Abstract

This article aims to demonstrate how the caracteristics creating the image of the dragon are used for the nomination and the definition of plants. To do so, the methodological tools of the science of the imaginary, of litterature and of linguistic are requirred. At first, the article develops the study of the latine etymology of dragon and its derivations showing the persistent links between the image of dragon and the image of some plants. Then, the article studies the french and botanical names of plants evoking the imaginary of dragon such as the common dracunculus, Dracunculus vulgaris Schott, the tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus L. and the dragon tree, representing trees belonging to the genus of Dracaena Vand. ex L.