I often encounter the root "phyllum" in binomial names in botany, but I've had trouble finding an actual definition for this root in any Latin dictionary outside of its taxonomic meaning. From context it seems to mean "leaf":
- Acer macrophyllum - Bigleaf Maple
- Tsuga heterophylla - A Hemlock with distinct two-ranked needles
But the Latin for leaf should be folium. Is there any real rhyme or reason to this? I don't know if this is a question better directed towards the Latin stackexchange, but I thought a botanist might have some insight on the subject.