A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

rhabdo-: in Gk. comp. pertaining to a fluted column, as in Rhabdoweisia,-ae (s.f.I), “= like the moss genus Weissia but for the striated or fluted capsule” [> Gk. rhabdos (s.F.I), a rod, stick, switch, wand; = Lat. virga,-ae (s.f.I), q.v.; a magic wand “as that of Circe or Hermes;” a fishing rod; a ferule. Note that rhabdOsis (s.f.III) refers to the fluting of columns (Liddell & Scott); see rod.

Latin: rhabdos,-i (s.f.II) = Gk. rhabdos (a rod), a sort of meteor” (Lewis & Short)

[> Gk. rhabdos (s.f.), rod, wand “lighter than the BaktEria, or walking-stick”, but can also = the BaktEria; a magic wand (as that of Circe); a divining-rod; fishing-rod; limed twig, for catching small birds; the shaft of a hunting spear; the young shoot of some trees (Liddell & Scott); perhaps cf. rhabdoeidEs,-es, striped, barred, streaked, striated].

Rhabdus,-i (s.m.II): “the stipe of certain Fungals” (Lindley); considered ‘obsolete’ by Jackson) [> Gk. rhabdos, a staff].

(moss) Encalypta rhaptocarpa Schwaegr., a plant distinctive for its straight-ribbed capsules. The general use of the name E. rhabdocapa, in reference to the striped and fluted capsules, is an unwarranted correction of E. rhaptocarpa, which connotes (less aptly perhaps) a seamed and therefore ribbed or fluted, capsule. The spelling on Schwegrichen’s specimens and in his description is rhaptocarpa” (C&A); cf. rhaptos,-on (Gk. adj.), stitched, patched, sewn together, stitched > rhaptO, sew together, stitch.