A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Nix (s.f.III) gen.sg. nivis, abl.sg. nive: snow, q.v.; cf. chion-, chiono-, in Gk. comp.

Perpetual or unmelting snows: nives aeternae, nives perpetuae;

- ad nives deliquescentes, at the melting snows.

- juxta rivulos e liquescente nive profluentes, &c. (Ray), beside small brooks out flowing from melting snow.

- ad limites nivium aeternarum extensae, extended to the limits of perpetual snows.

- inter scopulos et fissuras rupium prope nives perpetuas in Alpibus (DeCandolle), among the cliffs and fissures of rocks near perpetual snow in the Alps.

- specimina quae in foliis Pteridis humi prostratis obtectis a nive vixdum soluta putrefactis semel legimus; ineunte Aprili (S&A), specimens which we collected one time, on the putrefied leaves of Pteris [a fern] prostrate on the ground covered by scarcely melted snow; at the onset of April.

- species ad 6, in uliginosis montium altiorum Andium Americae australis vigentes, usque ad limites nivium aeternarum extensae (B&H), species to 6, in the wet places of the higher mountains of the Andes of South America flourishing, extended up to the limits of perpetual snow.

- inter scopulos et fissuras rupium prope nives perpetuas in Alpibus (DeCandolle), among the cliffs and fissures of rocks near perpetual snow in the Alps.

- ad radices montis perpetua nive obtecti (Hooker), at the roots of a mountain covered with perpetual snow.

- E planitiebus Europaeis (rarissime tamen) usque ad nives aeternas utriusque hemispbaerae ascendentes, zonas frigidas autem praeferentes et rupium incolae (Mueller), from the European plains (however, very rarely) up to eternal snows arising in both hemispheres, frigid zones, however, prefering and a dweller on rocks.

- in cinerib. vulcanic. ad nives aeternas (Mueller), in the volcanic [vulcanicis] ashes [cineribus] in eternal snow.

- praeprimis in nivium regione viget (Mueller), it flourishes especially in the region of snows.

- Ad saxa et terram humidam in locis paludosis e planitiebus usque ad nives alpium ascendens per totam Europam haud vulgare occurrit (Mueller), hardly common, it occurs on stones and moist earth in swampy places from the plains ascending up to the snows of the Alps throughout all Europe.

- invenitur in Sneberg, Snealben & Durrenstein jugis magna copia; floretque duntaxat Augusto: nam cum in acclivitatibus & circa scrobes nascatur, quas diutius insidere solet nix, serius illud florere necesse est (Ray), encountered in Sneberg, Snealben and Durrenstein peaks in great numbers; and it blooms only in August: for when it springs forth in upslopes and around ditches, which the snow is accustomed to cling to longer, it is necessary for that to flower later.

- Porro rimas & foramina casarum pauperiores his obturant, quin tecta ingrediuntur lautiora; nam tegulis supponuntur Hypna promiscue lecta ad arcendum calorem, frigus, pluviam & nivem (Dill.), furthermore the poor [the peasants] stop up the cracks and holes of their cottages with these [mosses, e.g. Sphagnum]], and they even go into nicer buildings; for they place Hypna [i.e. collections of Hypnum] gathered indiscriminately under the [roof-]tiles for protecting against heat, cold, rain and snow.

- [moss] frigore ingruente, omniumque vegetabilium fibris rigentibus muscum nullum florere extra dubium est; sed simul ac aura tepescere, fauoniorum habitu hyems solui, et nives colliquescere incipiunt, plerique musci florere properant (Brid.), when the cold is coming on, and when the fibers of all plants are hardened [i.e. rigid with the cold]; then it is beyond doubt that no moss is flowering; but as soon as the air becomes warm, in accordance with the nature of the [west or spring winds], winter begins to be set free, and the snows begin to melt, most [i.e. the greater part of the] mosses] quickly prepare to flower.

- in regni Mexicani montosis apricis, juxta Tolluccam, ad radices montis perpetua nive obtecti, regione frigida, altitudine 1640 hexapodarum (sic) (Humboldt et Bonpland), in the Mexican kingdom in open mountainous (sc. locis, places), next to Tollucca, at the roots of the mountain covered with perpetual snow, in the cold region, at an altitude of 1640 hexapodes [lengths of 6 feet; 6 x 1640 = 9840 feet]; see hexapodium,-ii (s.n.II).

Nivaflora,-ae (s.f.I), q.v.: nivaflora; “the flora above the snow-line” (Jackson).