A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Rhizome, a slender, horizontal, subterranean, rootlike stem; “rootstock = rhizome = “a prostrate rooting stem, progressively throwing up leaves” (Lindley); “1. the rootstock or dorsiventral stem, of root-like appearance, prostrate on or under ground, sending off rootlets, the apex progressively sending up stems or leaves; 2. = caudex (J. S. Henslow); 3. = radicle (Henslow)” (Jackson): rhizoma, gen.sg. rhizomatis (s.n.III), acc.sg. rhizoma, dat. sg. rhizomati, abl.sg. rhizomate, nom. & acc.pl. rhizomata, gen.pl. rhizomatum, dat.& abl.pl. rhizomatibus [ > Gk. rhizoma,-ato (s.n.III), a root]; see various conditions under repens,-entis (part.B).

Rhizomes are described as vertical (vertical), horizontal (horizontale); ascending (ascendens), descending (descendens); creeping, repens; they may be perennial (perenniale) or woody (lignosum) or herbaceous (herbaceum); tuberous (tuberosum); it may have many heads [i.e. on the crown] (multiceps; multicipitali); fleshy (carnosum); beanched (ramosum); scaly (squamosum).

- rhizoma tenue breve verticale, rhizome slender, short, vertical.

- rhizoma elongatum tenuissimum 3 mm. crassum flavidum, rhizome elongated very slender 3 mm. thick yellowish.

- rhizoma adscendens, crassitudine valde inaequali, partes juniores plerumque 5 mm. adultae ad 18 mm. incrassatae, qua ex causa rhizoma stirpium veterum saepissime nodosum, vel gangliosum, rhizome ascending, with the thickness very uneven, the younger parts commonly 5 mm. the mature to 18 mm. thickened, from which reason the rhizome of old plants most often nodose or full of swellings.

- herba perennis rhizomate brevi crasso, herb perennial with rhizome short thick.

- innovationes rhizomatis elongatae graciles, new growths of rhizome elongated slender.

- bulbus cylindricus rhizomati brevi descendenti insidens, bulb

cylindric upon a short descending rhizome seated (Stearn). NOTE THE -

I- in ABLATIVE HERE [typed].

- rhizomatibus validis, with stout rhizomes.

- squamis rhizomatis castaneis, (in ferns) with the scales of the rhizome castaneous.

- [Acrotrema] herbae subacaules, rhizomate perenni v. lignoso (B&H), herbs nealy stemless, with the rhizome perennial or woody.

- [Menispermaceae] e rhizomate perenni suberecti (B&H), from a rhizome perennial, nearly erect.

- caulis arboreus e rhizomate lignoso erectus (B&H), stem arboreal [i.e. with a tree-like habit] erect from a woody rhizome.

- [Caulophyllum] Herba, rhizomate tuberoso (B&H), herb, with the rhizome tuberous.

- [Vancouveria] herba rhizomate repente (B&H), an herb with a creeping rhizome.

- [Diphylleia] herba, rhizomate horizontali (B&H), an herb with a horizontal rhizome.

- herba rhizomate perenni, collo vaginis foliorum vetustis suberosis coronato (B&H), an herb with a perennial rhizome, with the neck crowned with the somewhat erose old sheaths of the leaves.

- rhizomate elongato, perenni, multicipiti (B&H), with the rhizome elongate, perennial, with many heads [i.e. on the crown].

- rhizomate bulboso v. carnoso, with the rhizome bulbous or fleshy.

- rhizomate perennante herbaceo v. lignoso ramoso v. multicipite (B&H), with the rhizome over-wintering, herbaceous or woody, branched or many-headed.

Aerial (i.e. not subterranean) Modifications of the Stem and Branches.—The Rhizome or Rootstock. “This is a prostrate thickened stem or branch running along the surface of the ground or more generally partly beneath it, and giving off small roots or rootlets from its lower side, and leaves and buds from its upper. These stems sometimes creep for a long distance in this way, and have their upper surface then marked by scars which are caused by the falling off of former leaves or of aerial herbaceous branches or flower-stalks, by which character they may be commonly distinguished, even when in a dried state, from true roots. Such stems are found in the Iris, Sweet-flag, Ginger, Turmeric, Solomon's Seal, Fern, and many other plants. In some cases these rhizomes are placed in a vertical direction in the earth (erect rhizomes), and they then bear a great resemblance to roots, as in the Devil's-bit Scabious (Scabiosa succisa), where such a rhizome is commonly known as a praemorse root. The rhizome being generally, as we have seen, partly beneath the surface of the ground, forms therefore a natural transition to the description of subterranean stems” (Bentley); see runner or flagellum; offset; stolon; sucker; see praemorsus,-a,-um (part.A), cf. succisus,-a,-um (part.A).

Caudex repens, abl.sg. caudice repente: “(obsol.) a creeping stem; what is now called a rhizome” (Lindley) = rhizome (Jackson).

Cervix,-icis (s.f.III), abl. sg. cervice, nom. & acc. pl. cervices, gen. pl. cervicum or cervicum the neck, including the back of the neck, the nape; “(obsol.) an obsolete term for rhizome” (Lindley).

Radicle: “the hypocotyledonary and primal internode, the rudimentary root of the embryo” (Jackson); also called “‘rhizome’ (Henslow)” (Jackson).

Rhizomes may be submerged (rhizoma submersum), i.e. growing under water;

- [NYHPHAEACEAE] herbae aquaticae, rhizomate submèrso, foliis saepissime peltatis (B&H), aquatic herbs, with the rhizome submersed, with the leaves most often peltate.

Surculum,-i (s.n.II), abl. sg. surculo: “is used by J. Smith for the rhizome of a Fern” (Jackson).