A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

pygmaeus,-a,-um: pygmy, dwarf; an animal or plant much below the normal size of its species or kind; Pygmaean; “pygmy; the Pygmies to the Ancient Greeks and Romans were an African tribe of dwarfs reputedly at war with the cranes” (Stearn 1996) [> L. Pygmaei,-orum (pl.m.II) = Gk. pygmaioi, (“Fistlings, Tom Thumbs) “the Pygmies, a fabulous dwarfish race of antiquity, especially in Africa; at war with the cranes by whom they were constantly defeated” (Lewis & Short)]; see nanus,-a,-um (adj.A); see dwarf; see pumilus,-a,-um (adj.A); see small

- [moss] omnium congenerum humillimum, pygmaeum, Orthodontium verum et distinctissimum exiguitate, (C. Mueller), the smallest of all its congeners, a pygmy, a true Orthodontium and very distinct by its smallness.

- Fissidens curvatus, dioicus, pygmaeus simplex vel basi innovando - assurgens rufus(C. Mueller), dioicous, dwarf [i.e. smaller than usual for the genus], unbranched or at the base renewing-growth-ascending [i.e. new growth ascending], reddish.

- Grimmia pygmaeus, “laxiuscule pulvinata humillima” (C. Mueller), somewhat loosely pulvinate, extremely low-growing.

- [moss] formis pygmaeis gracillimis Gr. protensae similis (C. Mueller), with pygmy forms, very slender, similar to Grimmia protensa.

- [Hieracium pumilum] CREPIS pygmaea, annuente Cel. Gouan illustr.p.57., & omnino couveniunt (Swartz), H. pumilum is Crepis pygmaea, indicating the eminent Goan’s illustration on page 57, and completely corresponding to it.

- [Asplenium pygmaeum] Delendum. Est planta junior ex Asplenio dentato (Swartz), to be abolished. It is a younger plant of Asplenium dentatum.

- [Calandrinia pygmaea] herbula pinguis, circum stagna exarescentia interdum gregaria (F. Mueller), a plump little herb, sometimes gregarious around dried up pools.

- herba pygmaea, flores minimi lutei (DeCandolle), a dwarfed herb, the flowers tiny, yellow.

Delphinium pumilum = Delphinium pygmaeum (DeCandolle).

Calandrinia pygmaea “Annua, perminuta, glabra” (F. Mueller), an annual, extremely tiny, glabrous [sc. species]; Drosera pygmaea; Ranunculus pygmaeus; Schwetschkea pygmaea.

Fissidens pygmaeus, Grimmia pygmaeus [mosses]; Lichinia pygmaea [lichen]; Fucus pygmaeus, Chondrus pygmaeus

Pygmea,-ae (s.f.I): “a genus of dwarf plants so-names from their habit of growth. Scrophulariaceae” (Stearn 1996).