Tuber vs. Corm and how about pronunciation?

From: Jmh98law at aol.com on 1999.01.13 at 01:28:57(2884) Yes, I would like to see this discussion again, especially with respect to Arisaema, from my garden's point of view. The PhD botanist from whom I get my Chinese and Japanese Arisaema (name withheld for obvious reasons) calls what he sends me "bulbs". [For that matter, he pronounces Arisaema "Air iss(accent) i ma" When I studied Latin in another life and a long time ago, the "ae" was pronouced as "ee" [as in seek], which would make it "Air i see(accent) ma". Any opinions out there on the proper pronunciation? In the new book "My Favorite Plant", Ken Druse says Arisaema grow from "tubers". What do you think? Jeanne +More Zone 5b

From: grsjr at juno.com (George R Stilwell, Jr.) on 1999.01.13 at 15:24:05(2891) Jeanne, In the AEG (Arisaema Enthusiasts Group) discussion list, Arisaema-L, the subject was discussed +More in depth (you might even say, beat to death) and tuber was the final consensus. As for pronunciation, the latter "Ar-i-se'-ma" accent on the "se" and "e" sounding as "ee" is correct according to the "New Pronouncing Dictionary of Plant Names". The "Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants" (Steven M. Still) agrees. Still, we too find a few members using the other pronunciation. I think it's a Canadian thing. Ray ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

From: Lewandjim at aol.com on 1999.01.13 at 15:50:22(2892) In a message dated 1/12/99 8:17:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, Jmh98law@aol.com writes: << Yes, I would like to see this discussion again, especially with respect to +More Arisaema, from my garden's point of view. The PhD botanist from whom I get my Chinese and Japanese Arisaema (name withheld for obvious reasons) calls what he sends me "bulbs". [For that matter, he pronounces Arisaema "Air iss(accent) i ma" When I studied Latin in another life and a long time ago, the "ae" was pronouced as "ee" [as in seek], which would make it "Air i see(accent) ma". Any opinions out there on the proper pronunciation?>> Pronunciations, especially regarding syllabic emphasis, are not a given. Several schools of thought exist - NONE NECESSARILY MORE CORRECT! I was taught that in classical Latin, no vowel takes its own long sound - so if you are a Latin purist, you have some guidance. But dipthongs such as "ae', "oe" and others create a nest of worms! and then you have those who insist on Anglicized or Americanized pronunciations! None are "more" correct. It is more important that your own usage is consistent and not a pastiche of intermingled "schools". As to the decision as to which syllable gets the emphasis, again there are only guidelines since not every "school" breaks the syllables by the same rules. Usually for words with three syllables or fewer - the emphasis is on the penultimate syllable (the next to last). If there are more than three syllables, the emphasis is usually on the antepenultimate syllable (the one before the "next to last"). Thus I personally favor "Ary-SEE'-muh" but I think a strong case could be made for "Air-E'-see-muh". I don't want to tackle sorting out tubers versus corms - but I think no authority could defend Arisaema being "bulbs". Jim Langhammer

From: Rand Nicholson <writserv at nbnet.nb.ca> on 1999.01.13 at 21:33:32(2895) >Jeanne, > >In the AEG (Arisaema Enthusiasts Group) discussion list, Arisaema-L, the >subject was discussed >in depth (you might even say, beat to death) and tuber was the final >consensus. > >As for pronunciation, the latter "Ar-i-se'-ma" accent on the "se" and "e" >sounding as "ee" is correct according to the "New Pronouncing Dictionary >of Plant Names". The "Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants" (Steven M. >Still) agrees. >Still, we too find a few members using the other pronunciation. I think >it's a Canadian thing. > >Ray > Yeah, yeah. Blame it on the Canadians, Ray. Beat up our poor Loony AND it's like we make snow up here out of spite, every time we watch a Yank weather report. Well ..., maybe we do, maybe we don't ... You'll never beat our beer, though! Rand +More Rand Nicholson New Brunswick The Great White (Zone 5-ish, maybe)

From: Ellen Hornig <hornig at Oswego.EDU> on 1999.01.14 at 02:29:16(2896) On Wed, 13 Jan 1999, Rand Nicholson wrote: > > Yeah, yeah. Blame it on the Canadians, Ray. Beat up our poor Loony AND it's > like we make snow up here out of spite, every time we watch a Yank weather > report. Well ..., maybe we do, maybe we don't ... > > You'll never beat our beer, though! > Touchy, touchy! and where else did these two or three feet of snow that I'm currently enjoying come from, Rand? And what about these frigid winds blowing in from the northwest, in which direction, I believe, lie the Canadian prairies??? +More Lord....feel grateful that at least we *notice* you people from time to time. No contest on the beer. Ellen (who is, I hope it is clear, kidding around) :-)

From: Rand Nicholson <writserv at nbnet.nb.ca> on 1999.01.14 at 18:56:48(2898) >On Wed, 13 Jan 1999, Rand Nicholson wrote: >> >> Yeah, yeah. Blame it on the Canadians, Ray. Beat up our poor Loony AND it's +More >> like we make snow up here out of spite, every time we watch a Yank weather >> report. Well ..., maybe we do, maybe we don't ... >> >> You'll never beat our beer, though! Ellen Hornig is rumoured to have replied: >Touchy, touchy! and where else did these two or three feet of snow that >I'm currently enjoying come from, Rand? And what about these frigid >winds blowing in from the northwest, in which direction, I believe, lie >the Canadian prairies??? We send down all the snow and wind we get from Siberian Russia to you guys after we have used it for a while. Though you would appreciate a change. And don't forget about your gardens that need a good winter's snow cover! See? We're just being nice, eh? >Lord....feel grateful that at least we *notice* you people from time to >time. Something we generally try to avoid as landlords of New York and especially Manhatten. If you don't straighten out on the softwood, wheat and West Coast salmon business, we're gonna cut off your supply of Canadian back bacon. AND the moose lips and beaver bums that go into the making of your hot dogs. >No contest on the beer. Got a 2-4 of Mooshead Dry with your name on it next time you make a snowmobile run across the border with an insulpak of Arisaema tubers. >Ellen (who is, I hope it is clear, kidding around) :-) Not bad, for an Economist. :) Kind Regards, Rand

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