Names are incredibly powerful things and are a crucial part of the way we see and classify the world around us. Plant names are especially fascinating in this respect. Some are simply descriptive or speak of ancient uses and remedies, whilst others have religious origins or roots in wider folklore, and some are very recent inventions.

This book introduces almost 300 plant names to showcase the enormous variety of Scotland's native species. It includes English, Gaelic and Scots (Including dialect) names, revealing the country's diverse linguistic history. Short descriptions, together with historical and cultural information in each entry, make this book an ideal companion for all those with an interest in Scotland's rich botanical tradition.



Dr Greg Kenicer is a botanist at Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden. His PhD looked at DNA, diversity and evolution of pulses. After its completion he returned to Edinburgh and joined RBGE's thriving education department, where he has worked ever since.