more Latin

[Frederick J. Peabody]

The name of the type genus for the family Vitaceae is indeed Vitis.  This
is the Latin name for the grape.  The genitive case singular is also Vitis
and not Vitidis.  This makes the stem "Vit-" to which sufficies are added,
such as "-aceae" giving us "Vitaceae" and not "Vitidaceae."

Frederick J. Peabody, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Botany
University of South Dakota
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD  57069  USA
fpeabody at sundance.usd.edu

On Fri, 13 Sep 1996, JOSEPH E. LAFERRIERE wrote:

> While we are on the subject of Latin, why is the grape family
> called "Vitaceae" instead of "Vitidaceae?" My meager knowledge
> of the language would suggest the latter, just as the iris
> family is "Iridaceae," not "Iraceae."
>
> --
> "There are two secrets to success. The first is not telling
> everything you know."
>
> Dr. Joseph E. Laferriere
>