CactiGuide.com

Hi all,

I stumbled upon the following explanation of the name Turbinicarpus here on Cactiguide (http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Turbinicarpus).

From the Latin turbinatus meaning top-shaped and the Greek carpos meaning body - a reference to the top-shaped growth of the stems.

I think there's an error in this description, and "carpos" does *not* mean body, but means "fruit". So it's top-shaped fruit rather than top-shaped body. Am I wrong?

No you are correct Armen, carpos means fruit, as in Ariocarpus:-

"Ariocarpus" is derived from the Greek Aria meaning "Sorb" (Sorbus aria – Rosaceae - is the white-beam tree) and the Greek word karpos meaning "fruit". The Genus name implies: "fruit similar in appearance to that of the white-beam"

Also Yavia cryptocarpa means "hidden fruit"

"crypto- before vowels crypt-, word-forming element meaning "secret" or "hidden"

http://lophophora.blogspot.co.uk/2009/0 ... tures.html

In my book "What does that name mean?" (translated from Dutch), a Succulenta book aimed at Botanical names for succulents, it says it means it is shaped like a 'draaitol' in Dutch, shaped like a spinning top in English.

Yes that refers to the fruit though (carpus) and not the plant as Armen pointed out.

As you say Aiko:-

"turbinate = top shaped; inversely conic."

Presumably it would have been "Turbiniformis" if it referred to the plant.

The explanation does not define it being the fruit or the plant body. But likely indeed it would refer to the fruit. But looking at the fruits I guess that name would be applicable to more succulents...

I am greek, so, yes, carpus in the botanical name refers to the fruit. Exactly as DaveW explained, the greek word for fruit is Karpos.

Yes Botanical Latin is actually a mixture of Greek and Latin terms, some of which the Roman's adopted.

See:-

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