? about how to ID a flower...

With so many crosses now and flowers that look the same how do you really determine the name? I've looked in the plant files and so many of them look alike but are under different names. I have some that look like them but am hesitant to ID it. I don't sell my seeds but I do like to trade them. I was thinking about posting my pictures to get IDs.

I'm not good w/MG names, but I'd LOVE to see your blooms... everybody loves pics...I agree with you about them looking alike.

Ronnie - Please see the comments I added to the thread here
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/655641/

The questions you ask are very relevant and the answers are confounded by the reasons you mention and the fact that there are often several variations of a named type or cultivar that overlap variations produced by different strains/named cultivars...and these variations are part of the genetic 'nature of the beast'...

Kyushu has been doing a good job of catalogeing the different genetic strains along with known variations produced by certain strains...

The accepted International language is English and published scientific papers are required to be available in English as per International Agreements...but,this is not always actually put into practice...although the number of Universities around the world who try to adhere to the fact that English is the accepted Scientific Universal language are making their websites available in English...perhaps Kyushu will see fit to make their website available in English...their site does not translate well into English useing any of the online translators that I have tried...text on gif images will not translate...

The collaboration of Prof.Daniel Austin and Dr.Y.Yoneda produced significant updates to the useage of accepted international scientific terminology by many the Japanese botanists,but many stubbornly insist on the useage of outdated botanical terms...

It is certainly helpful to keep track of the original package and other information provided,but companies cannot be relied upon to be consistent suppliers of the same exact strains...

You mentioned
"I've looked in the plant files and so many of them look alike but are under different names"
This is partly caused by some early entries by people who did not even know how to determine the difference between different species(!) and so there are cultivars that are still entered into the wrong species(!)...I have repeatedly emphasized that it is be prerequisite to be able to distinguish the most common species before being competant to determine cultivars and strains...but my 'suggestions' were initially disregarded and now the task of trying to correct the snowball effect of early errors has become a much larger 'monster' to contend with...the staff is very reluctant to change entries by members who are no longer active >since they are not available to offer any retorts to changes to their entries...and comments cannot be left on very old entries that were entered before commentaries on individual pictures were enabled...
so,the policy seems to be that some old errors will just 'have to remain' to continue to misguide newer members and all others who use the database...

So,the reality of what we are left with is intelligent guestimates until or unless we know better...

I may choose to offer comments in a somewhat selective manner based on what is posted and the response of others...

Post your photos...it will be 'interesting' to see the response from the MG Forum...

TTY,...

Ron

Thank You Ron. I think I will...