Re:Odd names of plants (was Cali's Garden on Corfu)
Jan Smithen wrote:
>
> What a wonderful "walk around" your garden Cali. I could really feel the
> safe and sanctuary ambience it must have. Please attach pictures! Your
> courtyard sounds beautiful!
>
> I read somewhere an amusing story about the Mediterranean native, Scilla
> peruviana. The reason for its specific name was the fact that the bulbs
> were being shipped to England on a boat named "the Peru" which foundered
> off the southern coast. The bulbs floated to the shore where many took
> root and grew in the sand. Whether true or not, I have no idea.
>
Jan
Strange to say there is a similar tale (?legend) about Nerine sardensis,
the Gurnsey Lily, which like all Nerines is really South African but is
said to have been given it name after being found growing in the sands
of Gurnsey where it had washed ashore from a wreck.
In the 18th Century when many new plants were coming to Europe
nurserymen and even botanists seem to very often have had very vague
ideas about the provenance of the new arrivals. Hence, for instance,
Azalea indica which actually comes not from India but from Japan and I
have no doubt a good many others..
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New Zealand)
