Re: Clitoria ternata and other matters

Marina & Anthony Green wrote:
> 
> Dear all
> We've been very quiet recently having our second child (and first girl), who we've called Francesca,
> but now we're back, and trying to deal with a garden devastated by the Italian heat and drought this
> year, though the plants which survived are now growing apace.
> We hope we're not going to offend anyone, but we couldn't help wondering where on earth the plant
> Clitoria ternata got such a genus name from - can anyone shed light? As it is so very similar to the
> name for a part of the female anatomy that is taboo to many and causes blushes to more than one or two
> others (hence the risk of causing offence), was it a botanist with a wry sense of humour, or a similar
> sounding surname, or are we just being puerile?? (We imagine from the beautiful image that the origin
> is anatomical!)
> Having it in the garden would certainly liven up tours for friends, and we're sure that's one plant
> none of them would ever forget!
> 
Hi Anthony & Marina
Nobody seems to have yet complimented you on the arrival of your lovely
daughter. I hope you are all enjoying eachother. How nice you have
managed one of each. We were lucky to start off that way, but afterwards
has two more sons. Now they are all grown and have families of their own
I still rejoice that, though I have fine sons I love and value, I did
achieve my precious daughter.

You will have by now heard from others on the list that not only is the
name of Clitoria intended to be explicit, it was coined by none other
than the great Linneus himself. While the Victorians were markedly
prudish their forbears in the eighteenth century certainly were not!

Moira
-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New Zealand)
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