiana	From the Carthusian Monks.	Z
cartilaginea	Gristly, sinewy, like the skin of an apple pip.	Z
caryophyllea	Of the colour or odour of cloves.	Z
caspica	From the Caspian Sea.	Z
cassubica	Twisted, out of straight.	Z
castaneifolia	With leaves like Chestnut, Castanea.
castaneus	Chestnut-brown.	Z
castellana	Of Castilian, Spanish origin.	Z
castrensis	Cut like battlements.	Z
cathartica	Of purging effect.	Z
catharticum	Of purging effect.	Z
caucasica	From the Caucasus Mountains.	Z
caucasicum	From the Caucasus Mountains.	Z
caucasicus	From the Caucasus Mountains.	Z
caudata	Tailed, with tail.	Z
caudatus	Tailed, with tail.	Z
caulescens	Stalk producing.	Z
caulialata	With winged stalks.	Z
cava	Hollow, arched, caved.	Z
celticum	Of Celtic origin.	Z
celticus	Of Celtic origin.	Z
centauroides	Resembling Flock flower, Centaurea.	Z
centripetale	Developing flowers first nearest the base of the spike and then upwards.	Z
cepa	Onion.
cephalonica	From Cephalonica in Greece.	Z
cerasiformis	Cherry-shaped or cherry like.	Z
ceratocarpa	Bearing horned fruit.	Z
cereale	Grain bearing (Ceres, the goddess of agriculture).	Z
cerinthoidea	Like Cerinthe ?
cernua	Nodding, drooping, like the flower of Narcissus.	Z
cernuum	Nodding, drooping, like the flower of Narcissus.	Z
cerris	Turkish Oak, Quercus cerris.	Z
cervicaria	With a neck.	DBE
cervicornis	Stag horn
cespitosa	Growing in tufts.	Z
cespitosum	Growing in tufts.	Z
chalcedonica	From Chalcedon (now Kadiköy, a part of Istanbul) in Turkey.	Z
chalepense	From Aleppo in Syria.	Z
chalepensis	From Aleppo in Syria.	Z
chamaedrys	Old name for Speedwell. Literally "ground oak".	JS
characias	From Xaraxias, the ancient name that Dioscorides referred to it by in the first century A.D.	DGB
chelidonioides	Resembling Swallow-wort Chelidonium.	Z
chenopodioides	Resembling Goose-foot Chenopodium.	Z
chilense	From Chile.	Z
chilensis	From Chile.	Z
chiloensis	From the Isle of Chiloe in Chile.	Z
chinense	Of Chinese origin.	Z
chinensis	Of Chinese origin.	Z
chlorantha	With green flowers (where petals are changed into leaf-like organs).	Z
chloranthum	With green flowers (where petals are changed into leaf-like organs).	Z
chloroticum	Pale green.	Z
chordorrhiza	Having string or cord like roots.	Z
chrysacanthus	With golden thorns.	Z
chrysantha	Golden, yellow flowering.	Z
chrysanthemoides	Chrysanthemum like.	Z
chrysanthus	Golden, yellow flowering.	Z
cicutarium	Hemlock-like.
ciliaris	Fringed, as with eyelashes.	Z
ciliata	Fringed, as with eyelashes.	Z
ciliatum	Fringed, as with eyelashes.	Z
cilicica	From Cilicia an ancient division of Turkey.	Z
ciliolata	Finely fringed.	Z
ciliolatum	Finely fringed.	Z
cinerascens	With ashen-grey shadings.	Z
cinerea	Ashen-grey.	Z
cinereum	Ashen-grey.	Z
cinnibarinum	Red - like Cinnabar (Mercury ore).
circinata	Rolled circularly.	Z
circinatus	Rolled circularly.	Z
cirrhosa	With curled or forked tendrils.	Z
clandestina	Bearing hidden, invisible flowers.	Z
clandestinum	Bearing hidden, invisible flowers.	Z
clavata	Club-shaped, thickened towards the apex.	Z
clavatum	Club-shaped, thickened towards the apex.	Z
clavatus	Club-shaped, thickened towards the apex.	Z
claviculata	Small club or nail shaped, or with forked tendrils.	Z
clematitis	Like Clematis.
clinopodioides	Resembling Basil-weed Calamintha Clinopodium.	Z
clypeatum	Shield or buckler shaped.	Z
cneorum	Old Greek name for Daphne, hence Daphne cneorum is a tautology.	JS
coccifera	Bearing scarlet berries.	Z
coccinea	Scarlet.	Z
coccineum	Scarlet.	Z
coccineus	Scarlet.	Z
cochleatus	Snail or shell shaped.	Z
coeruleum	Heavenly blue.	Z
cognata	Related.	Z
cognatum	Related.	Z
colchica	From Colchis the ancient name of a region on the N.E. shore of the Black Sea.	Z
collina	Growing on hills.	Z
collinum	Growing on hills.	Z
colorata	Coloured.	Z
coloratum	Coloured.	Z
coloratus	Coloured.	Z
columbaria	"Dove coloured". (Columba - dove.)	JS
columbinum	Dove-coloured.	Z
columnae	Like a column or pillar. (I think.)
