Latin for Comma-shaped

[Ted Oliver]

I agree with the note from Richard Zander about his colleague's suggestion of the use of the Latin word 'comma' to define the shape.

I would strongly recommend colleagues dipping into that excellent book 'Composition of Scientific Words' by Roland Brown (published by Smithsonian Institution Press . . .last reprint I have is 1979). It is a goldmine of Latin and Greek words for terms and especially for coining specific epithets.  He gives several examples of the use of 'comma',  e.g. Vibrio comma (bacterium of Asiatic cholera), Polygonia comma (a butterfly).

By the way is that publication still available?

Cheers
Ted Oliver


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Dr. E.G.H. Oliver
Compton Herbarium (NBG)
National Botanical Institute, Kirstenbosch
CAPE TOWN
e-mail:  oliveregh at nbict.nbi.ac.za