Many many thanks, dear Vijayasankar ji, for helping with coining names for both the species of *Staurogyne* (*spatulata* and zeylanica) that are known to be distributed in Tamil Nadu. It is a great joy when a name is coined for a nameless plant, almost like giving it its due recognition !!!
*பிசுபிசு சேத்துப்பூண்டு pisupisu sethupoondu* for *Staurogyne spatulata* (Blume) Koord. *பிசுபிசு pisupisu* = sticky; *சேத்துப்பூண்டு sethupoondu* = (*sethu* or *setru* = of marsh / swamp / slush / mud; *poondu* or *puntu* = herb / weed) = a generic name that applies to any herbaceous plant / weed growing in a marshy habitat ... named so, for the plant's sticky nature, and for its swampy habitat. *சிலோன் சேத்துப்பூண்டு ceylone sethhupoondu* for *Staurogyne zeylanica* (Nees) Kuntze *சிலோன் ceylone* = of or from Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon during colonial rule); *சேத்துப்பூண்டு sethupoondu* = (*sethu* or *setru* = of marsh / swamp / slush / mud; *poondu* or *puntu* = herb / weed) = a generic name that applies to any herbaceous plant / weed growing in a marshy habitat ... named so, for the species' type locality, and for its swampy habitat. Thanks very much once again, for all the time given, for coining the names. Regards. Dinesh ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Vijay Raman <[email protected]> Date: Mon, Sep 30, 2024 at 6:06 AM Subject: Re: Tamil names for Staurogyne species To: Dinesh Valke <[email protected]> Dear Dinesh ji, In line with the names coined in other languages, we may call *Staurogyne *as "sethupoondu" சேத்துப்பூண்டு (a casual/spoken form of the more formal சேற்றுப்பூண்டு "setruppoondu") (sethu or setru = of marsh/swamp/slush/mud; poondu or pūṇṭu= herb/weed). But this is very generic and can apply to any herbaceous plant/weed growing in a marshy habitat. If you like this name, then *S. spathulata* can be called "pisupisu (= sticky) sethupoondu" பிசுபிசு சேத்துப்பூண்டு, and *S. zeylanica* as "ceylone sethhupoondu" சிலோன் சேத்துப்பூண்டு. Another option for *Staurogyne *would be "meen thotti chedi" (= fish tank herb) மீன் தொட்டி செடி, which applies to plants growing/grown in fish tanks or aquariums. Best, Vijayasankar On Fri, Sep 27, 2024 at 2:11 AM Dinesh Valke <[email protected]> wrote: > Firstly, thank you very very much, dear Vijayasankar ji, for giving your > time. > > > *I have been thinking about this and did some research but haven't been > able to come up with a suitable Tamil name yet. * > If / When naming becomes cumbersome, we will just give it up ! > But I am sure, most often, we will somehow come up. > > > *I am looking for a feature that is common in the genus. * > *I have many questions... Do all species of Staurogyne grow in swamps > (think about mangroves)? * > As much as I read through the internet, yes, their habitat is wet soil - I > take it as swamp / marsh / meadows ... not sure about mangroves, did not > read. > > > *I know one species (S. repens) is used in fish tanks but how about the > others? * > Most of them are used (cultivated) as aquarium plants, and for aquascaping. > > > *Is there a major medicinal use for the plants? * > Not read so. Not much is written about our Indian *Staurogyne* spp. > > > *Do they have any similarities to other genera such as Strobilanthes etc. * > Nearest, rather confused with is *Hygrophila*. I read it somewhere. > > > *If all the species don't share a common feature, we can coin names for > individual species. * > That I think will be just too challenging; I think best is, if at all, > coin a generic name for *Staurogyne*, and add some prefix or suffix for > naming particular species. > > *But again, are there any features specific to the species?