Re: help, definition and id

Dave Soper wrote:
> 
> First Question,
>         In the 10th edition of Webster's I could not find the word
> "variegata". Does it mean variegated (like stripped) or does it mean
> splattered? (like in the iris Batik)?
> 
Dave, "variegata" is just taxonomist's Latin which my daughter, the 
Latin scholar, has told me is often closer to modern Italian than it is 
to the Classic (& dead) language. So it's not surprising that you don't 
find the word in this form or spelling in even a good dictionary. 
For a reasonable, working definition as to what the word is supposed 
to tell us about coloration, I looked in Webster's New World Dictionary 
-- I have an Oxford Unabridged downstairs, but am too lazy to go look at 
it. Besides it hurts my wrists to pick it up! 

Here's *variegate* (derived from Latin variegatus, pp of variegare): 1. 
to make varied in appearance by differences, as in colors.

And *variegated*: 1. marked with different colors in spots, streaks, 
etc; parti-colored.

And *variegation*: 1. a variegating or being variegated; 2. diversity or 
variety in character or appearance; specif. varied coloration.

So I would say that any variation from a solid, continuous coloration, 
whether striped, splatted, veined or polka-dotted would be encompassed 
by the word "variegata". Seem about right?

Marte in the mtns	Zone 4/Sunset 1		Colorado
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