444 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



Dioicus-a-um. Unisexual. The two sexes on different plants. Gr. d/-, 6ig^ 



twice, -jr oiKog^ a house. 

 Dioscorea. Yam. Dedicated to the Greek naturalist, Dioscorides. 

 Diospyros. Persimmon. From Gr. A/df, of Jupiter, -f Trvpdf, grain. 

 Diphyllus-a-um. Having two leaves. Gr. di-^ f5/V, twice, + <pvl7,ov^ a leaf. 

 Dipsacus. Teasel. The classical name. Probably from 6iypa^ thirst, be- 

 cause the united cup-shaped bases of the leaves of some species hold 



water. 

 Dirca. Leatherwood. !Moosewood. Name of uncertain origin. 

 Domesticus-a-um. Domestic, common. 

 Domingensis-e. Of Santo Domingo. 



Dorema. Ammoniac plant. From Gr. (5a)/>///za, a gift, benefit. 

 Dorstenia. Contrayerva. Named for T. Dorsten, German botanist, six-* 



teenth century. 

 Drosera. Sundew. From Gr. ('i/joaefjog^ dewy. The glands of the leaves 



exude drops of a clear glutinous fluid, which glitter like dewdrops. 

 Dryopteris. Greek name of a fern growing on oaks. From Suvg^ oak, + 



iT-epig, a fern. 

 Dulcamara. Bittersweet. From Lat. diilcis, sweet, + amanis, bitter. 

 Dulcis-e. Sweet. 

 Dysentericus-a-um. Pertaining to dysentery, dysenteric. Gr. SvaevrepiKSg, 



afflicted with dysentery. 

 Ebenaceae. Ebony family. From Gr. kjievog^ Lat. ehenns, ebony. 

 Ecballium. Squirting cucumber^ From Gr. Ik^ out of, -\- /3d/lAw, to throw. 

 Elasticus-a-um. Elastic, gummy. Probably formed from Gr.f/ai^j^tj, to drive. 

 Elaterium. Classic name for a medicine prepared from the juice of the 



wild cucumber. From Gr. klavvu^ to drive away. 

 Eleocharis. Spike rush. From Gr. eAog^ a marsh, + x^P^^, grace ; being 



marsh plants. 

 Elettaria. Cardamom. From clettari, native name of plant in Malabar. 

 Eleuteria. From Eleuthera, one of the Bahama Islands. 

 Epigaea. Ground laurel. Trailing arbutus. From Gr. irr/, upon, -|- >//, 



earth, in reference to its trailing growth. 

 Equisetacese. Horsetail family. Ancient Latin name equiscrtum (equi- 



seta), the plant horsetail. 

 Equisetum. Horsetail. Ancient Latin name. Derived from equus, horse, 



+ scpta (seta), a bristle. 

 Erectus-a-um. Upright, elevated, lofty. 

 Ergota. Ergot. From French ergot, a spur. 

 Ericaceae. Heath family. From Gr. IpetKij^ heath, heather. 

 Erigeron. Fleabane. Ancient Greek name of a groundsel, probably 



Senecio vulgaris. From 7/p<, early, -f- yipui>^ old man, from the hoary 



appearance of some vernal species. 

 Eriodictyon. From Gr. epiov^ wool, + dlnTvov^ a net ; in allusion to the 



woolly, net-veined leaves. 



