A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Pith, “the spongy center of an exogenous stem, chiefly consisting of parenchyma” (Fernald 1950); “a usually continuous central strand of predominantly parenchymatous tissue that occurs in the stems of most vascular plants and some roots as part of the primary tissue system, is typically surrounded by vascular tissue; a slender soft core at the center of the heartwood of many logs consisting of the dried remains of the pith; the soft or spongy interior of a part of the body” (WIII): medulla,-ae (s.f.I), abl.sg. medulla; see medulla,-ae (s.f.I);

- medulla continua, with the pith continuous, i.e. solid.

- medulla diaphragmatica, with the pith diaphragmed [i.e. with dividing membranes].

- hyphae vegetativae in interstitiis inter cellulas vaginae foliaris et medulla caulis reproductivi et testa seminum intima inventae, vegetative hyphae found in the interstices within cells of the leaf sheath and the pith of the reproductive stem and the innermost seed coat.

Albedo, -inis (s.f.III), abl. sg. albedine: the middle layer of the pericarp of the hesperidium, consisting of a spongy flesh, commonly called the ‘pith,’ or albedo; see hesperidium; see -edo,-inis (s.f.III).

pith-, pitho-: in Gk. comp. of or relating to apes, monkeys; [> Gk. pithEkos (s.m.II), ‘an ape, monkey’]; see monkey.

Pithecoctenium 'monkey's comb;' > Gk. pithEkos, ape, monkey + ctenion, comb “in allusion to the spiny fruits. Bignoniaceae” (Stearn 1996); Pithecellobium (s.n.II) > Gk. pithEkos, ape, monkey + ellobion, an ear-ring; “the name of this genus was originally published as Pithecollobium then amended to Pittecellobium. The Brazilian name, Brincos de Sahoy, means monkey’s ear-ring. Leguminosae” (Stearn 1996).