Latin description
Herba annua 0.7-1.7 m alta e radice palari semilignea incrassata. Caules crassi, singulares vel multiplices, e basi ramosi, decumbentes vel adscendentes, rare cano-tomentosi. Folia brevipetiolata, laminis orbicularibus vel late ellipticis; folia inferiora et basalia 4.8-10 (-12) cm longa, 1-3 cm lata, subtus pilis albidis dense lanata vel tomentosa. Inflorescentia spica composita in pedunculo longo ex spicula terminali et 2-4 paribus spicularum lateralium lateralium1 constans. Spiculae densae floribus in spiram 5-seriatam dispositis. Bracteolae 1.8-3 mm longae, interiores exterioribus parum longiores, distaliter pubescentes, stramineae vel leviter fuscatae. Flores 3.8-5.2 mm longi, in partibus et connata et libera perigonii dense lanati. Stamina in tubum largum connata, lobis interstaminalibus terminalibus (0.25-) 0.9-1.3 mm longis, partem connatam perigonii aequantibus vel parum exertis, acutis, stramineis vel subroseis, distaliter parum vel multum recurvatis. Perigonium fructiferum 4-5 mm latum, ampulliforme alis lateralibus irregulariter dentatis, spinis vel tuberculis distinctis in superficiebus ambabus perigonii indurati.
Translation
Annual herb 0.7-1.7 m tall from a thickened, semiwoody taproot. Stems thick, single or multiple, branched from the base, decumbent to ascending, sparsely grayish white tomentose. Leaves short-petioled, with blades orbicular to broadly elliptic; the lower and basal leaves 4.8-10(-12) cm long, 1-3 cm wide, densely lanate to tomentose below with whitish hairs. The inflorescence a compound spike on a long peduncle consisting of a terminal spikelet and 2-4 pairs of lateral spikelets. Spikelets dense with flowers arranged in a 5-ranked spiral. Bracteoles 1.8-3 mm long, the inner ones slightly longer than the outer ones, distally pubescent, stramineous or lightly darkened. Flowers 3.8-5.2 mm long, densely lanate on both the connate and the free portions of the perigonium. Stamens connate in a long tube, with terminal interstaminal lobes (0.25-)0.9-1.3 mm long, equaling the connate portion of the perigonium or slightly exserted, acute, stramineous to pinkish, slightly to greatly recurved distally. Fruit-bearing perigonium 4-5 mm wide, flask-shaped with irregularly dentate lateral wings, with spines or distinct tubercles on both surfaces of the indurate perigonium.
| Annual | annua - nominative singular feminine of group A adjective annuus, -a, -um; modifies Herba |
| herb | Herba - nominative singular of first declension feminine noun herba, -ae |
| 0.7-1.7 m tall | alta - nominative singular feminine of group A adjective altus, -a, -um; agrees with Herba |
| from | e - preposition [takes ablative] |
| a thickened, | incrassata - ablative singular feminine of perfect passive participle of first conjugation verb incrasso, -are, -avi, -atus; modifies radice palari |
| semiwoody | semilignea - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective semiligneus, -a, -um; modifies radice palari |
| taproot. | radice palari - ablative singular of third declension feminine noun radix, radicis and ablative singular feminine of group B adjective palaris, -is, -e; object of preposition e |
| Stems | Caules - nominative plural of third declension masculine noun caulis, caulis |
| thick, | crassi - nominative plural masculine of group A adjective crassus, -a, -um; modifies Caules |
| single | singulares - nominative plural masculine of group B adjective singularis, -is, -e; modifies Caules |
| or | vel - conjunction |
| multiple, | multiplices - nominative plural masculine of group B adjective multiplex, -ex, -ex; modifies Caules |
| branched | ramosi - nominative plural masculine of group A adjective ramosus, -a, -um; modifies Caules |
| from | e - preposition [takes ablative] |
| the base, | basi - ablative singular of third declension feminine noun basis, basis |
| decumbent | decumbentes - nominative plural masculine of present active participle of third conjugation verb decumbo, -ere, -ui, ---; agrees with Caules |
| to | vel - conjunction |
| ascending, | adscendentes - nominative plural masculine of present active participle of third conjugation verb adscendo, adscendere, adsendi, adscendus; agrees with Caules |
| sparsely | rare - adverb |
| grayish white tomentose. | cano-tomentosi - nominative plural masculine of group A adjective cano-tomentosus, -a, -um; agrees with Caules |
| Leaves | Folia - nominative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| short-petioled, | brevipetiolata - nominative plural neuter of group A adjective brevipetiolatus, -a, -um; modifies Folia |
| with blades | laminis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun lamina, -ae |
| orbicular | orbicularibus - ablative plural feminine of group B adjective orbicularis, -is, -e; modifies laminis |
