A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Spithama,-ae (s.f.I), abl.sg. spithama: “seven inches, or the space between the thumb and the fore-finger separated as widely as possible” (Lindley); a span, distance between tips of thumb and first finger when outstretched, 7 inches, approx. 19 cm.; “a span of seven inches, from the tip of the thumb to that of the forefinger” (Jackson); (fungi) “the span between the extended apices of the thumb and index finger = 7 ‘unciae’ or ‘pollices’ = 6.79 inches = 17.27 cm (C. Linnaeus, 1770) the Gk. spithamE is given in the dictionaries as about 7.5 inches or about 19 cm” (S&D); [> Gk. spithamE (s.f.I), ‘the space one can span with the thumb and little finger, a span, Lat. dodrans, about 7 1/2 inches” (Liddell & Scott); syn. palmus,-i (s.m.II), q.v.; see inch; cf. span;

- [fungus] magnus, 3-4 unc. latus, ultra spithamam saepe longus, the fungus large, 3--4 unciae [=inches] wide, often beyond a spithama [7 inches] long; see uncia,-ae (s.f.I).

- [fungus] pileus e convexo planiusculus, plerumque laevis, 3 — 4 unc. latus, interdum tamen etiam giganteus, spithamaeus et ultra (S&A), pileus from convex to somewhat flat, usually smooth, 3-4 inches wide, yet sometimes gigantic, a spithama [seven inches] and more.

- [Sphaerula citrina; fungus] semel inventa species pulchra ‘terrestris,’ foliis siccis aliique quisquiliis superfusa: semel ‘epixyla’ in Pino: sed saepenumero ‘parasitica’ in hymeniis Boletorum ingentium vetustorum (v.c. B. fomentarii, igniarii etc.), ad spithamam et ultra effusa” (S&A), the beautiful species encountered once ‘on soil,’ spread out over dried leaves and other fallen matter: once ‘epixylic’ on Pine: but on many occastions ‘parasitic’ on the hymenia of huge old Boletes (for example B. formentarius, igniarius etc.), outspread to a spithama [ca. 7 inches] and more.

NOTE: there is a discrepancy in classical glossaries and some botanical ones between the Roman ‘span’ and the Greek one. The Roman span of Lewis and Short is nine inches (the same as the English span). However, the Greek span of Liddell and Scott is only seven or seven and one half inches - a discrepancy of some two inches. The discrepancy seems to derive from the choice of distance between the thumb and:

1. the little finger (nine inches: Roman and English): the palmus,-i (s.m.II); the dodrans,-antis (s.m.III); the English ‘span.’ [approx. 24 cm.)

2. the forefinger (seven or 7 1/2 inches: Greek): the spithama,-ae (s.f.I). [approx. 19 cm.)

The confusion of the Greek span with the Roman seems to be followed by Liddell and Scott who equate the Greek spithama with the Roman dodrans. According to them:

Gk. spithamE (s.f.I)], ‘the space one can span with the thumb and little finger, a span, Lat. dodrans, about 7 1/2 inches” (Liddell & Scott). The span of 7 1/2 inches seems accurate, but the distance between fingers is probably more accurate according to botanical tradition (Lindley), and is not accurate as far as the Roman dodrans is concerned. Note that there is still some confusion on whether a spithama is 7 or 7 1/2 inches.

According to Lindley,and botanical language generally:

Dodrans,-antis (s.m.III), q.v., “nine inches, or the space between the thumb and the little finger separated as widely as possible” (Lindley).

Spithama,-ae (s.f.I), “seven inches, or the space between the thumb and the fore-finger separated as widely as possible” (Lindley).