Re: Generic Name: plural form
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Generic Name: plural form
- From: T* T* L* <t*@rt66.com>
- Date: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 16:31:04 -0700 (MST)
>CEMahan@aol.com wrote:
>> I won my argument with the editor over use of the form "I. albertii"
>instead
>> of "I. Albertii---Hortus 3 was her source, but I cited decision to use
lower case for all species names which are latinized versions of peoples
>> names---but alas, I can find no authority for the "Ii.") Clarence
>
and Paul Richardson responded
>I. too, have had no luck in consulting several books on plant names and
>it occurs to me that the answer may not be horticultural but rather the
>adaption of current writing practice: pp for pages for instance.
>
I believe that is correct. All through the middle ages and into the 19th
century, it was common practice to pluralize a one-letter abrreviation by
doubling the letter. We still have it in "pp" but not too many other
places. I have seen it often in botanical names, though, and presumed it
was the usual style to use in that context. In any case, I'm sure it's an
editorial practice rather than having anything to do with botanical Latin
per se.
Cheers, Tom.
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Tom Tadfor Little telp@Rt66.com
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Telperion Productions http://www.rt66.com/~telp/
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