botanist/ecologist mama - scientific names book?

[meemee]

i am going to take biology next semester and am on my way to an ecology degree.

i have been spending sooo much time trying to find out the meaning behind the scientific names.

i was wondering if any of you know of a book that does this for me.

for instance the mustard family.

what does Brassicaceae mean? the old name crucifera i could figure out for obvious reasons since the petals are in the X or H pattern and cruci gave me the clue. but what does brassica mean either in latin or greek. it cant be about bras or brass as i would commonly associate with.

for instance i know aea is plural. there is so much to know.

i have a semester to go before i need to learn scientific names. but i am curious just to do it on my own. and not pressure myself when the time comes.

i am assuming i am not teh first one asking this question. and that there should be a book that explains these roots.

thanks

[Kritto]

You need this book: "Dictionary of word roots and combining forms" by Donald J. Borror. Amazon has it (see above link). I'm an entomologist and my DP is a botanist, and we use this book fairly regularly. It was wonderful for taking Plant Taxonomy, as well as most other taxonomy-heavy courses where you're trying to learn the Greek or Latin roots behind the scientific names.

Hope this helps!

[meemee]

THANK YOU so much. yup this is exactly what i was looking for. i take a plant taxonomy class next spring and i want to start preparing from now as i am terrible with memorisation.

also i am enjoying reading your blog. i have started at the bottom of the scale towards my career as an ecologist/conservationist and i am scared as hell - of failing of course. i just went back to community college and am going to take my first biology class next fall. i am really excited though.