Botanical Latin Translations

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V. F. Thomas Co. - P. O. Box 84 - Hulls Cove, Maine  04644
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(updated 1 January 2026)





Cynosurus lima L.

Taxonomic history:
   1753: Linnaeus described this species as Cunosurus lima in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 72.
   today: The current name for this species is Wangenheimia lima (L.) Trin.


original Latin diagnosis
Cynosurus spica secunda, calycis gluma interiore spiculis subjecta.

English translation
Cynosurus with a spike secund; [and] of the calyx the inner glume below the spikelets is placed.



English translation with commentary
Cynosurus Cynosurus
with a spike spica - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun spica, -ae
secund; secunda - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective secundus, -a, -um; modifies spica
[and] [added for smoother reading]
of the calyx calycis - genitive singular of third declension masculine noun calyx, calycis
with the inner interiore - ablative singular feminine of comparative degree adjective interior, interior, interius; modifies gluma
glume gluma - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun gluma, -ae
[below] the spikelets spiculis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun spicula, -ae; object of subjecta
is placed. subjecta - ablative singular of perfect passive participle of third conugation verb subicio, subicere, subieci, subiectum; agrees with gluma


For a list of botanical Latin translations, please click here.         To access the Species Plantarum concordance, please click here.