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Etymology of some Indian weeds
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Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights ReservedThe average English-speaker knows around 50,000 words, that represents an astonishing diversity-nearly 25 times more words than there are individual stars visible to the naked eye in the night sky. But looked at from a historical perspective, that diversity becomes more apparent than real. Tracing a word’s development (i.e. etymology) back in time shows that in many cases what are now separate lexical items were formerly one and the same word. The deep prehistory of our language has nurtured little word-seeds that over the millenia have proliferated into widely differentiated of vocabulary” (Ayto, 1992). Like other English words, weeds names also have some meanings. In India, where English or Latin is not a common man’s language, the researchers and students often get confused and become afraid of the scientific names of common weeds. By explaining them the etymology of weed names (specially scientific names), weed science subjects can be made more interesting. With this objective, a study was conducted to list out the etymology of common weeds.In this study, the help of reference literatures viz, English, botany etc. was taken. Total 41 common weeds selected for the study. These weeds include Anagallis arvensis, Cynodon dactylon, Echinocloa colonum, Commelina benghalensis, Bidens pilosa, Celosia sp., Chenopodium album etc. The results of the study is given in Table. 1. The study suggested that there is a strong need of documentation and compilation of origins of not only scientific names but also common names in order to help the researchers and students.
Table 1. Etymology of certain weeds : A study
WEED NAME
ETYMOLOGY
1. Ageratum houstonianum
Goatweed (E)
Asteraceae (F)Ageratyn Greek not growing old; first applied to some everlasting. Houstonianum name after Wm. Houston. American physison, who collected plants in the Antilles and Mex. Died 1733.
2. Celosia sp.
Cox-comb (E)
Amaranthaceae (F)Celo-sia: Greek kelos, burned from the colour and character of influroscence
3. Allternanthera
Alligator weed (E)
Alternanthaceae (F)Alternanthera: Referring to the sterile Staminodes alternate with the stamens
4. Agrostis
Bentgrass (E)
Poaceae (F)Agros-tis : Greek field, the place of growth. In Latin couch-grass from its use in this large genus of grasses is derived the name of grass science agrostology
5. Amaranthus
Pigweed (E)
AmaranthaceaeAmarant-Us Greek unfading, in illusion to the unwithering bracts
6. Chenopodium
Lambsquerters (E)
Chenopodiaceae (F)Chenopo-dium : Greek Goose Foot, from the shape of the leaves of some species
7. Anagallis arvensis
Pimpernel (E)
Primulaceae (F)Anagal-lis: Greek delightul in English : Poor main’s weather glass (Flowers close at approach of bad weather)
.8. Axonopus
Poaceae (F)Greek axis foot
9. Bidens
Beggar sticks (E)
Compositate (F)Bi-dens: Latin two teeth, in reference to the pappus awns
10. Commelina
Day flower (E)
Commelinaceae (F)Commeli-na: after Kaspar (1667-1731) and Johann (1629-1698) Commelin, Duthch botanist
11. Corchorus
Wild Jute (E)
Tilliaceae (F)Cor-chorus : from Greek refering to some reputed medicinal quality; as an eye remedy; of one of the species
12. Echinocloa
crus-galli-colonum
Barnyard grass (E)Echinoch-;loa; Greek hedge hog grass of the land; crusgalli-crus-leg : Gallis-cock
13. Cynodon
Bermudagrass (E)
Poaceae (F)Cynodon; dog tooth, probably in illusion to the tooth-like sheaths on the stolons
14. Cyperus
Nutsedge (E)
Cyperaceae (F)Cype-rus : ancient Greek name for these plants
15. Datura
Jimson weed (E)
Solanoceae (F)Datura Vernacular E Indian name
16. Eleusine
Love grass (E)
17. Eragrostis
Love grass (E)
Poaceae (F)Eragos-tis : Greek combination probably signifying love-grass
18. Eichhornia
Water hyacinth (E)
Pontederaiceae (F)Eichhor-nia : J.A.F. Eichorn, 1779-1856, Prussion statesman
19. Pontedria
Pontederaiceae (F)Pontederia: In honour of G. Pontedera, 1688-1757, Italian botanist
20. Eupatorium
Eupatorium (E)
Compositae (F)Eupato-rium : named for an ancient king of Pontus , said by Pliny to have employed one of this group of plants in medicine
21. Heliotropium
Boraginaceae (F)Heliotropium : heliotropic, turning to the sun
22. Hyoscyamus
Solanaceae (F)Hyosey-amus: Greek hog bean, supposed to poison swine
23. Indigofera,
Wild Indigo (E)
Leguminoseae (F)Indigof-era : Latin indigo bearing
24. Ipomoea
Morningglory (E)
Convolvulaceae (F)Ipomoea-a : Greek cornbination, worm bindweed, of no particular significance
25. Acalypha
Copper leaf (E)
Euporbiaceae (F)Acaly-pha old Greek name for nettle
26. Leonotis
Labiateae (F)Leono-tis: Greek Lion’sear, which the flowers are supposed to resemble
27. Milkania
Mikania (E)Mika-nia : named for Joseph Gottfried Mikan, 1743-1814, professer of Prague
28. Mimosa
Sensitive plant (E)
Leguminoseae (E)Mimo-sa Greek a mimic, alluding to the fact that the leaves of some species are sensitive
29. Melilotus
Leguminoseae (E)Melilotus : honey-lotus; from the fragrance
30. Oxalis
Wood sorrel (E)
Oxalidaceae (F)OX-alis Greek for sour
31. Phyllanthus
niruri (E)
Euphorbiaceae (F)Phyllan-thus : Greek leaf Flower; the flowers of some species apparently born on the leaves
32. Saccharum
Poaceae (F)Sac-char-um: from an old Greek word for sugar
33. Sorghum halepensis
Johnsongrass (E)
Poaceae (F)Sorgh-um from Sorgho, the Italian name for the plant
34. Silybum
Compositae (F)Sil-ybum: an old Greek name applied by Dioscrorides to some thistle like plants
35. Typha
Cattails (E)
Typhaceae (F)Typha; Greek marsh
36. Vernonia
Iron weed (E)Verno-nia; named for William vernon, English botanist in late 17 century
37. Veronica
Speedwell (E)
Scrophularacea(F)Veron-ica; named for St. Veronica
38. Ischaemum
Poaceae (F)Ischaimos means staunching blood
39. Setaria
Foxtail (E)
Poaceae (F)Seta-bristle refer to the involucre of bristles
40. Pennisetum
Poaceae (F)Penna-feather, seta - bristle
41. Chrysopogon
Poaceae (F)Chrysos means gold and pogon-beard
Note :
E - English name
F - Family
References
Ayto, J. (1992). Bloomsbury Dictionary of Word Origins, Bloomsbury Publishing Limited, London pp. 583.