ballota
|bal-lo-ta|
🇺🇸
/bəˈloʊtə/
🇬🇧
/bəˈlɒtə/
mint-family plant genus
Etymology
'ballota' originates from New Latin (botanical), specifically the word 'Ballota', used as a genus name in scientific Latin.
'Ballota' was adopted into Modern/Neo-Latin botanical nomenclature (from classical/vernacular plant names) and entered English botanical usage unchanged as the genus name 'ballota'.
Initially used as a name for certain plants in classical/vernacular contexts; over time it became fixed as the formal botanical genus name 'Ballota' in scientific classification.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of flowering plants in the mint family Lamiaceae, commonly called horehound; includes species such as Ballota nigra (black horehound).
Several ballota species are native to the Mediterranean region.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/07 06:23