pcplantdb

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>]

John Schinnerer wrote:

> > Common names are vital information and should be included in db search
> > routines.
> > They have everything to do with local and indigenous knowledgebases.
> > People growing up
> > around plants in their yards and neighborhoods learn common names first
> > and they are retained in memory
> > for a lifetime.

> Yep - and totally different plants in different locales/bioregions may
> (do) have the same common name.  So it is useful, and, potentially
> confusing.

Very true.

Try figuring out what turnip salad is, creecy greens.

> Common name 'ironwood' is an example I am familiar with re the above.

There is an ironwood tree around here, often multistem; a native variety. 
Beautiful landscape plant
in mixed plantings or as specimen.

> Common name combined with images and detailed descriptions and so on will
> be required to help users determine which of many plants with same common
> name they are actually getting info on.

I can see how comon names may be of secondary importance
but still very important to have in the database. When doing a search enter
biome/geographic location/climatic zone/bioregion plus common name of
the plant to find out what it is and looks like in different areas around the 
globe.

--
L.F.London
lfl@intrex.net
http://market-farming.com
http://www.ibiblio.org/ecolandtech