Latin names: WHY?

[Dean Lofthouse]

The first one I ever learned was

 

acer pseudoplatanus brilliantissimum

 

I'll never forget that one

[blazer]

Latin names - why bother. According to my wife there are two types of trees; those with conkers and those without conkers.

 

But she is far brighter than me learning Latin at school and into gardening so can remember most plant names in latin and being a Nurse can remember the name of most drugs and there usage - and unlike me she can spell.:confused1

 

I only use the latin names to cross reference:001_huh:

[Dean Lofthouse]

"Expert tree cutters" (me ) learn enough latin to get by.

 

"Tree experts" need to learn a lot more

[blazer]

Theres a mirriad of reasons to use botanical (latin?) names especially as someone mentioned you want to pin down a species.

The best one is when you are in common name mode and a snobby or knowledgeable customer starts going all latin on you. Give them a moment then give them it back with interest. It's beautiful if a bit cruel. So go on , learn botanical- you'll be glad you did[/quote

 

My wife phoned the local doctors about my 93yr old mum, the practice nurse tried to block her by using a couple of latin words, so my wife gave her a broadside of latin body parts and new treatment products - then mentioned she was also a practice nurse of a higher grade, soon shut her up.

 

My son works in a bar and had some cocky sod try and get clever about the wine list, then ordered a 1/2 of lager - so he gave him a girlie glass to show him up with his mates.

[chilli]

Quite apart from the need to sometimes use botanical names, isn't it an absolute joy to roll some off the tongue? The first I learned & still my favourite is acer palmatum atropurpureum.

My other favourite is metasequoia glyptostroboides. Two words capturing the history of this lovely tree, the common name for which has just three syllables.

[Pete Bannister]

I know and you don't know your backside from your elbow

 

Haha ..and some folk dont know their 'isles' from their 'aisles'

 

glasshouses and stones eh!

[Dean Lofthouse]

Haha ..and some folk dont know their 'isles' from their 'aisles'

 

glasshouses and stones eh!

 

I don't profess to and neither does Skyhuck, there lies the difference

[skyhuck]

I really struggle with the pronunciation of Latin names, I read the name, but don't know how its spoken. Are there any audio books, that give the correct pronunciations, this goes for both trees and fungi.

[likeitorlumpit]

I know its not a tree but our favourite is Rubus Cockburianus

It's that toilet humour again

[Dean Lofthouse]

I really struggle with the pronunciation of Latin names, I read the name, but don't know how its spoken. Are there any audio books, that give the correct pronunciations, this goes for both trees and fungi.

 

Me too