RE: Latin language in botany

I'm afraid that while common names are all most people know,
on a list such as this where you are dealing with people from all over the
world
common names can be terribly missleading.
Some plants have a dozen or more common names and in many cases can share
the same common name with two, three or more other species quite often not
even in the same Genus, while other plants have a Generic common name that
might cover 100's of plants.

While there is only one true scientific name, plus whatever other synonyms
taxonomists may give a species over time, no-one is perfect  :-)

So please if you do know the latin name for the plant you are discussing,
please use it along with the common name.
This makes life for those of us who know that species (but not the common
name) much easier, and for those who don't, they learn something, and thats
what this list is all about isn't it?  

communicating, educating and learning....

Cheers, Rod

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Rod Randall
Weed Risk Assessment
Weed Science Group, Agriculture Western Australia

                 "I weed..." 

Weed Risk Assessment Home Page:
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/weedsci2.htm

Weed List Page:
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/weeds/weedlist.htm

Weed Activity Calender:
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/calendar.htm

WeedBusters Home page:
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/buster/buster.htm

Weed Science Group Home Page:
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/

Plant Protection Society & Western Weeds Homepage:
http://www.wantree.com.au/~weeds/

 ph: 08 9368 3443
fax: 08 9474 3814
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> ----------
> From: 	Barry_Garcia@monterey.edu
> Reply To: 	Barry_Garcia@monterey.edu
> Sent: 	Monday, 25 January 1999 10:38 AM
> To: 	paul@nevco.k12.ca.us
> Cc: 	medit-plants@ucdavis.edu; moholt"@gardens.com>"@nixon.ucdavis.edu
> Subject: 	Re: Latin language in botany
> 
> paul@nevco.k12.ca.us writes:
> 
> >By the way, I just read a brochure for the Yosemite Association's 1999
> >field seminars. There are wildflower and birding outings that have been
> >designed for people put off by overly scientific language in nature
> >study. That should be a warning that linguistic rules get in the way of
> >enjoying flora and fauna.
> 
> 
> 	I agree, to the average joe, the scientific names have no meaing to
> them. People don't go out and say "Gee, look at that tall Sequoia
> sempervirens with a lovely patch of Oxalis oregana and Woodwardia
> fimbriata underneath it, and the large patch of Asarum caudatum! ". To
> most people they really only know the common names of plants. 
> 	For here however, when i write about a plant i try to remember to
> add
> the scientific name with the common name. If i dont know the scientific
> name, i can really only use the common, and hope someone knows what im
> talking about.
>
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