- flora
- 1777, "the plant life of a region or epoch," from L. Flora Roman goddess of flowers, from flos (gen. floris) "flower," from *flo-s-, Italic suffixed form of PIE *bhle-, extended form of *bhel- "to thrive, bloom" (see bole). Used as the title of descriptive plant catalogues since 1647, but popularized by Linnaeus in his 1745 study of Swedish plants, "Flora Suecica." The adj. floral is attested 1647, from Fr. floral, from L. floralis "of flowers."