commixtum	Mixed, intermingled.	Z
communis	Common, or growing in society.	Z
commutata	Changed, altered.	Z
commutatum	Changed, altered.	Z
commutatus	Changed, altered.	Z
comosa	With hairy tufts, comate.	Z
comosum	With hairy tufts, comate.	Z
compacta	Compact, close together.	Z
compactum	Compact, close together.	Z
complanatum	Flattened, flat, compressed.	Z
completum	Complete, in all parts to the type.	Z
complexa	Interwoven, entangled.	Z
compressa	Flattened, pressed together.	Z
compressus	Flattened, pressed together.	Z
concentrica	Combined in a common centre.	Z
concinna	Pretty, neat, elegant.	Z
concinnus	Pretty, neat, elegant.	Z
concolor	Of uniform tint.	Z
condensatus	Closely, thickly leaved or unusually crowded together.	Z
confertiflorus	Closely set with bloom.	Z
confertum	Compact, closely crowded together.	Z
confertus	Compact, closely crowded together.	Z
confusa	Confused, changed, entangled.	Z
confusum	Confused, changed, entangled.	Z
congesta	Crowded, pressed.	Z
congestus	Crowded, pressed.	Z
conglomeratus	Pressed together, in a dense mass, clustered.	Z
conica	Like a cone. Conical.
conicoides	Like a cone. Conical.
conjuncta	United, bound together.	Z
connata	United, congenitally or subsequently. United in pairs at the base.	Z
connectilis	Fastened together.	Z
connivens	Bending together, towards each other.	Z
conoidea	Cone like.	Z
conopsea	Cone-like, as the flowers of Orchis conopsea.	Z
conorrhiza	With cone-like root.	Z
conspersus	Sprinkled over, thickly covered.	Z
conspicuus	Easily to be seen, conspicuous, remarkable.	Z
constrictum	Constrained, bound together.	Z
continuus	Continuous, uninterrupted.	Z
contorta	Twisted or bent.	Z
contracta	Twisted back upon itself, narrowed or shortened.	Z
convolvulus	Curling itself together.	Z
conyzae	Derived from previous Generic name, Conyza, Fleabane, derived from the Greek for flea.
cookianum	Named for Captain James Cook, 18th century British navigator and explorer.	DGB
coracana	In form of a raven's beak, or from Cape Koraka in Turkey.	Z
cordata	Heart-shaped, as of leaves having the stalk at the notched end.	Z
cordatum	Heart-shaped, as of leaves having the stalk at the notched end.	Z
cordifolius	With heart-shaped leaves.	Z
cordiformis	Heart-shaped, as of leaves having the stalk at the notched end.	Z
coriaria	The myrtle-leaved Tanner's-tree.	Z
corniculata	Bearing small horns, having horn-like fruit.	Z
corniculatum	Bearing small horns, having horn-like fruit.	Z
corniculatus	Bearing small horns, having horn-like fruit.	Z
cornubiense	From Cornwall in England.	Z
cornubiensis	From Cornwall in England.	Z
cornuta	Horned or spurred.	Z
coromandelianum	From the Coromandel coast of India.	Z
coronarius	Crown or wreath-like.	Z
coronata	Crowned or wreathed.	Z
coronopus	Like Coronopus, Swine-cress.
corsicus	From Corsica.
corvinum	Pertaining to the raven, black.	Z
corymbosa	Arranged in corymbs.	Z
corymbosum	Arranged in corymbs.	Z
corynodes	With club-like spike.	Z
coum	From the Greek Island Cos or Kos in the Mediterranean.	Z
cracca	Old name for Tufted Vetch.	JS
crassa	Thick, fleshy.	Z
crassicaulis	With thick stalk.	Z
crassifolia	Thick-leaved.
crassipes	With thick stem.	Z
creber	Crowded, close together.	Z
crebra	Crowded, close together.	Z
crenata	Having a scalloped-toothed or notched edge.	Z
crenulata	Finely notched with rounded teeth.	Z
cretica	From the island of Crete in the Mediterranean.	Z
creticum	From the island of Crete in the Mediterranean.	Z
creticus	From the island of Crete in the Mediterranean.	Z
crinita	Mane-like, long haired.	Z
crinitum	Mane-like, long haired.	Z
crinitus	Mane-like, long haired.	Z
crispa	Curled closely, crested (of fern fronds, etc.).	Z
crispum	Curled closely, crested (of fern fronds, etc.).	Z
crispus	Curled closely, crested (of fern fronds, etc.).	Z
cristata	Comb-like, crested.	Z
cristatum	Comb-like, crested.	Z
cristatus	Comb-like, crested.	Z
crocata	Saffron-like.	Z
croceum	Saffron, dark orange-yellow.	Z
crocosmiiflora	With flowers like Crocosmia !
cruciata	Crosswise, cross-shaped, as the flowers of Cruciferae.	Z
cruciatus	Crosswise, cross-shaped, as the flowers of Cruciferae.	Z
cruenta	Blood-red, dull-red.	Z
cruentus	Blood-red, dull-red.	Z
crystallina	Crystalline, clear like crystal.	Z
crystallinum	Crystalline, clear like crystal.	Z
crystallinus	Crystalline, clear like crystal.	Z
cucullatum	Cap or hood-shaped, hooded.	Z
cuneata	Pointed, wedge-shaped.	Z
cuneatum	Pointed, wedge-shaped.	Z
cupressoides	Resembling Cupressus.	Z
curta	Short.	Z
curtipendula	Hanging down somewhat.	Z
curtisii	Named for / by Curtis ?
curvula	With short, sharp curve.	Z
cuticularis	With loose membrane covering or bark.	Z
cyanus	Azure blue from Greek, κυάνος
cygnorum	Swan like, from Cygnus = a swan.	Z
cylindraceum	Of cylindrical form.	Z
cylindrica	Cylindrical (of stalks).	Z
cymbalaria	Toadflax, Linaria cymbalaria.	Z
cyminum	Cumin or Cumin plant. Cuminum Cyminum.	Z
cynanchica	Resembling Montpelier or Scam-Money Plant, Cynanchum.	Z
cynapioides	Resembling Fools-parsley, Aethusa Cynapium.	Z
cynosuroides	Resembling Dog's-tail or Dog's-grass, Cynosurus.	Z
cytisoides	Resembling Milk or Tree-trefoil, Cytisus.	Z