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Botanical Terms - New Zealand Plant Names
 New Zealand plants are special. Many are unique to our island country and found nowhere else in the world.
The descriptive clues in botanical names are rewarding if you translate or understand the terms themselves. The names of our plants reflect their discoverers, place of origin and our history.
A
- Aciphylla the Spaniard for the sharp, needle leaves
- Agathis the kauri, from agathis 'ball of thread' for the distinctive cones
- Arthropodium the rengarenga lily, from 'arthro' a joint and 'podion' stalk (has jointed pedicels)
- Astelia stem-less
- australis southern, as in Cordyline australis
B
- banksii named for Sir Joseph Banks, botanist on Captain Cook's voyages
- bidwillii named for John Bidwill, early New Zealand alpine plant enthusiast
- buchananii named for John Buchanan, early New Zealand botanist
C
- Celmisia mountain daisies, after Celmisios in Greek mythology
- chathamicus/chathamica of the Chatham Islands
- Clianthus kaka beak, from 'kleos' glory and 'anthos' flower for the distinctive flowers
- colensoi named for William Colenso, early botanist
- Coprosma smelling of manure
- Cordyline the cabbage tree, meaning a club as the large and fleshy roots resemble
- Corokia from the Maori name 'Korokio'
- cunnihamii named for Allan Cunningham, early botanist
D
- Dicksonia the tree fern, for James Dickson a Scottish nurseryman and naturalist
- dieffenbachii for Dr Ernst Dieffenbach, naturalist
- Dracophyllum the grass trees, from 'draco' dragon and 'phyllum' leaf
G
- Griselinia the broadleaf, for Franseco Griselini, naturalist
H
- haastii for Julius von Haast, explorer
- Hebe for the Greek Goddess of youth 'Hebe'
- Hoheria for the Moari name 'Houhere'
- hookeri for Sir William or Sir Joseph Hooker, directors of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
K
- kirkii for Thomas Kirk, early botanist
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