Exploring Phylogenetic Relationships between Hundreds of Plant Fatty Acids Synthesized by Thousands of Plants.
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Where do plant fatty acid common names come from?
What is the origin of plant fatty acid names? We searched and found that most of the usual and unusual fatty acids found in plants have common names that originate from the plant where they were first discovered or described. However, there are some interesting exceptions highlighted in bold below.
| Common/Trivial Name | Shorthand notation | Systematic Name | Origin of Common Name |
| Acetic acid | 2:0 | Acetic acid | Derived from acetum, the Latin word for vinegar, and is related to the word acid |
| Agonandric acid | 8-OH-18:2Δ9a,11t | 11-Octadecen-9-ynoic acid, 8-hydroxy-, (11E)- | Named after the genus Agonandra |
| Alvaradoic acid | 18:2Δ6a,17 | 17-Octadecen-6-ynoic acid | Named after the genus Alvaradoa |
| Argemonic acid | 6-OH-6-Me-9=O-28:0 | Octacosanoic acid, 6-hydroxy-6-methyl-9-oxo- | Named after the genus Argemone |
| Auricolic acid | 14-OH-20:2Δ11c,17c | 11,17-Eicosadienoic acid, 14-hydroxy-, (11Z,14R,17Z)- | Named after the species Lesquerella auriculata |
| Behenic acid | 22:0 | Docosanoic acid | Named after Ben oil (or behen oil), extracted from the seeds of the Ben-oil tree (Moringa oleifera ). |
| Butyric acid | 4:0 | Butanoic acid | Derived from Greek, meaning "butter" |
| Calendic acid | 18:3Δ8t,10t,12t | 8,10,12-Octadecatrienoic acid, (8E,10E,12E)- | Named after the genus Calendula |
| Capric acid | 10:0 | Decanoic acid | Derived from the Latin "caper / capra" (goat) because smell is reminiscent of goats |
| Caproic acid | 6:0 | Hexanoic acid | Derived from the Latin "caper / capra" (goat) because smell is reminiscent of goats |
| Caprylic acid | 8:0 | Octanoic acid | Derived from the Latin "caper / capra" (goat) because smell is reminiscent of goats |
| Catalpic acid | 18:3Δ9t,11t,13c | 9,11,13-Octadecatrienoic acid, (9E,11E,13Z)- | Named after Catalpa ovata |
| Chaulmoogric acid | 18:1cy | 2-Cyclopentene-1-tridecanoic acid, (1S)- | Named after chaulmoogra seeds (Hydnocarpus wightiana) |
| Colnelenic acid | (E)-9-[(1E,3Z,6Z)-nona-1,3,6-trienoxy]non-8-enoic acid | Named after Colney Lane in Norwich, England, the location of Terry Galliard lab where it was discovered | |
| Coniferonic acid | 18:4Δ5c,9c,12c,15c | 5,9,12,15-Octadecatetraenoic acid, (5Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)- | Named after conifer trees |
| Coronaric acid | 9,10-O-18:1Δ12c | 2-Oxiraneoctanoic acid, 3-(2Z)-2-octen-1-yl-, (2R,3S)- | Named after the species Chrysanthemum coronarium |
| Columbinic acid | 18:3Δ5t,9c,12c | 7,9,12-Octadecatrienoic acid, (E,Z,Z)- | Named after the columbine plant |
| Crepenynic acid | 18:2Δ9c,12a | 9-Octadecen-12-ynoic acid, (9Z)- | Named after the genus Crepis |
| Dehydrocrepenynic acid | 18:3Δ9c,12c,14a | 9,14-Octadecadien-12-ynoic acid, (9Z,14Z)- | Named after the genus Crepis |
| Densipolic acid | 12-OH-18:2Δ9c,15c | 9,15-Octadecadienoic acid, 12-hydroxy-, methyl ester, (Z,Z)- | Named after the species Lesquerella densipila |
| Dihomopinolenic acid | 20:3Δ7c,11c,14c | 7,11,14-Eicosatrienoic acid, (7Z,11Z,14Z)- | Named after the genus Pinus |
| Dihydromalvalic acid | 8,9-cpa-18:0 | Cyclopropaneheptanoic acid, 2-octyl- | Named for the genus Malva |
| Dimorphecolic acid | 9-OH-18:2Δ10t,12t | 10,12-Octadecadienoic acid, 9-hydroxy- | Named after the genus Dimorphotheca |
| Eranthic acid | 22:3Δ5c,13c,16c | 5,13,16-Docosatrienoic acid, (5Z,13Z,16Z)- | Named after the genus Eranthis |
| Erucic acid | 22:1Δ13c | 13-Docosenoic acid, (13Z)- | Named after the genus Eruca in the family Brassicaceae |
| Formic acid | 1:0 | Formic acid | Derived from Latin word for ant, formica, referring to its early isolation by the distillation of ant bodies |
| Hydnocarpic acid | 16:1cy | 2-Cyclopentene-1-undecanoic acid, (1R)- | Named after the genus Hydnocarpus |
| Ixoric acid | 18:4Δ8c,10c,12c,14t | 8,10,12,14-Octadecatetraenoic acid, (8Z,10Z,12Z,14E)- | Named after Ixora chinensis |
