Mark McDonough wrote: >Curious to learn what the epithet "orithyioides" indicates, the only thing I >could find is a bit of greek mythology: "Orithia (or Oreithyia) was a daughter >of the Amazon Queen Marpesia. I have not checked out Vvedensky's notes, but here's my guess: The form of the word, orithyi + oides, suggests that it is named for or being compared to something else: is there, for instance, a Tulipa orithyia? If so, then orithyioides indicates a similarity to that putative species. Incidentally, the spelling of the word is unorthodox: four separately pronounced vowel sounds in a row (y, i, o, i; remember, oi in Latin does not equal oi in English ) is very peculiar. A more traditional orthodox spelling would be orithyjoides, where the j represents not the sound of the English j but the "consonental i sound" (like j in German). But don't forget that botanists don't have to follow traditional grammar - they have their own rules. In addition to the great story Mark told about the name, I can add a bit more (but nothing to equal Amazon Queens): the name orithyia looks like it comes from the words for mountain and a resinous tree, juniper or cedar for instance. That's an apt name for someone who shows resliiance and determination. Here's a sort of mnemonic: the part of the name which refers to the cedar is thyia. Most of you know this as Thuja. Greek upsilon is sometimes given as u and sometimes given as y. For an explanation of the j, see above. If you pronounce Thuja as thoo-ya, this might make more sense. Jim McKenney jimmckenney@starpower.net Montgomery County, Maryland zone 7 where we had light rain this morning and are now enjouing temperatures above 60 degrees F. At 10:53 PM 3/1/2004 EST, you wrote: >The two photos recently posted to the Pacific Bulb Society - Tulipa page are >terrific. I have comments on each. The photos are located at: >http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… > >The photo by Jane McGary of Tulipa orithyioides Vved. has me intrigued. The >plant looks akin to T. polypetala, with white flowers, yellow center, and >backs of outer tepals an olive color suffused mauve-ish. But the similarity ends >there as surely the stiffly upright foliage and more starry flowers render a >distinctive look apart from polychroma. Based on an IPNI search, I come up >with the spelling "orithyioides" for the species. It's hard to tell from the >photo, but I must ask; Jane, are the stems multiflowered? If so, perhaps it's in >the Biflores section similar to T. polychroma. Also, are the flowers >scented? T. polychroma is heavenly perfumed. > >Curious to learn what the epithet "orithyioides" indicates, the only thing I >could find is a bit of greek mythology: "Orithia (or Oreithyia) was a daughter >of the Amazon Queen Marpesia. When her mother was killed by Asian barbarians, >her mother's position fell to her. She forged an alliance with Sagillus, King >of Scythia, who sent his son with an army to help Orithia avenge her mother's >death." Is there a relation between this and the species name? > >Dave Brastow posted a gorgeous photo of Tulipa pulchella var humilis... >thanks Dave! The naming of this species is contentious, most often seen the way >Dave labeled it. I think today it is recognized as T. pulchella (Fenzl at >Regel) Baker. But horticulturally, there are two distinct forms, one with blue to >black centers, and another with yellow centers. I believe these are analogous >to Hoog & Dix's Tulipa humilis 'Violacea Black Base" and T. humilis "Violacea >Yellow Base" respectively, but I'm just guessing. Anyone care to attempt >clarifying the naming of the tulips in the "humilis" alliance? > > >Mark McDonough Pepperell, Massachusetts, United States >antennaria@aol.com "New England" USDA Zone 5 >============================================== >>> web site under construction - http://www.plantbuzz.com/ << >alliums, bulbs, penstemons, hardy hibiscus, western >american alpines, iris, plants of all types! >_______________________________________________ >pbs mailing list >pbs@lists.ibiblio.org >http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >