Northwest Conifers

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Pronunciation Guide

 Scientific Name Pronunciation
Abies amabilis A-bez a-MAB-a-lis
Abies concolor AY-beez KON-kul-er
Abies grandis A-beez GRAN-dis
Abies lasiocarpa A-beez la-si-o-KAR-pa
Abies magnifica A-beez mahg-NI-fi-ka
Abies pinsapo** A-bez pin-SAH-po
Abies procera A-beez PRO-ser-a
Callitropsis nootkatensis cal-i-TROP-sis noot-ka-TEN-sis
Calocedrus decurrens kal-o-SED-rus de-KER-enz
Cedrus atlantica** SE-drus at-LAN-ti-ka
Cedrus deodara** SE-drus de-o-DAR-a
Cedrus libani** SE-drus LIB-an-i
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana kam-e-SIP-a-ris la-so-ni-A-na
Hesperocyparis bakeri HES-per-oh-SIP-air-iss BAKE-er-i
Hesperocyparis macnabiana HES-per-oh-SIP-air-iss  mac-nab-ee-AH-nuh*
Hesperocyparis sargentii HES-per-oh-SIP-air-iss  sar-JEN-tee-eye*
Juniperus communis ju-NIP-er-us kom-MU-nis
Juniperus occidentalis ju-NIP-er-us ok-si-den-TA-lis
Juniperus scopulorum ju-NIP-er-us skop-u-LO-rum
Larix lyallii LAIR-icks ly-AL-lee-eye*
Larix occidentalis LAR-iks ok-si-den-TAH-lis
Metasequoia Glyptostroboides** met-a-se-KWOY-a glip-to-stro-BOY-dez
Picea abies**  PI-see-a A-beez
Picea breweriana PI-see-a broo-er-ee-AH-na
Picea engelmannii PI-see-a en-gel-MAN-e-i
Picea pungens** PI-see-a PUN-jenz
Picea sitchensis PI-see-a sit-KEN-sis
Pinus albicaulis PI-nus al-bi-KAW-lis
Pinus attenuata PI-nus at-ten-u-a-TA
Pinus banksiana** PI-nus bank-se-A-na
Pinus contorta PI-nus kon-TOR-ta
Pinus densiflora** PI-nus den-si-FLO-ra
Pinus flexilis PI-nus FLEKS-i-lis
Pinus jeffreyi PI-nus jef-REE-i
Pinus lambertiana PI-nus lam-bert-i-A-na
Pinus monticola PI-nus mon-TI-ko-la
Pinus ponderosa PI-nus pon-der-O-sa
Pinus sabiniana PI-nus sa-been-ee-AH-na
Pinus strobus** PI-nus STRO-bus
Pinus sylvestris** PI-nus sil-VES-tris
Pseudotsuga menziesii soo-do-TSOO-ga men-ZEE-see-i
Sequoia sempervirens se-KWOY-a sem-per-VI-rens
Sequoiadendron giganteum** se-KWOY-a-DEN-dron ji-GAN-te-um
Taxus brevifolia TAKS-us brev-i-FO-lee-a
Thuja plicata THEW-ya pli-KHA-ta
Tsuga heterophylla TSOO-ga het-er-o-FIL-a
Tsuga mertensiana TSOO-ga mer-TEN-si-a-na

Note: Pronunciation of scientific names can differ even among professional botanists.

Source

Oregon State University

*Not listed at OSU

**Non-native.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated 6/10/2025.

© 2012 ;Ken Denniston