The Naming of Garden Plants

Common Names

Many gardeners ask "Why can't we just use common names?". The main hurdle is that plants are introduced from all over the world and therefore do not have common names in the language of the recipient country. It is of course possible to invent common names in the language of the country. In fact, this is already done extensively in the United States, but with no system to regulate or standardise names, confusion can easily arise.

A classic example in the English speaking world is Bluebell, referring to Hyacinthoides non-scripta in England, Campanula rotundifolia in Scotland, Sollya heterophylla in Australia and species of Mertensia in North America. The scope for confusion is enormous.

Botanical Names

Most people do not think twice about using Rhododendron, Chrysanthemum or Fuchsia, common names for three large groups of plants. The fact that they have passed into common usage demonstrates the great strength of botanical names - they are intended to be universal. The aim of the botanical naming system is to provide each different plant with a single name which can be recognised by anyone, whatever their own language.

What do the parts of a scientific name mean

Take as an example Digitalis purpurea. The first word is that of the 'genus', which includes all foxgloves. (Plants which share a number of significant features are grouped together to form a 'genus', in plural 'genera') The second word is the 'species' (species can be defined as a group of interbreeding individuals producing more-or-less similar offspring and differing from other similar groups by a number of key characters). These two words together (Digitalis (1) and purpurea (2) refer uniquely to the purple-flowering foxglove in W. Europe.

Digitalis grandiflora is a yellow-flowering species from C. and S. Europe. Sometimes a species is subdivided into subspecies (subsp.), varieties (var.) or formas (f); for example the white flowering variants of the purple foxglove is called; D. purpurea f. albiflora.

What is a cultivar?

In cultivation, variation within species and that generated by hybridisation is particularly valued. Plants exhibiting desirable characteristics of flower colour, habit, size, variegation, fruit colour, flavour etc. are often given names. These are termed cultivars (from cultivated variety). For example, a foxglove with variegated leaves has been given the name Digitalis purpurea 'Chedglow'. If there can be no confusion, the genus and the cultivar names may be used without the species name. Solanum tuberosum 'King Edward', Solanum 'King Edward' and even potato 'King Edward' are equally correct. However, 'King Edward' alone could be confused with the unrelated Achillea x lewisii 'King Edward.

What is a hybrid?

A cross made between plants of two different species results in a plant called a hybrid. This hybrid may be given its own scientific name. Thus Digitalis x mertonensis is the hybrid name for all plants derived from the cross between D. purpurea and D. grandiflora. The 'x' indicates the hybrid status. Many different cultivars may result from the same cross.

Bibliography: The Royal Horticultural Society Botany Advisory Services, January 2006

Wild and Edible

All along the edge of the olive groves and vineyards wild flowers are making their appearance.

Some of the wild flowers we can find in northern Europe, others are unique to this area. Quite a few of them are edible, and some of them have medicinal purposes. The following plants are very common, on any walk in the country side at this time of the year you'll come across them.

Allium ampeloprsum (Wild Leek)

Wild leeks can be used in the same way as the leeks bought in the supermarket. Wild leeks belong to the onion family which includes onions, garlic and spring onions and more. The characteristic smell of alliums is caused by the sulphur compounds; these have beneficial effects on the circulatory, digestive and respiratory systems.

Calendula arvensis (Marigold/Pot Marigold)

On my first spring in the Provence, walking along the road I noticed this small orange coloured flower, I touched it, it felt slightly sticky, it reminded me of a Marigold. I looked it up and discovered that indeed it was a Marigold, a Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis).

Although quite small it can be used the same way as its larger sister. The parts that are used are the flowers. It is a very well tried out herb that stimulates the liver, gall bladder, and uterus, soothes the digestive system, and clears infections. It is especially good for skin problems, reducing inflammation and healing damaged and irritated tissues. 1 tablespoon of fresh flower heads to one cup of 'just off the boil' water, steeped for 3 minutes can be drunk to soothes the digestive system or used for skin problems. Pregnant women should not use it internally as it stimulates the uterus.

Diplotaxis erucoides (False Rocket)

The leaves and flowers have a spicy flavour, close to the taste of mustard or pepper. The young shoots can be fried in batter.

Eryngium campestre (Field Eryngo)

The young leaves taste like artichokes.

Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion)

The leaves give a slightly bitter taste to salads. The flowers can be dipped in batter and deep fried. A syrup can be made with the flowers, it's called dandelion honey. It is very well known for stimulating the liver function.

Tragopogon pratensis (Salsify)

Principally it's the roots that are eaten, either steamed or pan fried, the young leaves can be cooked or eaten in salad, the flowers can be used to decorate dishes.

Bibliography: Sauvages et comestibles by Marie-Claude Paume, The RHS Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Bown

Orchidées Sauvages

Voici la deuxième floraison d’orchidées sauvages.

