A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Tabes,-is (s.f.III, i-stem), abl.sg. tabe, gen. pl. tabium: a wasting away, putrefaction, melting, a plague, pestilence, moisture arising from melting or decay, corruption; “a [wasting] disease which consists in a gradual decay of the power of growth” (Lindley); “a disease, the loss of the power of growth and consequent wasting away” (Jackson); syn. lues, gen. sg. luis (s.f.III), q.v.; see blight, disease;

- tabem brunneam cubiformem efficiens, causing a brown, cubiform putrescence.

- pinis per tabem Albuginis canadidae (Hook.) O. Kuntze consumptis, with pines consumed by a pestilence of Albugo candida.

- plantae per tabem Ophioboli graminis (Sacc.) Sacc. consumptae, plants by the disease of Ophiobolus graminis wasted.

Note: a dry decay, see caries,-ei (s.f.V); see rot.

“Tabes, or the consumption [i.e. wasting disease] of a plant, is frequent ly a consequence of the already mentioned diseases, or those which we have still to explain. It may however also originate from sterile, or improper soil, unfavourable climate, aukward transplanting, exhaustion of strength from too frequent flowering, insects, ulceration, &c. The whole plant gradually begins to decline, and dries up. As soon as this disease really appears, help is rarely possible.”(Willdenow).