Scaevola L.

[Kenelm Philip]

        Regarding Jacques Melot's query: I suspect that Linnaeus had in
mind the Roman legend about Mucius Scaevola, who held his right hand in
a fire to demonstrate his courage and determination while a captive of
Lars Porsena. It is even possible that the 'left' connotation of the
name had nothing to do with the organism in question.

                                                        Ken Philip
fnkwp at aurora.alaska.edu