τέρνακα: An Indo-European Ghost?

Abstract

    This note aims to point out how Hesychian τέρνακα ‘stalk of the cardoon’, despite the noteworthy closeness to other Indo-European forms, should be rather considered a simple misspelling for an original acc. sing. πτέρνικα from Theophrastus’ Historia Plantarum. Nonetheless, the possibility that in Theophrastus’ text was actually attested τέρναξ, the Greek adaptation of an Iranian phytonym, cannot be completely ruled out.