'latifolius' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'latifolius', where the prefix 'lati-' meant 'broad' and 'folius' (from 'folium') meant 'leaf'.

'latifolius' comes directly from Classical and Medieval Latin use as an adjective; it was carried into botanical Latin as an epithet and adopted unchanged into modern scientific names in English.

Initially, it meant 'broad-leaved' in Latin, and over time its primary meaning has remained the same when used in botanical contexts.