„Mylące” nazwy roślin leczniczych w języku polskim i rosyjskim
"Missleading" names of medicinal plants in Polish and Russian languages

Summary/Abstract: The names of medicinal plants are usually distinguished by clear semantic motivation, thus indicating their characteristic features. The information contained in the names of medicinal plants should, as a matter of principle, comply with the concept of truth: i.e. conform to an observable and denominated reality. Nevertheless, such names may be misleading, resulting in erroneous views regarding the geographical origins of a plant or its useful characteristics (including its influence upon people). These names may also give rise to inappropriate associations from the perspective of contemporary language, and be interpreted in different ways by etymologists. Although average language users may name certain plant species in a particular way, these names may nonetheless be ‘untrue’ from a botanical standpoint. This article attempts to outline the ‘true/untrue’ aspect of medicinal plants’ linguistic nomination, as well as to determine the reasons for this phenomenon. Various Polish, Russian and Latin names (which are ‘misleading’, but sometimes only apparently), are used for the purpose of the discussion.

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