International Aroid Society

But then the question is, why would it be called by a word that means "to begin"?

As I think I may have suggested last time we had this conversation, I wonder if the Arawak name for this plant was something that sounded similar, and early colonists adopted the name without changing it? We have other examples of plant names where this has occurred, such as sarsaparilla and sassafras in North America.

So, in conclusion, it appears no one can answer my original question.

Jason Hernandez

Naturalist-at-Large

From: "John Criswick" <criswick@spiceisle.com>
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Dieffenbachia seguine
To: "'Discussion of aroids'" <aroid-l@www.gizmoworks.com>
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Thanks Marek. Allowing for changes in pronunciation over time and place, ?siggin? is still remarkably similar to ?seggin?. (I write these as an Anglophone would pronounce them.)

John.