how you learn(ed) botanical latin

I imagine most of you learned botanical latin through formal 
education in university programs.  For those who didn't, how did you 
learn?

I am pretty comfortable with botanical Latin even though I have no 
formal training in botany.  My mother had a botany degree and she 
taught me the latin names for most plants when I was little.  I think 
that aesculus californica may have been the first one I learned.

Since then, I've expanded my vocabulary over the years by working in 
the nursery trade summers between college (my current career has 
nothing to do with plants); by buying and perusing good reference 
books at length; and by browsing in nursuries.

I must say that one place I have learned far less botanical 
nomenclature is botanical gardens and arboreta (is that the correct 
plural :)?)  I frequently encounter attractive or intriguing 
specimins in the botanical gardens that are unmarked.  Why is this?  
I would think these gardens are the very best resource for interested 
gardens to continue to expand their knowledge of plant nomenclature.  
I find this to be the case at both the Strybing and UC Berkeley 
botanical gardens, for example.  I'm sure that budget restrictions 
play a role, but it seems a shame.

And, finally, I find that "speaking" or at least "comprehending" 
botanical latin provides a window into the organization of the plant 
kingdom that commen names do not.  I am constantly reinforcing my 
understanding of families and geni when I encounter plants for the 
first time that are well labled.  

just a few thoughts....

Rachel Baker
Berkeley, CA
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