| to | vel - conjunction |
| broadly | late - adverb |
| elliptic; | ellipticis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective ellipticus, -a, -um; modifies laminis |
| the lower | inferiora - nominative plural neuter of comparative degree of group A adjective infernus, -a, -um; modifies folia |
| and | et - conjunction |
| basal | basalia - nominative plural neuter of group B adjective basalis, -is, -e; modifies folia |
| leaves | folia - nominative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| 4.8-10(-12) cm long, | longa - nominative plural neuter of group A adjective longus, -a, -um; modifies folia |
| 1-3 cm wide, | lata - nominative plural neuter of group A adjective latus, -a, -um; modifies folia |
| densely | dense - adverb |
| lanate | lanata - nominative plural neuter of group A adjective lanatus, -a, -um; modifies folia |
| to | vel - conjunction |
| tomentose | tomentosa - nominative plural neuter of group A adjective tomentosus, -a, -um; modifies folia |
| below | subtus - adverb |
| with whitish | albidis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective albidus, -a, -um; modifies pilis |
| hairs. | pilis - ablative plural of second declension masculine noun pilus, -i |
| The inflorescence | Inflorescentia - nominative singular of first declension feminine noun inflorescentia, -ae |
| a compound | composita - nominative singular feminine of group A adjective compositus, -a, -um; modifies spica |
| spike | spica - nominative singular of first declension feminine noun spica, -ae; agrees with Inflorescentia |
| on | in - preposition [takes ablative] |
| a long | longo - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective longus, -a, -um; modifies pedunculo |
| peduncle | pedunculo - ablative singular of second declension masculine noun pedunculus, -i; object of in |
| consisting of | constans ... ex - nominative singular feminine of present active participle of first conjugation verb consto, constare, constiti, constatus plus the prepostion ex [takes ablative]. In this description ex precedes the participle. |
| a terminal | terminali - ablative singular feminine of group B adjective terminalis, -is, -e; modifies spicula |
| spikelet | spicula - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun spicula, -ae; object of ex |
| and | et - conjunction |
| 2-4 pairs | paribus - ablative plural of third declension neuter noun par, paris; object of ex |
| of lateral | lateralium - genitive plural feminine of group B adjective lateralis, -is, -e; modifies spicularum. [Note: The second lateralium was a typographical error in Systematic Botany.] |
| spikelets. | spicularum - genitive plural of first declension feminine noun spicula, -ae |
| Spikelets | Spiculae - nominative plural of first declension feminine noun spicula, -ae |
| dense | densae - nominative plural feminine of group A adjective densus, -a, -um; modifies Spiculae |
| with flowers | floribus - ablative plural of third declension masculine noun flos, floris |
| arranged | dispositis - ablative plural masculine of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb dispono, disponere, disposui, dispositus; agrees with floribus |
| in | in - preposition [takes accusative] |
| a 5-ranked | seriatam - accusative singular feminine of group A adjective seriatus, -a, -um; modifies spiram |
| spiral. | spiram - accusative singular of first declension feminine noun spira, -ae; object of in |
| Bracteoles | Bracteolae - nominative plural of first declension feminine noun bracteola, -ae |
| 1.8-3 mm long, | longae - nominative plural feminine of group A adjective longus, -a, -um; modifies Bracteolae |
| the inner ones | interiores - nominative plural feminine of adjective interior, interior, interius; agrees with Bracteolae |
| slightly | parum - adverb |
| longer | longiores - nominative plural feminine of comparitive degree of group A adjective longus, -a, -um; agrees with Bracteolae |
| than the outer ones, | exterioribus - nominative plural feminine of comparative degree of group A adjective exter, extera, exterum; agrees with Bracteolae |
| distally | distaliter - adverb |
| pubescent, | pubescentes - nominative plural feminine of group B adjective pubescens, pubescens, pubescens; modifies Bracteolae |
| stramineous | stramineae - nominative plural feminine of group A adjective stramineus, -a, -um; modifies Bracteolae |
| or | vel - conjunction |
| lightly | leviter - adverb |
| darkened. | fuscatae - nominative plural feminine of perfect passive participle of first conjugation verb fusco, -are, -avi, -atus; modifies Bracteolae |
| Flowers | Flores - nominative plural of third declension masculine noun flos, floris |
| 3.8-5.2 mm long, | longi - nominative plural masculine of group A adjective longus, -a, -um; modifies Flores |
| densely | dense - adverb |
