A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Regma,-atis (s.n.III), abl.sg. regmate: regma, a fruit with elastically dehiscing segments or cocci as in Euphorbia; “a tricoccous fruit like that of Spurges [Euphorbia]. Any such fruit, whether the number of cocci is three or not” (Lindley); “When a capsule consists of three or more carpels, which separate from the axis, and burst with elasticity {cocci), as in Ricinus and Hura crepitans, it has been termed a Regma” (Bentley); “a fruit with elastically opening segments or cocci, as in Euphorbia, a form of schizocarp” (Jackson) > Gk. rhegma,-atos (s.n.III) (rhEgnumi) breakage, fracture, laceration, rupture, a rent, tear, as in clothes, a cleft, chasm; a lesion or rupture of tissue (Liddell & Scott)]; see coccus, mericarp,.

- [Cnidoscolus; Euphorbiaceae] regma (unum tantum visum) glabrum, apiculatum. Calyptra minima, sub regmate inconspicua obtusissime quinquedentata, margine plano vel modice undulato (Casas 2006), the regma (only one seen) glabrous [i.e. hairless], apiculate. The calyptra very small, below the regma inconspicuous, very obtusely 5-dentate, with the margin plane or moderately undulate.

- [Cnidoscolus; Euphorbiaceae] calyptra sub regmate parum evoluta. Discus sub regmate remanens subsessilis, the disc persisting under the regma nearly sessile (Casas 2006), the calyptra under the regma slightly developed.

- [Cnidoscolus; Euphorbiaceae] regma ovoideum, apice excepto setis urticantibus vestitum, horridum, minutissime hirtum (sub lente); stylis remanentibus coronatum; sub maturitate laete viride (Casas 2006), the regma ovoid, clothed except at the apex, with stinging bristles, rough [i.e. with bristles], very minutely (under the lens) hairy, crowned with the persisting styles, at maturity a bright green.

NOTE: not rhegma,-atos (s.n.III), ‘that which is dyed.’

Coccus,-i (s.m.II), q.v., abl. sg. cocco: “When such carpels separate with a certain amount of elasticity from the axis to which they are attached, as in some Euphorbiaceae, they have been called cocci. By some botanists, all carpels which thus separate from the axis in a septicidal manner are termed cocci, and the fruit is described as dicoccous, tricoccous, &c, according to their number.” (Bentley).

Elaterium,-ii (s.n.II), abl. sg. elaterio: “(obsol.) a tricoccous fruit” (Lindley); see regma,-atis (s.n.III).

NOTE: the genus Elaterium, L. “From elater, an impeller; in reference to the elastic seed-vessel. Cucurbitaceae. A singular genus of plants, on account of the elastic seed-vessels"(Paxton).

Schizocarp, a dry, indehiscent fruit splitting into separate one-seeded segments (carpels) at maturity; “a dry compound fruit that splits at maturity into several indehiscent one-seeded carpels” (WIII): schizocarpium,-ii (s.n.II).