Re: Correct plant names

**"Marge Talt" m*@hort.net**

> From: Graham Rice <garden@tiscali.co.uk>
> Getting the names right is absolutely basic. How do other members
of 
> this list go about ensuring nomenclatural acccuracy?
----------

I keep RHS PlantFinder next to me at the computer (invaluable
resource not only for correct names but how to spell the durn
things); also use the web site and I also use the following web
databases:

GRIN
http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/tax/taxfam.html

W3TROPICOS
http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/vast.html

Flora Europaea
http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/FE/fe.html 

Index Nominum Genericorum (ING)
http://rathbun.si.edu/botany/ing/INDEX.HTM

International Plant Name Index Query
http://www.ipni.org/ipni/query_ipni.html

NCU-3e. Names in Current Use for Extant Plant Genera 
http://www.bgbm.fu-berlin.de/iapt/ncu/genera/

I find that sources do not always agree and from posts by assorted
taxonomists on Alpine-L, Aroid-L and Arisaema-L, it appears that
plant names are in flux and one does the best one can to sort it out;
if taxonomists can't agree, it's up to us to pick our favorite - or
as Tony Avent says (very loosely paraphrased), load the pickup with
some taxonomists and throw darts at them:)

When it comes to writing about plants, I think we have two
responsibilities to our readers:  1) to provide them with the most
currently accurate name we can locate and 2) to make sure they
understand what plant we're talking about, i.e., if the name has
recently changed, include the older one, include any common synonyms
you can find and include whatever common names you think might be
appropriate in communicating with your readers. 

After all, the entire purpose of naming plants is so that people can
communicate about them; the plants don't care what we call them - OR
how we pronounce it.  Let's not get pedantic about pronunciation,
which is going to vary around the world with assorted accents.  If we
can make ourselves understood, it's right; if we can't, it ain't.  

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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