- IPNI Life Sciences Identifier (LSID)
- urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:399655-1
- Publication
- Hortus Regius Botanicus Berolinensis descriptus
- Collation
- 2: 209
- Date of Publication
- Jul-Dec 1833
- Family as entered in IPNI
- Poaceae
Nomenclatural Notes
as 'colona'
Remarks
There has been some discussion regarding whether the epithet 'colonum' that Linnaeus used in the basionym Panicum colonum, is a noun or an adjective. Nicolson (in Taxon 35: 324. 1986) discusses the gender of the epithet 'colonum' as, in some detail, does Ward (in Sida 21: 2171-2183. 2005). The latter concludes that the word, from the Latin 'colonus' is a noun (in the accusative singular) meaning 'farm-worker' or 'farmer'. Plukenet (in Phytographia, 1692) used the term 'Pestis Coloni' or 'plague of the farmer'. The contrary view, that the epithet is an adjective meaning 'fit to be tilled', is argued by Michael (in Taxon 58: 1366-1368. 2009). In IPNI the epithet is treated as a noun as this fits more closely with Plukenet's original descriptive term. The epithet is not, therefore, declinable.