Forum home The potting shed
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Why Latin names matter

1246718

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Many years ago someone gave me 'Harebell' seed. I was expecting Campanula rotundifolia. What I have is 3 foot tall C. persicifolia infiltrating the cracks in a retaining wall


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Oooops nutcutlet.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    The thread was not started because someone used the wrong name.
    It was started because it was a perfect illustration of why using the correct name helps people to answer questions, helps make sure we are all talking about the same thing, and helps understand growing conditions of the plant in question.
    A lot of people come on here to ask questions, and it can be very difficult to answer those questions, if we don't know what plant they are talking about.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • VegplotmummyVegplotmummy Posts: 96
    edited August 2018
    I agree with you on using the correct name @punkdoc when asking questions etc. That poster however wasn't asking what the plant was, in fact I don't think they asked a question at all. They just wanted to show off their plant. If they want to keep calling it a thistle what does it matter. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Copping to being misinformed about heuchera.  Sorry.  

    They can call it a thistle if they like VPM but should not have been rude to those who prefer accuracy for the excellent reasons stated here and there.  I for one will be disinclined to give any further helpful info to that person.  
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    me too


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    The example I quoted about " rock rose " is one I came across in my career as a gardener.
     
    A client had a low "hollow" wall around his patio. It was about 18" high and about 12" across. I suggested Helianthemum, he said he'd never remember it so I told him it was commonly called "rock rose" When I went back on the next visit, he'd gone and bought/ planted a load of Cistus ( also commonly called "rock Rose") but a totally different group of plants ,and not at all suitable for his wall.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_rose 
    Devon.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    edited August 2018

    Like Papi-Jo I live in France so I agree with him that Latin Names are very useful because of the language of the country.

    I can remember all the Latin names I learnt when I was young but the names I've learnt in the last few years I can't remember, must have something to do with being over 27 ;)

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I would like to just look at people’s photos and try to help identify them and not get booted out of the site. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

Sign In or Register to comment.