The list contains Latin terms and abbreviations used in articles about Bonsai and other plants. Some general biological or broader terms are also included, in which case the meaning and usage of the term is explained.
- abbreviatus — short
- acuminatus - long cone-shaped
- acutifolius - with pointed leaves
- adpressus — compressed, pressed
- adscendens — rising
- aerius - like aerial roots
- affinus — closely related
- africanus - from Africa
- alatus - winged
- albescens - pale, whitish
- albidus, albus — white
- albiflorus - with white flowers
- alpinus — alpine, mountain
- alternus - intermittent, usually not constant
- altus — tall
- amabilis - beautiful
- amphibius - growing in the ground and in water
- angulosus — angular
- angustifolius - narrow-leaved (sometimes the more general term nerifolius is used)
- aquaticus — water
- arborescens — tree-like
- arenatius — sandy
- argenteus, argentus — silvery
- aristatus — spinous
- arrectus — vertical
- ascendens — rising
- asiaticus, asiatus - from Asia
- atlanticus — atlantic
- atropurpureus, atropurpurea - purple, sometimes dark red
- atrosanguineus - dark blood red
- atroviolaceus - dark purple
- atrovirens - dark green
- augustus - majestic
- aurantiacus - red-orange
- aureus - golden
- azureus — azure
- babylonicus — Babylonian
- balticus — baltic
- bengalinis — bengali
- biennis — two-year-old
- biflorus - bicolor
- bifolius — two-leafed
- biloba — two-partite, two-lobed
- brefolius - with very short leaves
- brevis - short
- brevisimus - very short
- brillian — sparkling
- brittanicus - british
- brunneus - brown
- bulgarius — bulgarian
- buxifolius — boxwood-leaved
- calamifolius — reed-leaved
- californicus — californic
- campestris — field
- candelabrum - candelabra-shaped
- candicans — gray
- catitatus — capitate
- carneus — - meat-colored
- cerefolius - with a waxy coating on the leaves
- coccineus - bright red
- coloratus — colorful
- columnaris — columnar
- concolor — one-color
- conglomeratus — closed
- contortus - twisted
- cordatus — heart-shaped
- cornutus, cornuta - horny
- crassifolius — thick-leaved
- crenatus — serrated
- cuspidatus — pointed
- deformis — deformed
- deliciosus, deliciosa — delightful
- dendroideus — tree-like
- densatus — thick
- densifolius — dense-leaved
- densiflorus — densely flowered
- dentatus — serrated
- dipterus — two-winged
- discolor — multicolor
- dissectus - with deeply cut leaves
- divaricatus — spread out
- domesticus — domesticated
- edulis — edible
- elatus, elata — tall
- elegans — elegant
- elongatus — long
- erectus — straight
- excelsius, excelsus — majestic
- exoticus, exotica — foreign
- fastigiatus - with dense, vertical branches
- ferox — prickly
- flaccidus — soft
- flammeus — fiery
- flexilis — flexible
- florepleno — two-flowered
- florebundus — abundantly flowering
- foetidus — foul-smelling
- fragrans — aromatic
- fragrantissimus — fragrant
- frutescens - bushy
- gallicus - Gallic, can also mean cockerel
- giganticus — gigantic
- glaucus - with a bluish, waxy coating
- gloriosus, gloriosa — magnificent
- gracilis — elegant
- grandifolius — large-leaved
- gutatus — spotted
- haemanthus - with bright red flowers
- humilis — low-growing
- ilicifolius — holly-leaved
- japonicus — japanese
- lancifolius — lanceolate
- latifolius — broadleaf
- leptolepis — thin-scaly
- leptophyllus — thin-leaved
- leucodermis — white-skinned
- lobularuis — petal-shaped
- luteus - yellow
- macranthus — large-flowered
- macro — big
- maximus — the greatest
- medius — average
- megalophyllus — giant-leaved
- microphyllus — tiny-leaved
- minimus - tiny
- mollis — pubescent
- myriophyllus — abundantly foliated
- nanus, nana — dwarf
- nerifolius, nerifolia — narrow-leaved
- niger — black
- nodulosa - with small nodules
- nudifolia — deciduous
- oblongatus — oval
- officinalis — medical
- parviflorus — small-flowered
- parvifolia — small-leaved
- patens - stretched out
- pinous — linear
- podocarpus — foot-fruited
- polydactylus - palmate
- porphyreus - purple
- praecox - very early
- procumbens — spread out
- pumilus — dwarf
- pygmaeus — dwarf
- pyramidalis — pyramidal
- repens — creeping
- reticulatus — arachnoid
- robust — strong
- roseaflorus — rose-flowered
- rotundifolius — round-leaved
- scandens — curly
- semperflorens — ever-blooming
- sempervirens - evergreen
- serpens — curly
- serpyllifolius — thyme-leaved
- serratus — serrated
- stolenifera — root sucker
- strictus — vertical
- sylvaticus — forest
- tenuifolius — thin-leaved
- tomentosus - very hairy
- tridens — trident or three-pointed
- variegatus — variegated
- verrucosus — warty
- virens - green
- virginianus — virginian
- viridis - green
- vulgaris — common
- xanthinus - yellow
- zonalis — bordered
