'anthospermum' originates from New Latin, formed from Greek elements 'anthos' and 'sperma', where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'sperma' meant 'seed'.

'anthospermum' was formed from the Greek compound 'anthos-sperma' and adopted into New Latin as the botanical genus name 'Anthospermum'.

Initially it literally combined the senses 'flower' + 'seed'; over time it became used specifically as the name of a genus of flowering plants.