Hear, hear,

I bought it, and I love it (as I happen to speak/read and write Dutch.
Thanks Andrew for drawing the attention to this Magnum epos.

Gijs

----------
> Van: Andrew K. Rindsberg <[log in to unmask]>
> Aan: [log in to unmask]
> Onderwerp: FW: Plant name dictionary
> Datum: donderdag 2 november 2000 15:17
>
> Dear Conchlers,
>
> This may be of particular interest to our Dutch friends, or more
generally
> for those who are interested in Latin names and etymology.
>
> Andrew K. Rindsberg
> Geological Survey of Alabama
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Taxacom Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> veldkamp
> Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2000 5:54 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Plant name dictionary
>
>
> Dear Taxacommers,
>
> In view of occasional requests on the meaning of scientific plant names
> some of you might be interested in this dictionary.
> [note that a) it is _NOT_ on the Web, b) I do not get any royalties]
>
> Dr. C.A. Backer, Verklarend woordenboek van wetenschappelijke
plantennamen
> [Explanatory dictionary of scientific plant names]. L.J. Veen, Amsterdam,
> 2000. xxxvi, 664 pp. ISBN 90 204 5846 9. Basic price NGL. 89,95 (c. USD
> 34.50). To be ordered at your local bookstore.
>
> This is a reprint of Backer's monumental 1936 dictionary, regarded by
W.T.
> Stearn in his "Dictionary of plant names for gardeners" (1992) as a
'Dutch
> work of unrivaled scholarship on plant names'. The original text is
> preceded by a brief biography of the author by J.F. Veldkamp, National
> Herbarium of the Netherlands, Leiden.
> To facilitate international scientific, commercial, and legal use plants
> and animals have official names, usually derived from Latin or Greek
roots.
> Unfortunately, many people find these incomprehensible, unpronounceable,
> and therefore useless. This problem inspired the former primary-school
> teacher and grand old man of Indonesian botany, Dr. C.A. Backer, to
compile
> during many decades an immense card index well-researched for the
meaning,
> derivation, and pronunciation of scientific family and generic names of
the
> flowering plants and ferns occurring in SE Asia and W Europe. With his
> usual wry humour he compared the ever growing number of cards to the
> segments of an immense 'Tapeworm'. When in 1936 there were c. 22,500 of
> these 'segments' his friends and colleagues pressured him to have this
> unique database published.
> Few copies were bought in the ensuing years of economic crisis and war
and
> because of the contemporary paper shortage the stock was ordered to be
> pulped. Now, nationally and internationally, the book is much sought
after
> as most of those sold are locked up in academic libraries. Very
> exceptionally, perhaps once in 20--25 years, antiquarians or auction
houses
> have a copy available and it then goes at a formidable high price, NGL
> 1000.00 (c. USD 385.00) has been mentioned.
> There are several similar dictionaries, especially in English and German,
> but none has this size and erudition. Also of note are the author's
> occasional witty to sarcastic circumscriptions. Many plants have been
named
> after discoverers, horticulturists, politicians, and mythological
> characters - for about 2,700 of these Backer provides brief biographies
> with fascinating anecdotes, thereby giving this encyclopaedia an
additional
> attraction. For everyone interested in the names of plants, either as a
> hobby or as a profession, 'Backer' is a gold mine and absolutely
> indispensable. It is nearly worth learning Dutch for.