two changes at once
polipodum
polypodium, with a y and an i.
two changes at once
Both of the letters that have been lost here are the ones the ear finds least useful, and both are the ones carrying the sense. The y makes poly, meaning many. The i makes podium, from podion, a little foot. Take them out and the name still sounds correct read aloud, but it no longer says anything about the plant, which is a rhizome running along a wall leaving one foot-shaped scar behind for every year it has grown.
The class
Two separate decisions about the letters, both made at once.
Same name
Other spellings recorded for polypodium
The name