A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Aer, gen. sg. aeris (s.m.III), acc. sg. aerem, dat. sg. aeri, abl. sg. aere, nom. & acc. pl. aeres, dat. & acc. pl. aeribus; in both Latin and Greek, the air, as an element; properly the lower air, the atmosphere around us, as opposed to the aether, the upper pure air; “with a limiting adjective = the weather” also cloud, vapor, mist, an ‘atmosphere’ (Lewis & Short) [> Gk. Greek aEr [alpha, eta], f.]; see weather;

NOTE: distinct from the Latin word aes, q.v., gen. sg. aeris (s.n.III): copper. Aes is a neuter noun, aer a masculine one.

- piscari in aere, to fish in the air, to give one’s self useless trouble, to labor in vain (Lewis & Short).

- purus et tenuis aer, pure and thin (i.e. not condensed, overcast) weather.

- aer temperatus (adj.A), temperate weather.

- aer siccus (adj.A), dry weather.

- [Boletus scaber; fungus] pileus opacior dilutiorve, nunc laevis, nunc rugulosus, aere sicco saepe rimoso - tessellatus (S&A), the pileus darker or paler, sometimes smooth, sometimes with little wrinkles, in dry weather, often cracked-tessellate [cracked in a checkered pattern].

- aer pluvius (adj.A), rainy weather;

- [fungi] Var. [vaporaria], statura, forma et colore chocolatino distincta, etiam magis squamosa, in cortice vaporario spontanea provenit, aere pluvio satis frequens (S&A), [variety vaporaria] distinct by the stature, shape and chocolate color, also it is more scaly, it appears spontaneously on vaporarium bark, quite frequent in rainy air [i.e. weather].

- sporis in aerem sublimibus, with spores borne aloft into the air.

- tellus, pontus et aer, the earth, the sea, the air.

- in abiegnis muscosis aere pluvio frequens. Augusto, Septembri (S&A), frequent on mossy fir-wood in rainy weather. In August, September.

- caulibus per radices in aere sublimatis, with the stems elevated into the air by roots.

- [moss] semina luteo viridia, ab accessu aeris siccescentia, brevi fuscum colorem contrahunt (Hedw.), the seeds [i.e. spores] yellow-green, drying out with the approach of the air, short, they occasion a blackish-brown color.

- [moss] semina luteo viridia, ab accessu aeris siccescentia, brevi fuscum colorem contrahunt (Hedw.), the seeds [i.e. spores] yellow-green, drying out with the approach of the air, short, they occasion a blackish-brown color.

- odor aere praesertim humente fungoque hinc [from this cause] laetius vigente teterrimus, an odor most repulsive, especially in damp air, and from this cause the fungus more vigorously growing.

- folia stomatibus convexis cavernisque respiratoriis aere praedita, the leaves provided with convex stomates and respiratory chambers filled with air.

- pulvis farinosus, primo dehiscentiae momento albidus vel tantillum saltem carneus, ad liberum aeris contactum mox intensius incarnascens in roseum denique colorem vergit (S&A), a mealy powder, at the first instant of dehiscence whitish or at least a little bit flesh-colored, at the first touch of free air soon more intensely fleshy and finally it shades into a rose color.

- in [var.] a, lac acerrimum album aeri expositum mox colorem induit pulchelle roseum (S&A), in a [=alpha), a very bitter white latex covers when exposed to the air soon colored a beautiful rose-color.

- Gemmas appello Arborum & Fruticum foetus [nom.pl.] novellos, quos quotannis, ut dixi, aestate pariunt, squammosis tegumentis velut fecundis obvolutos, in quibus per totam 'hyemem latitant,adversus aeris injurias securi (Ray), I call [i.e.designate] the young fetuses the ‘gemmae’ [i.e. ‘buds’] of trees and shrubs, which every year [i.e. annually], as I have said, they bring forth in summer, enveloped by scaley [i.e. ‘large-scaled] integuments just as if fertile, in which they lay secure [i.e. hidden] throughout the entire winter, safe from the adverse injuries of the air [i.e. atmosphere].

- [Conferva] Debet autem, ut colorem & splendorem servet, aqua dulci elui, quod ni fiat, haec aliaeque marinae plantae ob salem humiditatem aéris trahunt & situm contrahunt (Dill.), however, it is necessary, in order that it preserve the color and radiance, to be rinsed with fresh water, because were that not done, these and other marine plants due to the salt [and] humidity of the air, contract and diminish their structure [i.e. situs, original position].

- verum praestantiae hujus coloris officit, quod aëris vicissitudines & solem non bene ferat, quod Theophrastus jam observavit, Plinius vero perperam scripsît, elui non posse (Dill.), nevertheless, reality interferes with the excellence of this color, because it may not well endure the vicissitudes of the air and sun, which Theophrastus already observed, Pliny certainly incorrectly wrote that it was not possible to be rinsed off.

- Sunt mihi specimina serici vario colore purpureo tincta, quae post 15-. jam annos splendorem & colorem servant in charta cum hoc Musco reposita, soli nempe & aëri non exposita (Dill.), I have, among my specimens of silk, those that are tinged with a variegated purple color, which even after 15- years, retain the radiance and color on a sheet of paper preserved with this Muscus [i.e. Coralloides], that is, not having been exposed to the sun and air. [Note: the species of Coralloides = Roccella tinctoria DC. = Lecanora tinctoria (DC.) Czerwiak; Roccells tinctoria = source of litmus dye, turning red or blue under acidic and basic conditions respectively].

- seminula tecta adhuc operculo virent; accedente demum liberiori aere sensim sensimque luteolo fuscidulum indipiscuntur colorem (Hedw.), the seminula [i.e. spores] as yet covered with an operculum are green; when finally coming near to the freer air, step by step [i.e. gradually and gradually] they acquire a yellowish-, blackish-brown color.

- semina perquam exigua flavescentia, vel corruptis demum thecae membranis, vel integra hac de suo pedunculo decedente e foramine inferne sic facto, liberioris aeris commotionibus patent (Hedw.), the seeds [i.e. the spores], extremely small, yellowish, either when finally the membrane of the theca is broken, or when entire [i.e. intact], in this place, falling away from its own peduncle [i.e. seta], from an opening thus made below, they stand exposed to the commotions [i.e. agitations] of a freer air.

aer (s.m.III) liber, gen.sg. aeris libri, abl. sg. aere libro, the free air, i.e. air not restrained by boundaries; air, e.g. surrounding a substance, such as spores, confined in a capsule or other structure, bound by the capsule walls, usually liberated when the capsule disintegrates, is ruptured, or a lid or cap is removed. NOTE: use of the comparative liberior,-ius (adj.B) > liber, libera, liberum (adj.A), q.v.