Mundartliche Pflanzennamen im Ostfränkischen

• Published in: Zeitschrift für Mundartforschung 1964-02, Vol.30 (3), p.275-285
• Main Author: Marzell, Heinrich
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• ISSN: 0932-3988

The author, a botanist, collected a large number of East-Franconian dialect names for plants and flowers between 1909 and 1950 (approx.). Those not to be found in the sparse literature on the subject were obtained from informants, mostly village school-teachers. Various factors in the formation of dialect names for plants etc. are mentioned, such as outward appearance, which may (with a little imagination) resemble some other object. Such is the case with soft hairy plants, which are often called "cat's paws", — for example: Antennaria dioica, in English also called "cat's foot". Colour is a very common factor, as is also the time when the flowers appear; thus many spring flowers incorporate "cuckoo" into their name. The games that children play with the leaves or blooms are often responsible for the dialect name, or the use to which the plant can be put, especially as a remedy, or again the result if it is touched, eaten or smelt. A further source for the dialect name is Latin. The Latin name is heard, and then explained and interpreted by folk-etymology. Finally, names are mentioned for which no satisfactory explanation can be given. Many of the names are dying out as a result of more intensive and mechanized farming, and also because herbs are being used less and less for medicinal purposes.