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#132172 08/27/04 04:04 PM
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Loanword from Latin. There is a very nice species of oak, the pin oak, that carries this name as its species: palustris. I FINALLY found a terrific Latin botanical translator online--for trees, at least--and just decoded Quercus palustris (Oak 'of the swamp').

Question:

'Palustris' is such a lovely-sounding word. Can anyone here break down how it comes about meaning 'swamp'? Thanks for responding. Also, are there any other common 'swamp' words that we would recognize as having sprung from 'palustris'?


#132173 08/27/04 04:25 PM
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I FINALLY found a terrific Latin botanical translator online

well? are you going to share?



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#132174 08/27/04 05:14 PM
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http://www.treeguide.com/index.asp


A commericial site. However, just enter the genus and species of something to research or the common name; the search engine will take you to a page where you can garner lots of information, including a breakdown of genus and species for trees.


#132175 08/27/04 05:22 PM
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that's a great site, WW. wish there were pictures, but what a lot of info. I also can't get the search thing to work, but I think that's my browser acting up...



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#132176 08/27/04 05:27 PM
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There are pictures, et'. For instance, when I looked up Quercus palustris, two photographs came up: one of its bark and the other of many views of acorns. But I wish there were more pictures of leaves, acorns, stem tips, etc. There is a hodgepodge of photographs, but not an extensive collection for each species. However, just knowing I can look up the Latin botanical names for trees and find quick definitions is a step in the right direction.


#132177 08/27/04 05:40 PM
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ah! thanks. I guess I needed to drill down one more layer.



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#132178 08/27/04 06:20 PM
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drill down one more layer

Are you saying you're a yellow-bellied sapsucker, eta? [duck]


#132179 08/27/04 06:23 PM
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Latin paluster 'swampy, marshy' < palus (paludis) 'swamp, fen, marsh'. Cf. OHG fel(a)wa, NHG Felber 'willow tree', lit. 'swamp-tree'; from PIE root *pel- 'to pour, flow, fill' whence English full, Latin plenus, Skt purna (as in Annapurna 'full of food (edibles)', also Latin plebs 'people, the masses'.


#132180 08/27/04 06:31 PM
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Is 'Anna' an edible?

Thanks, jheem, very much for your provision here. It is amply full.


#132181 08/27/04 09:25 PM
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Yes, Skt anna < √ ad 'eat' + -na suffix. But Anna, the female name, comes from Hebrew Hannah which, besides being a palindrome, means 'grace'; cf. Phonecian beneral Hannibal 'grace of the lord (i.e., ba'al).



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