Diphyllodes
dye-FIL-oh-deez
Genus
two-leaf-like; having the appearance of two leaves
Literally: resembling two leaves
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Di- | double, two | Greek (di, -s) | prefix meaning 'two'; combined here with phyll- without a connecting vowel, as phyll- begins with a consonant |
| -phyll- | a leaf | Greek (phyll, -o, =um) | stem used in combining form; the double -ll- is retained from Greek φύλλον (phyllon) |
| -o- | connecting vowel | standard Greek combining vowel linking phyll- to the suffix -des | |
| -des | like, resembling | Greek (-odes) | suffix -odes (ώδης), meaning 'having the form or nature of'; the initial 'o' is absorbed into the connecting vowel above |
Diphyllodes is a Greek compound noun used as a genus name, treated as Latin feminine (or neuter) by convention. It is built on the pattern di- (numeral prefix 'two') + phyll- (leaf) + -odes (resembling), a standard Greek adjectival-noun formation meaning 'two-leaf-like'. The name stands alone as a single uninomial genus. It most likely alludes to the pair of large, flat, scale-like or leaf-shaped ornamental feathers (or the fan-like breast shield) that characterize the male Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise (Diphyllodes magnificus).
Pronunciation
- dye-FIL-oh-deez Four syllables: dy-PHYL-lo-des. The penult 'lo' has a short vowel (o before a single consonant d) and so does not attract stress; stress therefore falls on the ANTEPENULT 'phyl'. The final syllable -es is pronounced 'eeze' by rule. The prefix di- is 'dye' (long i, standard for the Greek numeral prefix). The Greek υ in phyll yields an English short-i sound 'fil'.
Other readings
An alternative but less likely reading combines the root diphy- (Greek, 'of a double nature, twofold'; id 1828, confirmed in dictionary) + ll + -odes, giving 'doubly-natured and leaf-like'; however, diphy- is itself a compound of di- + phy- and the result is functionally equivalent. The di- + phyll- + -odes segmentation is preferred as all three elements are standard and clean.
Diphyllodes is a bird-of-paradise genus erected by Richard Bowdler Sharpe; the type species is Diphyllodes magnificus (the Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise). The 'two leaves' interpretation almost certainly refers to the pair of spectacular, rounded, iridescent breast-shield feathers of the male, which spread out like two leaves during courtship display. All four roots (di-, phyll-, connecting -o-, and -odes) are confirmed in the dictionary with high confidence. The suffix -odes absorbs the connecting vowel, so the morpheme boundary is phyll-o-|-des rather than phyll-|-odes; both analyses yield the same pronunciation and meaning.