What’s in a name?
Flower Garden
Margaret Sheehan
Readers of my previous articles may have noticed that I generally use the common names for my flowers, and there is a number of reasons for that.
Firstly, while I can understand that there is sometimes a need to be exact with species, I am irritated by those who use the Latin names simply to sound knowledgeable. Secondly, I think the traditional names are usually so much more attractive, telling a tale of former medicinal use or attached folklore, or just painting a poetic picture of a flower.
For example, the names ‘bleeding heart’, ‘love-in-a-mist’ and ‘love-lies-bleeding’ are so romantic, a vast improvement on Dicentra, Nigella and Amaranthus, and so much more descriptive.
For me Bergenia will always be elephant’s ears, and Antirrhinums are snap dragons or even bunny rabbits – either option much easier to spell. And what of blanket flower rather than gaillardia? Surely a must for any bed?
Then you have the animal names: foxglove, lamb’s ears, pussy willow, harebell and so on. I am reliably told that cowslips are said to grow where the cow has produced something slippery.
Red-hot pokers, lady’s mantle and Jacob’s ladder conjure up pictures, while meadowsweet, honeysuckle and baby’s breath invoke the sweet smells of summer. I often wonder who Hattie was when I see my astrantia, brilliantly described as Hattie’s pincushion, its flower head covered in tiny glistening pin heads.
Some unfortunate species remind me of a rather nasty medical condition: cytisus for example, otherwise known as broom. As for cephalaria gigantea, even its common name ‘giant scabious’ doesn’t sound particularly healthy.
And lastly, there is another reason why I don’t use long or Latin names – it’s because I don’t know them. We don’t all have to be Latin scholars to enjoy a garden, you know!
Margaret Sheehan is a member of Ballinrobe Garden Club, which meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm in Tacú Resource Centre, Ballinrobe. New members welcome.
