Re: Style question

**"Duane Campbell" d*@chilitech.net**

Names can be two things at the same time. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is a
botanical name, properly italicized, genus capitalized, and hard to
pluarlize. But plain ol' hibiscus, lower case 'h;, is a common name for a
common tropical, and it is perfectly acceptable to use it in the plural.
Same with  heliconia -- or heliconias.

I have my own rule on this, and no one but the most prescriptive plant
society have  -- sorry -- has ever objected. In fact, no one has ever
objected. When I am talking about a binomial or a binomial with a fancy name
 I always follow the accepted botanical rules. But if I am talking about a
genus in general, I consider it a common name and treat it so.

D

-------Original Message-------

For the magazine writers on the list: Is it OK to pluralize a botanical
name? Should botanical names always be singular, even with a plural verb?
Some examples:

Heliconia are understory plants
or
Heliconias are understory plants

Hibiscus prefer high humidity 
or
Hibiscus prefers high humidity

Debra

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Debra Lee Baldwin 
Writer/Editor 
10187 Sage Hill Way 
Escondido, CA 92026 
760/749-6272 
www.debraleebaldwin.com 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

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