• Question: why are plants called plants? how did it get its name?

    Asked by Gina to Ellen, Elliot, Hazel, Rupesh, Thomas on 15 Jun 2016.
    • Photo: Rupesh Paudyal

      Rupesh Paudyal answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      Hi Gina,

      Good question but despite being a plant scientist I don’t really know the answer to this question. Sorry, but keep on asking!

    • Photo: Elliot Jokl

      Elliot Jokl answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      I had no idea, but I quite like learning about the meaning of words so I looked it up.

      Apparently it basically comes from the latin “plantere” which meant something that was put in the ground. I guess that makes sense since you put seeds in the ground to make most plants grow.

    • Photo: Hazel Garvie-Cook

      Hazel Garvie-Cook answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      Good question! I didn’t know this either but I just read Elliot’s response – good to know these things!

    • Photo: Thomas Biggans

      Thomas Biggans answered on 16 Jun 2016:

      From what Elliott has discovered it sounds like they are called plants because we plant them in the same way that a swing is called a swing because it swings!

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