Alani Davis mentions Roland Wilbur Brown's Composition of Scientific Words. In fact, Alani, I consulted Brown on this issue. I found his take on the word useful in getting me started, but to learn more I went to the Latin dictionaries and Greek lexicons. That's where I learned that the word had at one time a definite meaning, and it did not mean autumnal. Alani, how did you learn of Brown's work? I've had it for maybe forty years - a taxonomist/mentor introduced it to me when I was still a teenager. It's been a close companion since. Now if I could just find something to help me with Rafinesque's crazy names... Jim McKenney jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where Oxalis depressa is blooming. My Virtual Maryland Garden http://www.jimmckenney.com/ BLOG! http://mcwort.blogspot.com/ Webmaster Potomac Valley Chapter, NARGS Editor PVC Bulletin http://www.pvcnargs.org/ Webmaster Potomac Lily Society http://www.potomaclilysociety.org/