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Re: Correct plant names

That's a very interesting question. I get the sense (an earlier posting hinted at this) that it's partly the same attitude as instintively rebels against the Federal government legislating to cover the behaviour of individuals ("big government"). Some people simply do not take kindly to a central authority deciding anything; they'd rather use a local plant name than a botanical name agreed upon internationally - however confusing to everyone else. Perhaps this is simplistic (I am but a mere Brit tryting to fathom the American way of life) but there seems to be a hint of that in there somewhere.

There's also, perhaps, an element of anti-intellectualism, a kind of reverse snobbery which prevents people saying Lythrum salicaria; so they say say loosestrife instead (thereby, of course, causing confusion: purple loosestrife - Lythrum, or yellow loosestrife - Lysimachia?).

When I first started coming to the US and talked to keen gardeners, I know idea what they were talking about when they referred to plants, I'm learning a new language (and without good grace, I have to say!). No one used botanical names, they used common names which meant nothing to me. I'm still trying to get to grips with a vast lexicon of bewildering common names which, in most cases, do not even seem to be based on the names the native Americans used before the settlers came.

This is a fascinating discussion... exactly what this list is for.

Graham Rice

http://GrahamRice.com






Something I have never been able to grasp is why the use of botanical
names is such an issue in the US.  Why aren't they used as a matter
of course here as they are in other countries?  Why does it seem to
be the policy of assorted publishers (primarily newsprint and
magazines) to dumb down articles by either omitting the botanical
name or putting it in parentheses after whichever common name they
select for the plant?  I know that one author of a regular column in
the Washington Post was told by his editor NOT to use botanical names
unless there was no other name for the plant.

Anybody have any insight or opinions on this?

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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 From: Nan Sterman <nsterman@plantsoup.com>


I think what is most important is to encourage readers and gardeners
to use botanical names rather than common names.  I don't care so
much about the pronunciation as I do about accuracy.

Gardeners often hesitate to use botanical names for fear of
mispronunciation.  My feeling is, if they emphasize the wrong
syllable or get the vowels a bit out of order, that is far better
than using the common name and confusing everyone.  I'd rather they
try than shy away from the Latin (or Greek or...).   In addition,
botanical names are such a treasure trove of information about a
plant's heritage, that it adds another huge dimension to gardening.

In the end, gardeners become more competent plants people, better
communicators, and feel more confident about their skill if they feel

confident about using botanical names, whether or not they are
properly pronounced.  Eventually, they will encounter someone who
will (hopefully gently) correct them.

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