Editing Lavandula (section)

==Etymology==
The English word lavender came into use in the [[13th century]], and is generally thought to derive from [[Old French]] {{Lang|fro|lavandre}},<ref>{{cite dictionary |title=lavender |dictionary=An etymological dictionary of modern English |page=703 |url=https://archive.org/details/etymologicaldict00weekuoft/page/414/ |last1=Weekley |first1=Ernest |date=1921 |location=London |publisher=John Murray }}</ref> ultimately from [[Latin]] {{Lang|la|lavare}} from {{Lang|la|lavo}} (to wash),<ref name="LD">{{cite dictionary |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3Dlavo |title= lavo |last1= Lewis |first1= Charlton T. |last2= Short |first2= Charles |dictionary= A Latin Dictionary |edition= |publisher= Perseus Digital Library |date = 1879 }}</ref> referring to the use of blue [[infusion]]s of the plants for bathing.<ref name="Lis" />{{rp|35}} The botanic name ''Lavandula'' as used by [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] is considered to be derived from this and other European vernacular names for the plants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=lavender {{!}} Etymology of lavender by etymonline |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/lavender |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=www.etymonline.com |language=en}}</ref>

The names widely used for some of the species, "English lavender", "French lavender" and "Spanish lavender" are all imprecisely applied. "English lavender" is commonly used for ''[[Lavandula angustifolia|L.&nbsp;angustifolia]]'', though some references say the proper term is "Old English lavender".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Life |first=Country |date=2014-03-10 |title=Plant of the week: Old English Lavender |url=https://www.countrylife.co.uk/country-life/plant-of-the-week-old-english-lavender-2705 |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Country Life |language=en}}</ref> The name "French lavender" may refer to either ''[[Lavandula stoechas|L.&nbsp;stoechas]]'' or to ''[[Lavandula dentata|L.&nbsp;dentata]]''. "Spanish lavender" may refer to ''[[Lavandula pedunculata|L.&nbsp;pedunculata]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Graham Rice |date=2023-07-04 |title=Best lavender varieties – 14 perfumed beauties for flowers and foliage |url=https://www.homesandgardens.com/gardens/best-lavender-varieties |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=homesandgardens.com |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Lavandula stoechas|L.&nbsp;stoechas]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=23 Lavender Varieties for a Fragrant Garden Wherever You Live |url=https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/gardeners-guide-to-lavender/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Better Homes & Gardens |language=en}}</ref> or ''[[Lavandula lanata|L.&nbsp;lanata]].''