Herminium

R. Brown ,in Aiton , Hort . Kew ., ed. 2 , 5 (1813) , 191 .

Habenarieae .V, VI ,IX . Gr. hermin (bed-post) , Hermes (Mercury), Lat. (h) ermineus (white like ermine ). Descriptive possibly of the stunted staminodia which stand on each side of the anther , or refers to the resemblance of the inflorescence to a carved bed -post . Perhaps alluding to the shape of the tubers which are thought to resemble the knob on the posts of antique beds . Possibly in reference to the prevailing whiteness of the flowers. According to Lindley , " an enexplained name of Linnaeus ,mentioned in his Philosophia Botanica under the head of words derived from the titles of divinities : from which it is to be supposed that it has some reference to the god Mercury ..............."