[GrowRR] Pups

[derek butcher]

Lexicographers all
It seems that, thanks to Geoff Lawn, the earliest reference we have to the 
use of this term is 1952  and if you haven't seen the famous drawing here 
it is. So we can blame the Kiwis at least where Bromeliads are concerned. 
We know that Andrew Flower has old diaries of Muriel's and perhaps there 
may be a clue as to where she got the expression. If it did come from 
'Succulent' growers it probably links with Aloes and Agaves etc which are 
monocotyledons the same as Bromeliaceae and have a similar offsetting habit.
Nobody has spoken up on 'Keiki'. Perhaps we have no Hawaiians on the lists. 
What does the word actually mean? It seems to have originally been used for 
those adventitious offsets (never never called pups) that occur in the 
inflorescence but if my memory serves me correctly is also used in 
Neoregelias by the Hawaiians! Can someone put me straight!
Finally, how many of you Americans talk about Broms?  Bromeliad seems 
acceptable because it is in  the title of many groups. Mulford Foster 
coined the word Bromel which Aussies never use,  much to the disgust of the 
Fosters.
Uncle Derek
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