perenna

Perenna is a term that appears in botanical literature to describe plants that live for more than two years. In most modern English usage, the standard term is perennial, and perenna is considered an archaic or non-English variant found in some texts. Perennial plants contrast with annuals, which complete their life cycle in a single year, and biennials, which require two years to mature. Perennials can be herbaceous, dying back to the roots in winter and regrowing in spring, or woody, such as shrubs and many trees.

Etymology and usage: Perenna derives from Latin perennis, meaning lasting through the year or year after year. Modern cognates appear in several languages, but in English the preferred form is perennial. In botany, the concept of perennation explains how certain plants survive unfavourable seasons by persistent underground structures like tubers, rhizomes, or root crowns.

Other uses: Perenna may also appear as a surname or given name in various cultures, and can be used in fictional works or brand names. Because of its rarity, most encyclopedia and horticultural references use perennial as the standard term.