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Re: Using botanical and common names

Well, although I can certainly understand why you feel this way - I once
did myself - I hope you'll stop deleting posts with only Latin names and
take the time to try to sort out what they are.  If you don't know and
can't find it, ask the list - if the plant has a common name (and not all
of them do), I'm sure someone will be ready and willing to supply it (or
one of the many versions out there).

Actually, botanical Latin is not a foreign language - it is *the* language
of plants and the _only_ way anyone trying to talk about a particular plant
can be certain that the discussion *is* about the plant they are referring
to.

Although I know many plants by their botanical names,  I can't spell half
of them without referring to a reference and, since I don't have much
opportunity to actually *talk* to others, my pronunciation is likely to be
really creative - I don't consider either of these things to be much of a
drawback to the essential point, which is to know plants.  Botanical names
are important because they are the plants actual name - just like your
first and last name are *yours*.  You may also have a nick-name and that's
like a plants common name...but like a plants common name, your nick name
would not be recognized anywhere but in your immediate circle.  

It is so important to try to get a handle on botanical names if you really
are interested in plants.  And the only way to do it is by repetition.  If
you see it enough times and can relate it to something meaningful to you -
a plant you grow or want to grow - after a while, that botanical name will
start to stick.   

Even with the grand resource that this and other email lists provide, doing
your own research on plants is really necessary.  Just finding the
botanical name of a plant will not give you everything you need to know
about it to grow it well.

Just my $.02 FWIW

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
current article:  Planting Under Trees - Part 3
http://www.suite101.com/frontpage/frontpage.cfm?topicID=222
Gardening Topic Index for Suite101:
http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/79/gardening.html

----------
> From: WHTROS@aol.com
> Date: Friday, July 17, 1998 2:11 AM
> 
> Well, now I know why I couldn't find any info on 4-o'clocks (mirabilis
jalapa,
> vernacular name Marvel of Peru) on the Net.
> I had no idea they had a Latin name.
> My seed pkgs didn't give a Latin name.
> 
> Maybe the Latin name would be more meaningful to some of you.
> And I know several of the popular varieties.
> At least the ones I've learned to pronounce!
> Since I am such a Newbie, I delete all the posts that give only the Latin
> name.
> Why??  Because I have no clue what the item is.  I barely have time to
read
> the messages that interest me much less go look up a bunch of Latin
names.
> If I have to look up the names to see what I'm reading about, I might as
well
> quit the list!!!!!!!!!  When I look the item up, it will also give me
most of
> the info I need so why do I need the list!!!
> 
> Some one told me that speaking another language in front of someone who
> doesn't understand you is offensive!!!
> 
> Besides, what good is it know the Latin name & how to spell it if you
can't
> pronouce it?
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