I wrote a half-baked note a few days ago about the pronunciation of orchid names. The following book will answer the original question:
Orchid names and their meanings Dr Hubert Mayr pub. by ARG Ganter Verlag K-G FL9490 Vaduz 545p (1998) ISBN 3-904144-07-3 distributed by [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.koeltz.com The book addresses a lot more than pronunciation. For example, why are the names the way that they are? Here are some examples: frizaldszkyanus for Frivalsk von Frivald, C19th HUngarian botanist exasperatus not rough, smooth extinctorius like a candle snuffer xanthophthalmus having yellow eye spots What sources are used to cobble together botanical names, and why do they (sort of) make sense? Stauroglottis = stauros (cross) cheilos (lip) Pleurothallis = pleuros (rib) thallos (shoot) Habenaria = habena (bridle or whip) Cleisostoma = kleistos (closed) stoma (mouth) How doe sone pronounce this polysyllabic persiflage? Coelogyne see-low-GUY-nee (really?) Gongora GON-goe-rah OeCeoclades oh-ee-see-o-CLAY-deez Stelis STEE-lis ______________________________ Oliver Sparrow +44 (0)20 7736 9716 www.chforum.org _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
