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Northwest Conifers

Pronunciation Guide

Scientific name Pronunciation Common name
Abies amabilis AY-beez  ah-MAH-bil-iss Pacific Silver Fir
Abies concolor AY-beez  KAWN-kull-ur White Fir
Abies grandis AY-beez  GRAND-iss Grand Fir
Abies lasiocarpa AY-beez  lah-see-oh-KAR-puh Subalpine Fir
Abies magnifica AY-beez  mag-NIFF-ih-kuh Red Fir
Abies procera AY-beez  PROSS-er-uh Noble Fir
Callitropsis nootkatensis kal-i-TROPP-sis  noot-kuh-TEN-sis Alaska Cedar
Calocedrus decurrens kal-oh-SED-rus  deck-ER-renz Incense Cedar
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana kam-ee-SIP-uh-riss  law-sohn-ee-AY-nuh Port Orford Cedar
Hesperocyparis bakeri HES-per-oh-SIP-air-iss  bay-air-i Modoc Cypress
Hesperocyparis macnabiana HES-per-oh-SIP-air-iss  mac-nab-ee-AH-nuh MacNab Cypress
Hesperocyparis sargentii HES-per-oh-SIP-air-iss  sar-JEN-tee-eye Sargent Cypress
Juniperus communis joo-NIP-ur-us  kum-YOU-nis Common Juniper
Juniperus occidentalis joo-NIP-ur-us  ock-si-den-TAY-lis Western Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum joo-NIP-ur-us  skop-you-LORE-um Rocky Mountain Juniper
Larix lyallii LAIR-icks  ly-AL-lee-eye Alpine Larch
Larix occidentalis LAIR-icks ock-si-den-TAY-lis Western Larch
Picea breweriana PY-see-uh  broo-er-ee-AY-nuh Brewer Spruce
Picea engelmannii PY-see-uh  eng-gul-MAH-nee-eye Engelmann Spruce
Picea sitchensis PY-see-uh  sih-KEN-sis Sitka Spruce
Pinus albicaulis PY-nus  al-bih-KAW-lis Whitebark Pine
Pinus attenuata PY-nus  uh-ten-you-AY-tuh Knobcone Pine
Pinus contorta PY-nus  kon-TORT-uh Lodgepole Pine
Pinus flexilis PY-nus  FLECKS-il-liss Limber Pine
Pinus jeffreyi PY-nus  JEFF-ree-eye Jeffrey Pine
Pinus lambertiana PY-nus lam-bert-ee-AY-nuh Sugar Pine
Pinus monticola PY-nus  mon-TEE-koh-luh Western White Pine
Pinus ponderosa PY-nus  pon-der-OH-suh Ponderosa Pine
Pinus sabiniana sa-bee-nee-AH-nuh Gray Pine
Pseudotsuga menziesii soo-doh-SOO-guh  men-ZEE-see-eye Douglas Fir
Sequoia sempervirens see-KWOY-uh  semp-er-VIE-runs Redwood
Taxus brevifolia TAKS-us  brev-ee-FOH-lee-uh Pacific Yew
Thuja plicata THOO-yuh  ply-KAY-tuh Western Red Cedar
Tsuga heterophylla SOO-guh  het-er-oh-FILL-luh Western Hemlock
Tsuga mertensiana SOO-guh  mer-ten-zee-AH-nuh Mountain Hemlock
Family name Pronunciation Common name
Cupressaceae koo-press-AY-see-eye Cypress
Pinaceae py-NAY-see-eye Pine
Taxaceae tak-SAY-see-eye Yew

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Sources

Oregon State University

Missouri Botanical Garden

Dave's Garden


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

 

 

 

 

Updated 2/22/20224.

© 2012 ;Ken Denniston