Tamil name for Pogostemon paniculatus (Willd.) Benth.

[Dinesh Valke]

Dear Vijayasankar ji,

Please help me with coining a name for Pogostemon paniculatus (Willd.) Benth.

Tamil name for Pogostemon vestitus Benth. is பச்சுளி patchouli

Reference: Tamil lexicon [Madras], University of Madras

I propose adding a prefix தெற்கு terku describing the species' major distribution in southern India

Thus the coined name - தெற்கு பச்சுளி terku pacculi for Pogostemon paniculatus (Willd.) Benth.

I have proposed the Tamil name based on lines of names coined for other 3 languages ...

 • Hindi: दक्षिणी पचौली dakshini pachouli
 • Konkani: दक्षिणी पाचोली dakshini pacholi
 • Marathi: दक्षिणी पाचोळी dakshini pacholi

Regards.

Dinesh

[Vijay Raman]

Dear Dinesh ji,

The Tamil name "தெற்கு பச்சுளி" (terku pacchuli) sounds okay. "தெற்கு" (terku) usually refers to the direction South. Whereas, the adjective 'Southern' can translate to "தென்" (then), "தென்னக" (thennaga), "தெற்கத்திய" (therkathiya) or "தென்னிந்திய" (thennindiya), or sometimes தெற்கு (terku). 

So, in this context, "தெற்கத்தி பச்சுளி" (therkathi pacchuli) or  "தென் பச்சுளி" (then pacchuli) would be more fitting, but if you prefer "தெற்கு பச்சுளி" (terku pacchuli) that would be fine too.

The spelling patchouli can be written in Tamil as பச்சௌலி.

Best,

Vijayasankar

[Dinesh Valke]

Thank you very very much, Vijayasankar ji, for all this help with coining the Tamil name for Pogostemon paniculatus (Willd.) Benth.

Thank you for elaborating the subtle differences among "தெற்கு" meaning "south" and the other words in Tamil that mean "southern" ... which is what is required.

Among the two options: "தெற்கத்தி பச்சுளி" (therkathi pacchuli) or  "தென் பச்சுளி" (then pacchuli) ... I will prefer to go with the shorter and easier spoken -  தென் பச்சுளி then pacchuli.

Among பச்சுளி pacchuli and பச்சௌலி patchouli, I will go with the former option - because I found  பச்சுளி listed in Tamil dictionary as well appears in Googled results.

Thank you very very much, Vijayasankar ji.

Regards.

Dinesh