[pbs] Question about Naked Ladies

Diane Whitehead voltaire at islandnet.com
Thu Dec 20 14:12:57 EST 2007


  No one thinks twice about saying fuchsia, petunia,
rhododendron, chrysanthemum, trillium,
==========================================
Cheers, Rodger!

However, some people must make up "common names" for trilliums, a name  
I learned as a toddler, with the explanation that its name meant it  
had three petals and three leaves, just like my tricycle had three  
wheels. I have never heard anyone refer to it as anything other than  
"trillium", yet recently,  on labels in public gardens, I see  
abominations like "wood lily".  I think volunteer label makers have  
the idea that all plants must have a "common" name, and get their  
information from some unknown source.


Diane Whitehead






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