Is there any reason why some well-known plant names, especially tree names, are feminine, but 2nd declension? (now interested in classical, not scientific ones). For example:
asked Sep 6, 2021 at 13:10
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1You might find this useful latin.stackexchange.com/q/7353/39– Alex B.Commented Sep 6, 2021 at 15:47
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1and you might learn something from latin.stackexchange.com/a/7017/39– Alex B.Commented Sep 6, 2021 at 15:57
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4I hope someone else will answer this very interesting question. Meanwhile, a somewhat cryptic note from Weiss 2020, "In Greek and Latin, tree and plant names are regularly feminine, probably preserving an old pattern" (p. 243).– Alex B.Commented Sep 6, 2021 at 19:02
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2@AlexB. it doesn't seem like this question is going to get an answer :( Do you think you could post one based on the points you've made above?– double-beepCommented Dec 28, 2021 at 11:13
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1Also see latin.stackexchange.com/q/10939/39– Alex B.Commented Dec 29, 2021 at 3:20
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1 Answer
It is the principle of feminine, that gives birth. Not all plants are feminine, but e.g. trees are, while fruit is in general neuter. E.g. malus, -i, f. (apple tree) and malum, -i, n. (apple). Not all are second declension, like quercus, -us, f. or ilex, -icis, f. In Latin, except for many plants, feminine are also for the same reason earth and parts, like islands and states - Sicilia, Sardinia, Hispania,Gallia, Italia, Illyria ... on the other side masculine is what fertilize, like winds, that carry semen, rivers, parts of great Oceanus that embraces the Earth like man does to a woman... Also, when they come from Greek, it could be feminine because it was feminine in Greek... not only connected with plant names e.g. dialectus, -i, f.
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I just noticed that all edible-fruit-bearing trees and shrubs that are native to temperate Europe are feminine in Polish, with exception of orzech "walnut" (not exactly a typical fruit) and agrest "gooseberry" (a loan from Latin, so it probably doesn't count; also, it has multiple native synonyms that are feminine, like kosmatka). So there might be something to it.– Karol SCommented May 10, 2022 at 11:17