A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Geniculum,-i (s.n.II), abl. sg. geniculo: classically “a (small) knee; a knot or joint in the stem, etc. of a plant” (Glare); “1. a node of a stem (Lindley); 2. the junction of the articuli of Coralline Algae, which is destitute of crustation” (Jackson); node, joint; seldom used for node, q.v., but in classical Latin, this word usually referred to the node or joint of plants; an abrupt bend [dim. of L. genu, gen. sg. genus (s.n.IV) the knee]; see intergeniculum,-i (s.n.II);

In geniculate algae, the flexible non-calcified point or points on the alga frond, or tree-like alga branches, that serve as ‘knees’ or ‘hinges’ between the calcified intergenicula; “an uncalcified joint or articulation between the calcified segments of a jointed coralline alga” (Abbott & Hollenberg); see also articulation.

Intergeniculum,-i (s.n.II), abl. sg. intergeniculo: (in geniculate algae) the calcified spaces on the alga frond, or tree-like alga branches, between the flexible non-calcified genicula (’knees’ or’hinges’); “a calcified segment between the uncalcified joints of a coralline alga;” see articulation; see geniculum,-i (s.n.II).

- [algae] articuli, si lente parum augente observatur frons, fere ubique geniculis obscurioribus distinguendi (Agardh), the joints [i.e. articuli], if the frond is examined by magnifying a little with a lens, are almost everywhere to be distinguished from the more indistinct genicula.

- gramina culmis erectis simplicibus vel ramosis, ad genicula sericeo-barbatis, cetero glabris, grasses with culms erect simple or branched, at nodes silkily bearded, for the rest glabrous (Stearn).

- geniculo 10-15 mm vix quam petiolo crassiore, geniculum 10--15 mm, scarcely thicker than the petiole.

- rami e fronde primaria erectiusculi, inter ramulos flexuosi, ramulis subsecundis, intra geniculum fere quodque egredientibus, obsiti (Agardh), the branches from the primary frond somewhat erect, flexuous among the branchlets, beset with somewhat secund branchlets issuing forth inside of almost every geniculum.

- ceterum Sph. filicina planta gracilior, unde recens immo tactu distinguitur; in exsiccata genicula plerumque pellucida (Agardh), for the rest, the Sph. filicina plant is more slender, [whence fresh material is distinguished, yes! even by a touch; the genicula in dried out[specimens] usually pellucid.

- corpuscula cylindracea in Callithamnio plumula ad latus internum pinnularum,e geniculo fere quoque egredientia pyramidata subsessilia (Agardh), the cylindrical bodies in Callithamnium plumula on the inner side of the pinnules, coming forth from almost every geniculum, pyramidate, subsessile.

- fila simplicia aut parcissime dichotoma, pinnis aequelongis brevissimis ad geniculum quodque angulo subrecto egredientibus sed mox incurvis rigidiusculis pinnulatis obsita (Agardh), the threads are unbranched or very moderately dichotomous, beset with pinnae of equal length, very short, coming out at each geniculum, with angle somewhat straight, but [the pinnae] soon incurved, somewhat more rigid, pinnulate.

- ramuli densissime dichotomi ad geniculum quodque divisi (Agardh), the branchlets very densely dichotomous, divided at every geniculum. [Articuli in ramis distincti, joints? Nodes?

- geniculis articulorum vix contractis; involucro ex apice pedunculi egrediente, filamentis dichotomis constante (Agardh), with the [nodes] of the joints scarcely contracted; with the involucre issuing forth from the apex of the peduncle,[consisting] of dichotomous filaments.

- geniculis eximie contractis, involucris pedunculo pyriformi suffultis (Agardh), with the [nodes] [extremely] contracted, with the involucre subtended by a pryiform peduncle.

- involucrum paulo infra apicem articuli inflati egrediens. et ita geniculum verticillatim cingens, e filamentis simplicibus incurvatis vix ultra geniculum supereminentibus constans (Agardh), the involucre issuing from somewhat below the apex of the inflated joint [articulum], and thus verticillately encircling the geniculum, composed of filaments, simple incurved scarcely rising beyond the geniculum.

- Sp. clavulata nob. fronde subregulariter dichotoma filiformi geniculis prostantibus ciliatis, internodiis hexaèdre areolatis, apicibus patulis (Agardh), our Sp. clavulata with the frond somewhat regularly dichotomous, filiform, with the genicula projecting, ciliate, with the internodes hexagonally areolate, with the apices patulous [i.e. spreading to 90*].

- caulibus 6-pollicaribus pedalibusve basi flexuosis parce ramosis ad basin praecipue et supra geniculos patule et molliter villosis (Boissier), with the stems 6 inches to [or] one foot, flexuose at the base, sparingly branched at the base especially and above the nodes patulously and softly villous.

- geniculis caulinis inflatis (DeCandolle), with the cauline [nodes] inflated.

- labellum mobile nunc erectum, nunc ad columnam deflexum, cum producta columnae basi articulatum, supra medium geniculatum, ad geniculum postice appendicula lanceolata praeditum; articulus superior linearis viridis. Geniculum rubro-barbatum (F. Mueller), the labellum varying, sometimes erect, sometimes deflexed to the column, jointed at the base with the elongation of the column, geniculate above the middle, at the geniculum postically provided with a lanceolate appendage; the upper articulation linear, green. The geniculum red-bearded.

- bracteae ad basin et geniculum pedunculi sitae (F. Mueller), the bracts situated at the base and the [geniculum] of the peduncle.

- genicula caulis infima saepius radicantia (F. Mueller), the [lowest] nodes of the stem more often rooting.