Some Lithuanian ethnobotanical taxa: A linguistic view on Thorn Apple and related plants

Abstract

Background: The perception and use of plants correspond with common plant names. The study of plant names may give insight into historical and recent use of plants. Methods: Plant names in dictionaries and folklore have been evaluated. A etymological analysis of the names is provided. Onomasiological and semasiological aspects have been considered. Therefore, species named with names related to each other have been selected. Results: Plant names containing the stem dag- or deg- may belong to either of two categories: incenses or thorny plants. Plants named in dum- have been in use as psychopharmaca. The name rymo points not to Rome but to the use of plants as anodyne or psychopharmaca. © 2006 Šeškauskaite and Gliwa; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.