| Jacaric acid; Jacaranda acid | 18:3Δ8c,10t,12c | 8,10,12-Octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,E,Z)- (8CI) | Named after Jacaranda mimosifolia |
| Juniperonic acid | 20:4Δ5c,11c,14c,17c | 5,11,14,17-Eicosatetraenoic acid, (5Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)- | Named after the genus Juniperus |
| Kamlolenic acid | 18-OH-18:3Δ9c,11t,13t | 9,11,13-Octadecatrienoic acid, 18-hydroxy-, (9Z,11E,13E)- | Named after kamala tree (Mallotus philippensis ) |
| Lamenallenic acid | 18:3Δ5,6allene,16t | 5,6,16-Octadecatrienoic acid | Named after the genus Lamium |
| Lauric acid | 12:0 | Dodecanoic acid | Named after plants of Lauraceae family |
| Lesquerolic acid | R-14-OH-20:1Δ11c | 11-Eicosenoic acid, 14-hydroxy-, (11Z,14R)- | Named after the genus Lesquerella |
| Licanic acid | 4-O=18:3Δ9c,11t,13t | 9,11,13-Octadecatrienoic acid, 4-oxo-, (9Z,11E,13E)- | Named after the genus Licania |
| Linderic acid | 12:1Δ4c | 4-Dodecenoic acid, (4Z)- | Named after genus Lindera |
| Malvalic acid | 8,9-cpe-18:1 | 1-Cyclopropene-1-heptanoic acid, 2-octyl- | Named for the genus Malva |
| Melissic acid | 30:0 | Triacontanoic acid | Derived from Greek word 'melissa' meaning bee; it is abundant in flowers which attract bees |
| Montanic acid | 28:0 | Octacosanoic acid | Derived from montan wax, extracted from brown coal |
| Myristic acid | 14:0 | Tetradecanoic acid | Named after the nutmeg Myristica fragrans |
| Myristoleic acid | 14:1Δ9c | 9-Tetradecenoic acid, (9Z)- | Named after the nutmeg Myristica fragrans |
| Obtusilic acid | 10:1Δ4c | 4-Decenoic acid, (4Z)- | Named after Lindera obtusiloba |
| Oleic acid | 18:1Δ9c | 9-Octadecenoic acid, (9Z)- | Named after oil of olive |
| Palmitic acid | 16:0 | Hexadecanoic acid | Named after palm trees (palm oil) |
| Parinaric acid | 18:4Δ9,11,13,15 | 9,11,13,15-Octadecatetraenoic acid | Named after the genus Parinarium |
| Paullinic acid | 20:1Δ13c | 13-Eicosenoic acid, (13Z)- | Named after Paullinia cupana |
| Petroselinic acid | 18:1Δ6c | 6-Octadecenoic acid, (6Z)- | Named after the genus Petroselinum , parsley |
| Phlomic acid | 20:2Δ7,8allene | 7,8-Eicosadienoic acid | Named after the genus Phlomis |
| Pinolenic acid | 18:3Δ5c,9c,12c | 5,9,12-Octadecatrienoic acid, (5Z,9Z,12Z)- | Named after Pinus species |
| Podocarpic acid | 20:3Δ5c,11c,14c | 5,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid, (Z,Z,Z)- | Named after the genus Podocarpus |
| Punicinic acid | 18:3Δ9c,11t,13c | 9,11,13-Octadecatrienoic acid, (9Z,11Z,13E)- | Named after the pomegranate, Punica granatum |
| Pyrulic acid | 17:2Δ8a,10t | 10-Heptadecen-8-ynoic acid, (10E)- | Named after genus Pyrularia |
| Ricinoleic acid | 12-OH-18:1Δ9c | 9-Octadecenoic acid, 12-hydroxy-, (9Z,12R)- | Named after Castor plant (Ricinus communis ) |
| Roughanic acid | 16:3Δ7c,10c,13c | 7,10,13-Hexadecatrienoic acid, (7Z,10Z,13Z)- | Named by colleagues of Grattan Roughan, a New Zealand biochemist instrumental in understanding its synthesis |
| Santalbic acid | 18:2Δ9a,11t | 11-Octadecen-9-ynoic acid, (11E)- | Named after ximenia species |
| Sapienic acid | 16:1Δ6c | 6-Hexadecenoic acid, (6Z)- | Sapienic acid is a sebum fatty acid unique to humans |
| Stearic acid | 18:0 | Octadecanoic acid | Derived from the Greek word "stéaros", which means solid |
| Sterculic acid | 9,10-cpe-19:1 | 1-Cyclopropene-1-octanoic acid, 2-octyl- | Named after the genus Sterculia |
| Sterculynic acid | 8,9-cpe-19:2Δ17a | 1-Cyclopropene-1-heptanoic acid, 2-(8-nonyn-1-yl)- | Named after the genus Sterculia |
| Strophanthus acid | 9-OH-18:1Δ12c | 12-Octadecenoic acid, 9-hydroxy-, (9S,12Z)- | Named after the genus Strophanthus |
| Tariric acid | 18:1Δ6a | 6-Octadecynoic acid | Named after the glucoside of the "tariri plant" found in Guatemala |
| Taxoleic acid | 18:2Δ5c,9c | 5,9-Octadecadienoic acid, (5Z,9Z)- | Named after the genus Taxus |
| Thalictric acid | 18:1Δ5t | 5-Octadecenoic acid, (5E)- | Named after the genus Thalictrum |
| Vernolic acid | 12,13-O-18:1Δ9c | 9-Undecenoic acid, 11-[(2S,3R)-3-pentyl-2-oxiranyl]-, (9Z)- | Named after the genus Vernonia |
| Ximenic acid | 26:1Δ17c | 17-Hexacosenoic acid, (17Z)- | Named after the genus Ximenia |