* > Not sure; I would like to always think that the specific epithet should be > of some help. > > > *Is S. spatulata really sticky? * > Yes, the inflorescence clearly has those viscid hair, and other parts of > the plant too may have it. > > > *I see that S. zeylanica is extinct in Sri Lanka and found in India > (Andaman Islands) and Bangladesh. So, giving the name Ceylon staurogyne may > be redundant just because it was named zeylanica but it is not there > anymore. * > I suggest we will not think so. The binomial is permanent, and the coined > name will remind of the fact that the plant was named after Sri Lanka. > > > *Sorry for the many questions but naming feels like a serious > business...lol* :) > Perfectly in agreement. But, no sorry about the questions !!! They are the > best food for thought :) > > > BTW, ஆந்தை actually refers to owl. > True. > Tamil lexicon <https://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/tamil-lex/>, > University of Madras, has 4 meanings listed: > 1) Owl 2) Spotted owlet 3) Fragrant sticky mallow 4) Father of Atan, an > ancient name > I took advantage of "sticky", and since some other south Indian languages > have "*antu*" meaning sticky, gum, &c, I thought that it would be okay to > use it as a prefix. > > > Thanks once again, Vijayasankar ji. > There is never a hurry for coining names, nor are we ever bound. > > > Regards. > Dinesh > > On Fri, Sep 27, 2024 at 7:49 AM Vijay Raman <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Dear Dinesh ji, >> >> I have been thinking about this and did some research but haven't been >> able to come up with a suitable Tamil name yet. I am looking for a feature >> that is common in the genus. I have many questions... Do all species of >> Staurogyne grow in swamps (think about mangroves)? I know one species (S. >> repens) is used in fish tanks but how about the others? Is there a major >> medicinal use for the plants? Do they have any similarities to other genera >> such as Strobilanthes etc. If all the species don't share a common feature, >> we can coin names for individual species. But again, are there any features >> specific to the species? Is S. spatulata really sticky? I see that S. >> zeylanica is extinct in Sri Lanka and found in India (Andaman Islands) and >> Bangladesh. So, giving the name Ceylon staurogyne may be redundant >> just because it was named zeylanica but it is not there anymore. Sorry for >> the many questions but naming feels like a serious business...lol :) BTW, >> ஆந்தை actually refers to owl. >> >> Vijayasankar >> >> >> >> On Thu, Sep 26, 2024 at 4:20 AM Dinesh Valke <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Dear Vijayasankar ji, >>> >>> For *Staurogyne* ... I hope we can make use of a compound word from >>> following: *சதுவல் catuval* (swampy ground) + *ஓடதி otati* (medicinal >>> herb or drug / annual plant) >>> >>> sticky = *ஆந்தை antai* >>> Ceylon, Sri Lanka = *இலங்கை ilankai * >>> >>> For *Staurogyne spatulata* (sticky staurogyne) ... ஆந்தை சதுவல் + ஓடதி >>> antai catuval+otati >>> For *Staurogyne zeylanica* (Ceylon staurogyne) ... இலங்கை சதுவல் + ஓடதி >>> ilankai catuval+otati >>> >>> >>> As I said earlier, please ignore my request without hesitation, if this >>> way of coining names does not look valid. >>> >>> Regards. >>> Dinesh >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Sep 25, 2024 at 1:40 PM Dinesh Valke <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Dear Vijayasankar ji, >>>> >>>> Please help with coining names for two species of Staurogyne >>>> distributed in Tamil Nadu - *spatulata* (*glauca*) & *zeylanica*. >>>> In English, we have them as "sticky staurogyne" and "Ceylon staurogyne". >>>> >>>> On the same lines if we coin a Tamil name for genus *Staurogyne*, we >>>> can add prefixes meaning "sticky" or "viscid" and "Ceylon". >>>> >>>> Please ignore my request simply without hesitation, if this becomes a >>>> cumbersome process. >>>> >>>> Regards. >>>> Dinesh >>>> >>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "eFloraofIndia" group. 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