Re: Dieffenbachia seguine

Hi All,

  Just for the heck of it I wanted to mention this regarding Sassafrass & Sarsaparilla. 

"We have other examples of plant names where this has occurred, such as sarsaparilla and sassafras in North America."

   I may not have fully understood if it was being suggested they might be the same thing/plant/drink.  They're not the same plant.  One is a tree and one is a large vine (Smilax) with large thorns that'll take the hide off a hog.   Smilax roots will grow as big as a man's arm (or leg!).      I've also heard that the Native Americans used to make smoking pipes out of them, too... but I don't know if they did or not.

                             Have a great weekend, everyone!    sherry



From: aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com <aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com> on behalf of John Criswick <criswick@spiceisle.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 7, 2016 6:03 PM
To: 'Discussion of aroids'
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Dieffenbachia seguine
 

In which language does seguin or seguine mean “to begin”?

 

John.

 

From: aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of Jason Hernandez
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2016 7:23 PM
To: aroid-l@www.gizmoworks.com
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Dieffenbachia seguine

 

But then the question is, why would it be called by a word that means "to begin"?

As I think I may have suggested last time we had this conversation, I wonder if the Arawak name for this plant was something that sounded similar, and early colonists adopted the name without changing it? We have other examples of plant names where this has occurred, such as sarsaparilla and sassafras in North America.

 

So, in conclusion, it appears no one can answer my original question.

 

Jason Hernandez

Naturalist-at-Large

 

 

From: "John Criswick" <c*@spiceisle.com>
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Dieffenbachia seguine
To: "'Discussion of aroids'" <aroid-l@www.gizmoworks.com>
Message-ID:
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Thanks Marek. Allowing for changes in pronunciation over time and place, ?siggin? is still remarkably similar to ?seggin?. (I write these as an Anglophone would pronounce them.)

John.

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