Celles-ci appartiennent à la famille des Oprhys, il s’agit probablement d'une Ophrys arachnitiformis.

Pour tous renseignements vous pouvez consulter le site d’un orchidophile d’Entrecasteaux dont voici l’adresse :
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/pm.blais/presentation.html

[Another blog that has a checklist of orchids that may be of interest is : Loire Valley Nature ]

Exochorda

Ce matin chez Gerda j'ai découvert cet arbuste ...

Les Anglais l'appellent "Pearlbush", buisson de perles, jolie allégorie que l'on pourrait adopter chez nous, car lorsque la plante est en boutons, on la dirait recouverte de perles. Ce magnifique arbuste souple et gracieux est encore peu connu et pourtant, sa floraison printanière époustouflante et sa facilité de culture en font un hôte de grande valeur. Ses grandes fleurs blanches, exceptionnellement décoratives, rappellent celles du pommier ou du poirier, mais avec plus grande profusion. Les petites feuilles caduques sont d'un joli vert pâle, souvent couvertes d'un fin duvet et prennent une belle teinte jaune en automne. Côté parfum, les fleurs de Exochorda giraldii exhalent une très légère senteur fruitée, les autres sont peu parfumés. Les fruits très étranges, de couleur rouge, ressemblent à une masse d'armes et n'apparaissent que très irrégulièrement sur les sujets cultivés. Branches et tiges sont dressées lorsqu'elles sont jeunes, puis prennent une forme arquée en vieillissant, donnant à l'arbuste un joli port pleureur.

sources : gerbeaud.com

Marché aux Fleurs

Every two years for 3 days Hyères celebrates their very profitable cut flower industry. The Marché aux fleurs opens its doors to the public. Organises bus tours to a specific cut flower grower. Whilst waiting for the bus you can watch the floats being decorated for next day’s parade, admire the incredible long stalked flowers (1 m long in some cases) used in the flower displays, followed at the end of the day by a défilé, once more all the dresses were decked in flowers. The highlight of the second day is the flower floats parade through the city.

The cut flower industry is very important to the region. The Marché aux fleurs is the 4th largest auction house for cut flowers in Europe, the first three being in the Netherlands.

Flowers grown locally are :

Anemone, Anthirrhinum (Snapdragon), Anthurium (Flamingo flowers), Arum lily, Carnation, Gerbera, Orchid, Peonie, Ranunculus, Rose and Tulip

This year’s chosen flower to represent the three days of festivities was the Gerbera. Commercially it is the fifth most used cut flower in the world (after Rose, Carnation, Chrysanthemum and Tulip).

What makes the Gerbera commercially so interesting is that it comes in many different colours suiting different occasions. The size of the flower varies from the smallest, the Gerbera mini (7cm), to the large Gerbera flowers with a diameter of 12 cm. The Gerbera mini is the more popular of the two because it is easier to transport, its neck does not need to be supported. Its bigger sister has lost some of its popularity as it has become associated with funerals besides being far more delicate.

Gerberas are found in the wild in South America, Africa and tropical Asia. They belong to the Sunflower family. The shop variety is mostly a cross between Gerbera jamesonii and Gerbera viridifolia, both found in South Africa. In the 19th century Richard Lynch first crossed Gerbera jamesonii with Gerbera viridifolia.

The flower on the left is a Gerbera jamesonii, the flower on the right is a Gerbera viridifolia

The result of this cross is known as Gerbera hybrida. The flower we buy in the flower shops or markets. Every year new varieties of Gerbera hybrida appear on the market.

The flower has multiple rings of increasingly large overlapping petals surrounding the central disk. The central disk consists of lots of disk flowers, the disk flowers open as the flower gets older. When the flower is freshly picked not many of the disk flowers have opened – one way of determining the freshness of the flower.

During the visit their representative explained to us, that the running of the greenhouse was completely computerised from the amount of light, warmth, water to fertilizer the plant receives.

He gave a few statistics of costs involved :

This particular greenhouse cost 1 million € to construct.

It houses 84,000 Gerberas in pots.

Each plant produces during its two year life cycle, 60 flowers.

Depending on the time of the year, one Gerbera flower fetches between 15-25 cents.

His profit is 10-15%.

Some more info :

Coco fibre is used instead of soil, it absorbs water very well, but at the same time excess water drains easily.

Each plant receives 1/2 liter of water mixed with fertilizer 4 x a day.

Excess water is collected from underneath the plant and recycled.

The plant receives 8 hours of light a day. Too much light makes the plant grow too fast and vice versa.

Curtains are used to cast shade.

During the winter lamps are used to bring in extra light.

It was well worth a visit.

Info : Wikipedia – the free encyclopedia