If you look on the Top Tropical Plant Catalog they describe one of my plants. But, I do not know which is which when it comes to the names we put in our journals. I hate being so stupid but I want to get it right and I am not sure even after looking up the terms in the glossary which is which, can someone please help me get it right?
They say the following:
Jasminum polyanthum, Jasminum blinii
Jasminum delafieldii
Pink Jasmine, Winter Jasmine, French Perfume
Family - Oleaceae
Origin- W. China.
Please tell me which is the Common Name, the Cultivar, the genus and I assume the family is the species. I do so want to get it right. Thank you so much for your help.
I need an explanation, please.
Family: Oleaceae
Genus: Jasminium
Species: polyanthum, blinii, delafieldii
Common names: Pink Jasmine, Winter Jasmine, French perfume
Cultivars are usually indicated this way- "Whatever" (cv.)
The Genus name always starts with a capital letter; the species name always starts with a small letter.
Hope this helps!
Marsha.
This message was edited Jan 21, 2008 2:38 PM
Here's a better example of a cultivar using your plant.
Jasminium bellini "Pink Stardust" (cv.)
(Just made that cultvar's name up to use in this example.)
Marsha.
Marsha's covered it all in terms of which parts of the names are which (except cultivar names are usually put in single quotes 'Pink Stardust'). I'll add that Jasminum polyanthum is the Latin name you'll most often find it sold under here so if you want just one name to put in your journal I'd use that one. The other two Latin names I think must be older synonyms that aren't used much anymore. Yours doesn't have a cultivar name, I don't think I recall ever seeing a named cultivar of this one, all I've ever seen is the straight species.
All plant family names end with -aceae. Older names are still used in some cases but have been replaced in current usage.
Examples:
Graminae=Poaceae...grasses
Palmae=Arecaceae...Palms
Compositae=Asteraceae...Sunflowers, Asters etc.
Thank you all so much. I will print it out and try and get it straight in my old head. When I have time I time I will go back into my journal and correct all the errors. Oh my, why is everything so difficult? I am taxing my brain on days it should be resting at my age. LOL
Thanks again.
If you're having trouble remembering what to put where, a way you can make it easier on yourself when you get a new plant is to look it up in Plant Files. If you go to the bottom of the Plant Files entry, you'll see a link to put the plant in your journal--this will transfer all the correct names into your journal, then all you have to do is put in whatever other info you keep track of. Or if you're trying to correct things that are already in your journal, looking them up in Plant Files will tell you exactly what's the family, genus, species, cultivar etc, it's all clearly labelled in all the entries so you don't have to think about it.
ecrane3,
Thanks for the correction about the cultivar name being in single quotes. I KNEW something was wrong, but couldn't think of what it was to save my life!
Marsha.
Great discussion.
Landscape Architects are often criticized for insisting on scientific nomenclature. The main reason we do it, of course, it specificity.
But isn't there a magic to the naming convention? I think there is, and once you understand how it works, a whole new world of plant [and animal, of course] relationships opens to you.
ps: now, if only those wacky botononists would stop renaming things! there's on-going research on plant sexuality; so to the uninitiated, specific and generic changes [and sometimes even familial!] can be confusing. It's all part of our wonderful world.
Michael
ecrane3
Thank you so much for the great information about the Plant Files. I will investigate that immediately. You are such a sweetie. If I were not so involved with other things, I would take the time to visit all the wonderful places here in this site. I am slowly getting to know my way around but there is so much to learn and remember. I do apperciate all your help. Hugs. (I am 79 and am allowed to hug anyone on the list I want to without being a naughty lady). I am off to the plant files.