Talk:Cynodon dactylon

Gender

Any idea why this masculine binominal has a specific epithet that looks neuter? @Chuck Entz, DCDuring? — I.S.M.E.T.A. 22:46, 6 December 2015 (UTC)

@Chuck Entz, DCDuring: Has this anything to do with its basionym, Panicum dactylon? — I.S.M.E.T.A. 02:57, 9 December 2015 (UTC)

Probably. You can certainly find usage of "Cynodon dactylos". I haven't read through the botanical code, but I was under the impression that agreement should be with the current generic name, not that of the basionym. It wouldn't surprise me, though, if common practice were to ignore the rules- I've seen it in animal names, where I know that agreement with the current generic name is explicitly required by the code. The other possibility would be dactylon as a genitive plural: "of fingers". If that's the case, then the specific epithet would agree with the referent- but genitive plurals of all genders are the same, anyway. Chuck Entz (talk) 03:27, 9 December 2015 (UTC)

after e/c: Both dactylus and δάκτυλος (dáktulos) are masculine nouns; I found no corresponding adjective with the same spelling. Chuck might know of a rule or practice about inheritance from the basionym. I looked at the subordinate taxa to confirm the masculine gender-in-practice of Cynodon, which AFAICT is an adjective in Latin that doesn't inflect for gender. DCDuring TALK 03:37, 9 December 2015 (UTC)

@Chuck Entz, DCDuring: I've added an epicycle to my theory: Might the dactylon of Cynodon dactylon in fact derive from the generic name Dactylon in Dactylon officinale, which itself derives from the specific epithet dactylon in the other synonyms of Cynodon dactylon, viz. Digitaria dactylon, Panicum dactylon, and Paspalum dactylon? — I.S.M.E.T.A. 02:31, 1 February 2016 (UTC)

Two problems with that: the basionym for Cynodon dactylon is Panicum dactylon, which was published by Linnaeus in the Species plantarum, 1753 edition. Cynodon dactylon is just the reassignment of Panicum dactylon to a new genus. The second is that Dactylon officinale doesn't exist: the species was published as Dactilon officinale (decades after the basionym). Looking at the Species plantarum reference, it cites pre-Linnaean names such as Gramen dactylon folio arundinaceo, majus aculeatum in the Pinax theatri botanici of w:Gaspard Bauhin (here, lower right-hand corner), so that takes it back to at least 1623. Chuck Entz (talk) 03:33, 1 February 2016 (UTC)

The Plant List shows, among many others, the following two synonyms for C. dactylon:

• Dactilon officinale Vill. [Illegitimate] Synonym H WCSP 2012-03-23
• Dactylus officinalis Asch. [Invalid] Synonym H WCSP 2012-03-23

Dactylon officinale is not there, nor at Tropics. Chuck's research is deeper, but it useful to know that these two databases have come the same conclusion as Chuck. DCDuring TALK 03:46, 1 February 2016 (UTC)

Actually, I based my statement about Dactylon officinale solely on TROPICOS, which is pretty comprehensive when it comes to what names have been published. It's only on the pre-Linnaean stuff that I went further afield. Chuck Entz (talk) 04:14, 1 February 2016 (UTC) — IFYPFY. — I.S.M.E.T.A. 10:13, 1 February 2016 (UTC)

@Chuck Entz, DCDuring: So much for that idea, then! Thank you both for your superior expertise. Is what I've written at Dactylon officinale and/or Dactilon officinale incorrect? I will gainsay one thing, however: Dactylon officinale does exist, at least as some kind of term: google books:"Dactylon officinale". — I.S.M.E.T.A. 10:12, 1 February 2016 (UTC)