Volubilis

From Simon Online
Jump to: navigation, search

Volubilis multas habet species secundum quod hoc nomen multis plantis attribuitur, nam large sumptum pro omni planta circumvolvitur cuicumque arbori dici potest ut etiam de edera, arabes dicunt lebleb de qua supra.


Apparatus:

multas (hʒ A f) habet AC | ml'tas hēt B | habet multas e

secundum quod AC f | secũdũ quod B | set e

attribuitur A f | atribuitur C | atribuit~ B | attribuit~ or actribuit~ e

planta C | plãta A | planta (plãta B) que B e f

dici potest C | dici pōt AB | pōt dici e

vt etiam de C | vt ēt d' A | ut et de B | ut etiã de e | ut eciam edera (om. de) f


Translation:

Volubilis includes many different kinds and therefore this name is given to many plants, in a broad sense this name can be used for any plant that is wound around whatever tree, also for edera {"ivy"}. The Arabs call it lebleb for which see the entry Lebleb above.


Commentary:

Latin volubilis, derived from volvo {"to turn"}, means basically "that is turned round or (more freq.) that turns itself round, turning, spinning, whirling, circling, rolling, revolving" according to Lewis & Short. However, in Medieval Latin it gained the additional meaning: "climbing plant", see Botanical identification.


Botanical identification:

"M{edieval}L{atin} volubilis was used narrowly to designate bindweed of various kinds and broadly to include certain other unrelated climbing vines. Volubilis used as a term for the bindweeds, designated certain species of Convolvulus and Calestygia... The species most clearly distinguished are (1) volubilis maior. probably greater bindweed (Calystegia sepium R. Brown, and (2) volubilis minor, probably common bindweed Convolvulus arvensis L." … From: McVaugh & Ogden (1997: 86).

(1997: 87): "ML volubilis, used broadly, included climbing vines unrelated to the bindweeds. Simon of Genua defined volubilis in this sense as designating any climbing vine, including ivy … Among the vines designated by volubilis in this sense are ivy ... and honeysuckle."

WilfGunther 05/03/13

See also: Lebleb

Next entry