----- Original Message -----
From:
v*@islandnet.com
To: m*@ucdavis.edu
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 9:39
AM
Subject: Irish bells
Articles on Rafflesia mention it is now considered to be
related to poinsettia and Irish bells. Irish bells sounds like a
variation on the common name of Molucella, Bells of Ireland. However,
this is related to mint, thyme, salvia and other labiates, so obviously the
writer did not mean that bell.
Do any of you call something "Irish Bells"?
Hi Diana
Have just checked all my soirces and Bells of
Ireland is the only thing I can find relating "Irish" and "Bells", as you say
there is absolutely no known botanical connection between this Labiate and a
Euphorbia but I wonder though if some not very well-informed botanist
was imagining a relationship on the basis of Molucella's inflated calyx
which to the superficial observer might suggest it was some sort of small
Euphorbia. Quite a few such confusions due to presumptions by people
who did not actually know what they were seeing have always bedevilled
botanical classification in the past I think.
At least as time goes on we are likely to be less
influenced in claiming relationships between species based
apparent similarities in in anatomical details as we become
increasingly able begin to probe the basic gentical information.
Moira
