manatokan.

Etymology: Apparently alteration of Monotoca, the name of a genus of evergreen Australian shrubs and small trees, applied in error; the name was subsequently attributed to Peter Macowen (1830–1909), South African botanist, who in fact recorded the error. Compare1897 P. Macowen Rep. Govt. Botanist Cape of Good Hope 1896 13 One can rarely trace the misnomer up to its historical source...One..concerns a common Australian hedge-plant, valued in the suburbs as being proof against the sea breeze and salt spray, Myoporum insulare R.Br. A horticulturist visiting the Botanical Gardens some fourteen or fifteen years ago, was being shown round by me, and in my presence was asked if he had this useful plant where he came from, and ‘what was its name?’ The stranger's memory was at fault, and offhand he gave the first name that came uppermost—‘Monotoca’. Unfortunately the querist had a note-book, and got the blunder carefully down phonetically as ‘Manutoka’. And once in circulation such false coinage passes current. The Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal lists numerous variants of Afrikaans manatoka (which must be a loanword < English), e.g. manatok, manatokka, mannatok, mannatokka, manetok, minnetoka, makkatokka, malletokkie. The first Editor-in-Chief of the Woordeboek, J. J. Smith, received oral information that the name was Macowen's invention.