Euphorbiae is the correct plural for Euphorbia. As for cactus plural is cacti. As for PeterB's rule of the they, I refuse to write or type out his or her every time. As in sentences like "May all the students turn in their papers. (it's supposed to be his or her, BUT Isn't it kinda obvious there are mixed genders for students? I hate some of the rules of grammar. Esp when it becomes awkward in conversation.
Here's to you, all you insidious creatures of green..er I mean cacti.
Lithops is singular, plural, and collective Oh, and even half a Lithops is still a Lithops. Since the "s" is part of the word rather than a plural "affectation", the possessive should be Lithops's but I don't allow my Lithops any possessions so this has never come up in conversation.
iann wrote: the possessive should be Lithops's but I don't allow my Lithops any possessions so this has never come up in conversation.
Ian, I would imagine they DO possess things. Such as flowers, patterns, roots, leaves, etc. You must talk about these features at some point. Example: "My Lithops's flowers are all closed right now due to the cold weather." Or do you get around this by saying "The flowers on my Lithops...."?
All Cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are Cacti
iann wrote: the possessive should be Lithops's but I don't allow my Lithops any possessions so this has never come up in conversation.
Ian, I would imagine they DO possess things. Such as flowers, patterns, roots, leaves, etc. You must talk about these features at some point. Example: "My Lithops's flowers are all closed right now due to the cold weather." Or do you get around this by saying "The flowers on my Lithops...."?
See???? I have no problem with Litops or Litops's flowers. I don't have any (Litops).
I always go by the simple rule "if you can't say cactuses you can't say cacti"! You can't say "I have a cactuses" so you can't say "I have a cacti" or "I have a cactuses collection" so not "I have a cacti collection". Agreed languages change over time, but not that quick.
One thing that bugs me is the American use of momentarily, as with Bloomberg TV saying "we will be back momentarily" when they mean "back in a moment". Back momentarily to me as an Englishman would mean being back for a fleeting moment in time then gone again?
DaveW wrote: You can't say "I have a cactuses" so you can't say "I have a cacti"
This seem logical to me. What does "A" have to do with plural???? I think we did learn in 5th grade of elementary school that an "A" is a case in singular. But since languages change through time, that could be different too.
lol well aren't cacti in patches? IE The Cholla Patch? .. if anyone ever gets to drive down New River Rd through New River (on the East side of I-17 Not the side that goes to Lake Pleasant) There is a bend in the road and a house there has a sign that says "The Cholla Patch" with a million cholla around it. For Saguaros they are in Forests. The rest.. well I dont know..
Here's to you, all you insidious creatures of green..er I mean cacti.
The truth probably is that words move on but we don't and stick to the ones we are taught. Therefore when we die it is the next generations usage of words then become the norm. As said with Latin on a previous occasion, I doubt so called Latin scholars and teachers today speak it the same as teachers of Latin would have done a few centuries ago.