The entries in this wildflower dictionary of the names of plants of Texas and the Southern Plains are arranged in alphabetical order according to scientific name. An index of common names allows one to find a plant\u27s entry easily if only the common name is known. Derivations of scientific names, including both generic names and specific epithets, are provided. Typically the scientific binomial is translated from its Latinized form, the original language(s) of the root words is given, and the derivation is explained. Likewise, there are explanations for the origins of common names

Diggs, Jr., George M.

English

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and 
Social Sciences Great Plains Studies, Center for 
Fall 2006 
Book Review of A Dictionary of Common Wildflowers of Texas 
and the Southern Great Plains by Joel E. Holloway 
George M. Diggs, Jr. 
Department of Biology, Austin College 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch 
 Part of the Other International and Area Studies Commons 
Diggs, Jr., George M., "Book Review of A Dictionary of Common Wildflowers of Texas and the Southern 
Great Plains by Joel E. Holloway" (2006). Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social 
Sciences. 857. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch/857 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Plains Studies, Center for at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Research: A 
Journal of Natural and Social Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - 
Lincoln. 
214 
A Dictionary of Common Wildflowers of Texas and the 
Southern Great Plains. By Joel E. Holloway. Edited by 
Amanda Neill. Fort Worth : TCU Press , 2005. 178 pp. 
Illustrations, bibliography, index of common names. 
$29.95 paper. 
The entries in this wildflower dictionary of the names 
of plants of Texas and the Southern Plains are arranged 
in alphabetical order according to scientific name. An 
index of common names allows one to find a plant's entry 
easily if only the common name is known. Derivations 
of scientific names, including both generic names and 
specific epithets, are provided. Typically the scientific bi-
nomial is translated from its Latinized form, the original 
language(s) of the root words is given, and the derivation 
is explained. Likewise, there are explanations for the ori-
gins of common names. Here is a typical entry: 
Engelmannia peristenia 
Engelmann Daisy 
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Engelmannia , for 
George Engelmann (1809-1884) , a German-
born American physician and botanist + (plus) 
peristenia, extra bands, from Greek, 1tEPtO'O'O, 
perisso, over and above and 'tEVHX, tenia, band, 
ribbon, for the featherlike leaves. 
COMMON NAME: Engelmann, same as genus 
name. Daisy, from Anglo-Saxon, daeges-eage, 
day's eye, daisy, for the eyelike appearance and 
the opening of the rays in the morning. 
A few illustrations are included, but, given the limited 
number, their main usefulness is in breaking up what 
would otherwise be continuous text entries. According 
to its introduction, the volume is "intended to function 
chiefly as a companion resource to the field guides of com-
mon flowers of Texas and the southern Great Plains." In-
deed, this seems to be the book's most important use, not 
as text to be read. The name derivations and explanations 
seem carefully done and will be a source of satisfaction 
to those wishing to understand the origins of plant names. 
The most important drawback is that a relatively small 
percentage of the region's plants are treated. Texas has 
roughly 5,000 vascular plant species, and the Great Plains 
has slightly more than 3,000 taxa; the approximately 1,100 
plants covered are thus a relatively small part of the flora. 
Nonetheless, for individuals interested in understanding 
the origins of plant names, this dictionary will be an easily 
accessible and worthwhile source. George M. Diggs, Jr., 
Department of Biology, Austin College. 
Great Plains Research Vol. 16 No.2, 2006 
Published in GREAT PLAINS RESEARCH 16:2 (Fall 2006).
Copyright © 2006 Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln.


Book Review of \u3ci\u3e A Dictionary of Common Wildflowers of Texas and the Southern Great Plains\u3c/i\u3e by Joel E. Holloway

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences Great Plains Studies, Center for Fall 2006 Book Review of A Dictionary of Common Wildflowers of Texas and the Southern Great Plains by Joel E. Holloway George M. Diggs, Jr. Department of Biology, Austin College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch  Part of the Other International and Area Studies Commons Diggs, Jr., George M., "Book Review of A Dictionary of Common Wildflowers of Texas and the Southern Great Plains by Joel E. Holloway" (2006). Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences. 857. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch/857 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Plains Studies, Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 214 A Dictionary of Common Wildflowers of Texas and the Southern Great Plains. By Joel E. Holloway. Edited by Amanda Neill. Fort Worth : TCU Press , 2005. 178 pp. Illustrations, bibliography, index of common names. $29.95 paper. The entries in this wildflower dictionary of the names of plants of Texas and the Southern Plains are arranged in alphabetical order according to scientific name. An index of common names allows one to find a plant's entry easily if only the common name is known. Derivations of scientific names, including both generic names and specific epithets, are provided. Typically the scientific bi-nomial is translated from its Latinized form, the original language(s) of the root words is given, and the derivation is explained. Likewise, there are explanations for the ori-gins of common names. Here is a typical entry: Engelmannia peristenia Engelmann Daisy SCIENTIFIC NAME: Engelmannia , for George Engelmann (1809-1884) , a German-born American physician and botanist + (plus) peristenia, extra bands, from Greek, 1tEPtO'O'O, perisso, over and above and 'tEVHX, tenia, band, ribbon, for the featherlike leaves. COMMON NAME: Engelmann, same as genus name. Daisy, from Anglo-Saxon, daeges-eage, day's eye, daisy, for the eyelike appearance and the opening of the rays in the morning. A few illustrations are included, but, given the limited number, their main usefulness is in breaking up what would otherwise be continuous text entries. According to its introduction, the volume is "intended to function chiefly as a companion resource to the field guides of com-mon flowers of Texas and the southern Great Plains." In-deed, this seems to be the book's most important use, not as text to be read. The name derivations and explanations seem carefully done and will be a source of satisfaction to those wishing to understand the origins of plant names. The most important drawback is that a relatively small percentage of the region's plants are treated. Texas has roughly 5,000 vascular plant species, and the Great Plains has slightly more than 3,000 taxa; the approximately 1,100 plants covered are thus a relatively small part of the flora. Nonetheless, for individuals interested in understanding the origins of plant names, this dictionary will be an easily accessible and worthwhile source. George M. Diggs, Jr., Department of Biology, Austin College. Great Plains Research Vol. 16 No.2, 2006 Published in GREAT PLAINS RESEARCH 16:2 (Fall 2006).Copyright © 2006 Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1846&amp;context=greatplainsresearch

Book Review of \u3ci\u3e A Dictionary of Common Wildflowers of Texas and the Southern Great Plains\u3c/i\u3e by Joel E. Holloway

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

UNL | Libraries

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska