The funny thing about common names....

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Terry Murfreesboro, TN(Zone 7a) Aug 27, 2001

This morning, I set out to add a (read: single, solitary, only one) plant to the database - Cuphea ignea, commonly known as the Firecracker Plant.

I did a search on the web to find out some specifics about this plant, and guess what else I found? There are MANY unrelated plants sharing this name, and I'm not even counting the plants with a cultivar called "Firecracker", (which would include a columbine, crepe myrtle, and Lysimachia, according to a search of our threads here.)

The plants ranged from bulbs, shrubs, and vines to tropicals/houseplants. So, a couple of hours later, here you have it: the unofficial, and probably not exhaustive list of plants commonly called "Firecracker":

http://davesgarden.com/search/plants.php?search_text=Firecracker

Pretty cool, huh? Can anyone come up with a better/longer/more diverse list of unrelated species all sharing a common name?

Moral of the story?
1. Why Latin names are very important - think how disappointed I'd be if I were looking for a Buckeye shrub and ended up with Crossandra, a houseplant. (Well, maybe not disappointed, but certainly surprised!)

2. How needlessly barren our database still is - many of the plants I added are being cultivated, traded and/or sought by DG members, who could surely add a much better and accurate entry than I. Please add a plant if you haven't already. Or go through those that are in the database and add your own description. Remember, DG is "For gardeners, by gardeners....."



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jody MD &, VA(Zone 7b) Aug 27, 2001

Hey go_vols

Just want to say "Thanks so much" for all your work on the data base!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure a lot more will be added after "gardening" season is over and there is nothing to do but dream about the garden. Perhaps we'll be able to get everyone to add their spring "wish list" plants. I know I've been terribly busy and haven't added many plants this summer, but like last winter, thats when I'll have the most time.

Thanks again for all you've done!!!

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