| lanate | lanati - nominative plural masculine of group A adjective lanatus, -a, -um; modifies Flores |
| on | in - preposition [takes ablative] |
| both | et - conjunction [first et of et ... et] |
| the connate | connata - [It seems that this should be connatas, the ablative plural, instead of ablative singular.] |
| and | et - conjunction |
| the free | libera - [It seems that this should be liberas, the ablative plural, instead of ablative singular.] |
| portions | partibus - ablative plural of third declension feminine noun pars, parties; object of in |
| of the perigonium. | perigonii - genitive singular of second declension neuter noun perigonium, -i |
| Stamens | Stamina - nominative plural of third declension neuter noun stamen, staminis |
| connate | connata - nominative singular neuter of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb connascor, ---, connasci, connatus |
| in | in - preposition [takes accusative] |
| a long | largum - accusative singular masculine of group A adjective tubus, -a, -um; modifies tubum |
| tube, | tubum - accusative singular of second declension masculine noun tubus, -i; object of in |
| with terminal | terminalibus - ablative plural masculine of group B adjective terminalis, -is, -e; modifies lobis |
| interstaminal | interstaminalibus - ablative plural masculine of group B adjective interstaminalis, -is, -e; modifies lobis |
| lobes | lobis - ablative plural of second declension masculine noun lobus, -i |
| (0.25-)0.9-1.3 mm long, | longis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective longus, -a, -um; modifies lobis |
| equaling | aequantibus - ablative plural masculine of present active participle of first conjugation verb aequo, -are, -avi, -atus; agrees with lobis |
| the connate | connatam - accusative singular feminine of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb connascor, ---, connasci, connatus; modifies partem |
| portion | partem - accusative singular of third declension feminine noun pars, partis; object of aequantibus |
| of the perigonium | perigonii - genitive singular of second declension neuter noun perigonium, -i |
| or | vel - conjunction |
| slightly | parum - adverb |
| exserted, | exsertis - ablative plural masculine of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb exsero, exserere, exserui, exsertus; agrees with lobis |
| acute, | acutis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective acutus, -a, -um; agrees with lobis |
| stramineous | stramineis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective stramineus, -a, -um; agrees with lobis |
| to | vel - conjunction used as a preposition |
| pinkish, | subroseis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective subroseus, -a, -um; agrees with lobis |
| slightly | parum - adverb |
| to | vel - conjunction used as a preposition |
| greatly | multum - adverb |
| recurved | recurvatis - ablative plural masculine of of perfect passive participle of first conjugation verb recurvo, -are, ---, -atus; agrees with lobis |
| distally. | distaliter - adverb |
| Fruit-bearing | fructiferum - nominative singular neuter of group A adjective fructifer, -a, -um; modifies perigonium |
| perigonium | Perigonium - nominative singular of second declension neuter noun perigonium, -i |
| 4-5 mm wide, | latum - nominative singular neuter of group A adjective latus, -a, -um; modifies Perigonium |
| flask-shaped | ampulliforme - nominative singular neuter of group B adjective ampulliformis, -is, -e; modifies Perigonium |
| with irregularly | irregulariter - adverb |
| dentate | dentatis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective dentatus, -a, -um; modifies alis |
| lateral | lateralibus - ablative plural feminine of group B adjective lateralis, -is, -e; modifies alis |
| wings, | alis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun ala, -ae |
| with spines | spinis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun spina, -ae |
| or | vel - conjunction |
| distinct | distinctis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective distinctus, -a, -um; modifies tuberculis |
| tubercles | tuberculis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun tuberculum, -i |
| on | in - preposition [takes ablative] |
| both | ambabus - ablative plural feminine of numerical adjective ambo, -ae, -o; modifies superficiebus |
| surfaces | superficiebus - ablative plural of fifth declension feminine noun superficies, -ei; object of in |
| of the indurate | indurati - genitive singular neuter of perfect passive participle of first conjugation verb induro, -are, -avi, -atus; modifies perigonii |
| perigonium. | perigonii - genitive singular of second declension neuter noun perigonium, -i |
Comments and corrections are welcome and should be sent to info@vfthomas.com. Thanks.