A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Lacrima,-ae (s.f.I), lachrima,-ae (s.f.I), lacryma,-ae (s.f.I), lachryma,-ae (s.f.I): tear-drop; “a drop of gum or resin exuded from a tree” (Jackson); the exudation from certain plants, 'amber;' = dacrima,-ae (s.f.I), abl. sg. dacrima, a tear (drop), fluid from the eye; = Gk. dacry,-yos (s.n.III), or dacryon (s.n.II), a tear; a drop, as of gum or resin [> L. lacrima,-ae (s.f.I), a tear (usu. in pl.): weeping, shedding tears; exudation of juice, sap, resin or gum from plants; also, of quicksilver from mineral ore]; see exsudatum,-i (s.n.II); see ‘drop;’ see exsudatum,-i (s.n.II); see ‘drop;’

- lacryma Jobi, tear of Job, “Specific epithet of a plant in the genus Coix. The edible seeds form a dirty-white beadlike structure. (‘My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death.’ Job 16:16.)” (Stearn 1996).

- Tragacantha est lachryma herbae lignosae et spinosae, cuius radix incisa hanc ipsam lachrymam copiose emittit (Galen in Everett), Tragacanth is an exudate [i.e. tear, gum, resin] of woody and spinose herbs [i.e. shrubs], the root of which when cut copiously releases this very gum.

Gutta,-ae (s.f.I), abl. sg. gutta: a drop of fluid, oil-droplet.

Stilla,-ae (s.f.I), abl. sg. stilla, a drop, referring to a dense, viscous, gummy, fatty drop; whereas gutta was a natural, liquid drop; at a later time, both words [ i.e. lacrima,-ae (s.f.I)] were synonymous (Lewis & Short).

NOTE: (as lachryma,-ae (s.f.I) “Lachryma is that liquid which is seen exuding rapidly as soon as a root or branch or even the wood itself is broken” (FUCHS in Choate).