Hello! First post!

After ages of looking through lists and lists I've figured out which
plant it was I was trying to Identify but I'm really bad at remembering
latins so I was wondering if any of you know the common name for
Sisyrinchium striatum?
Or any other name they have for it just to help me remember it!

In future hopefully I'll be able to afford a digital camera and you lot
can help me identify things a lot easier!

Gratefully

Jess




-- 
Jess N

Jess N  writes
>
>Hello! First post!
>
>After ages of looking through lists and lists I've figured out which
>plant it was I was trying to Identify but I'm really bad at remembering
>latins so I was wondering if any of you know the common name for
>Sisyrinchium striatum?
>Or any other name they have for it just to help me remember it!
>
It really is best to try to remember the latin. It's the one name that 
will identify the plant without ambiguity, so you and whoever you're 
talking to both know exactly what you are talking about. For example, 
Gillyflowers can be either pinks or wallflowers depending on the 
speaker. And one of the Sisyrhinchiums is known as 'blue eyed grass' 
which is plain silly because it certainly isn't a grass!

Also the latin tells you a lot about the plant, because it tells you 
which other plants are related to it, and therefore what characteristics 
and growing preferences they may have in common.

It helps to remember the latin if you start to learn what some of it 
means  - especially since taxonomists often name plants to describe some 
significant feature  - the 'striatum' bit refers to the striped leaves.

Sisyrhinchium I grant you is a bit of mouthful. According to wikipedia, 
the rhinchium bit is 'nose' (think of rhinoceros or rhinitis) and the 
sis is pig - pigs like to grub the roots.
-- 
Kay

"Jess N"  wrote in message 
news:Jess.N.5664a97@gardenbanter.co.uk...
>
> Hello! First post!
>
> After ages of looking through lists and lists I've figured out which
> plant it was I was trying to Identify but I'm really bad at remembering
> latins so I was wondering if any of you know the common name for
> Sisyrinchium striatum?
> Or any other name they have for it just to help me remember it!
>
> In future hopefully I'll be able to afford a digital camera and you lot
> can help me identify things a lot easier!
>
> Gratefully
>
> Jess

http://www.californiagardens.com/Plant_Pages/sisyrinchium_striatum.htm
claims "Rush Lily"

but then it also claims "Satin Flower", but that has several other species 
sharing the same name - which is why the botanical name is worth learning

Jess N;868569 Wrote: 
> Hello! First post!
> 
> After ages of looking through lists and lists I've figured out which
> plant it was I was trying to Identify but I'm really bad at remembering
> latins so I was wondering if any of you know the common name for
> Sisyrinchium striatum?
> Or any other name they have for it just to help me remember it!
> 
> In future hopefully I'll be able to afford a digital camera and you lot
> can help me identify things a lot easier!
> 
> Gratefully
> 
> Jess

Sometimes called "pale yellow eyed grass" in the US. I find it easier
to call it the large Sisyrinchium.




-- 
beccabunga

In message <L5+LW+KVoK8KFwRo@scarboro.demon.co.uk>, K 
 wrote

>It really is best to try to remember the latin. It's the one name that 
>will identify the plant without ambiguity,

Are not the so called experts reclassifying plants and their outdated 
Latin names?



-- 
Alan
news2009 {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 2009-11-04 00:49:38 +0000, beccabunga 
 said:

> 
> Jess N;868569 Wrote:
>> Hello! First post!
>> 
>> After ages of looking through lists and lists I've figured out which
>> plant it was I was trying to Identify but I'm really bad at remembering
>> latins so I was wondering if any of you know the common name for
>> Sisyrinchium striatum?
>> Or any other name they have for it just to help me remember it!
>> 
>> In future hopefully I'll be able to afford a digital camera and you lot
>> can help me identify things a lot easier!
>> 
>> Gratefully
>> 
>> Jess
> 
> Sometimes called "pale yellow eyed grass" in the US. I find it easier
> to call it the large Sisyrinchium.

If people learn the proper names they can discuss plants with anyone, 
anywhere in the world.  But if I try to discuss a mimosa with people in 
some parts of USA, we'd be talking aout two entirely different things.
-- 
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

The message 
from "OG"  contains these words:


> "Jess N"  wrote in message 
> news:Jess.N.5664a97@gardenbanter.co.uk...
> >
> > Hello! First post!
> >
> > After ages of looking through lists and lists I've figured out which
> > plant it was I was trying to Identify but I'm really bad at remembering
> > latins so I was wondering if any of you know the common name for
> > Sisyrinchium striatum?
> > Or any other name they have for it just to help me remember it!
> >
> > In future hopefully I'll be able to afford a digital camera and you lot
> > can help me identify things a lot easier!
> >
> > Gratefully
> >
> > Jess

> http://www.californiagardens.com/Plant_Pages/sisyrinchium_striatum.htm
> claims "Rush Lily"

> but then it also claims "Satin Flower", but that has several other species 
> sharing the same name - which is why the botanical name is worth learning

    Particularly, since common names used in the USA may be used for
entirely different plants  in other countries... and vice versa.
     Ivy, corn, bluebell are examples.

    Janet

Alan;868604 Wrote: 
> In message L5+LW+KVoK8KFwRo@scarboro.demon.co.uk, K 
> k@scarboro.demon.co.uk wrote
> -
> It really is best to try to remember the latin. It's the one name that
> 
> will identify the plant without ambiguity,-
> 
> Are not the so called experts reclassifying plants and their outdated 
> Latin names?
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Alan
> news2009 {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

Some, yes - as a speaker said the other night, they have to find
something to do with their time. "Outdated" is a matter of personal
opinion. 

Horticulture tends to go with the old and much used names.




-- 
beccabunga

Alan  writes
>In message <L5+LW+KVoK8KFwRo@scarboro.demon.co.uk>, K 
> wrote
>
>>It really is best to try to remember the latin. It's the one name that 
>>will identify the plant without ambiguity,
>
>Are not the so called experts reclassifying plants and their outdated 
>Latin names?
>
The latin name reflects the hierarchy of the evolution of plants. As we 
learn more about the evolution, it is seen that some plants were wrongly 
considered to have descended from one branch rather than another. So the 
latin name has to be changed to reflect the new knowledge.

Of course, in this age when 'celebrity' is the thing (or being famous 
for being famous), knowledge and expertise increasingly becomes the 
subject of scorn.
-- 
Kay

"Jess N"  wrote in message 
news:Jess.N.5664a97@gardenbanter.co.uk...
>
> Hello! First post!
>
> After ages of looking through lists and lists I've figured out which
> plant it was I was trying to Identify but I'm really bad at remembering
> latins so I was wondering if any of you know the common name for
> Sisyrinchium striatum?
> Or any other name they have for it just to help me remember it!
>
> In future hopefully I'll be able to afford a digital camera and you lot
> can help me identify things a lot easier!
>
> Gratefully
>
> -- 
> Jess N


Hi Jess,

Welcome to the group.

As the others have said, the use of latin names are really essential.  It's 
all very well calling your plant "Aunt Flo's yellow flower" when you're 
talking to yourself or Aunt Flo but, since many 'common'or 'English' names 
are little more helpful than that, you really need a naming system that all 
gardeners understand.

Do persist with learning the latin tags, but make the job a little simpler 
for yourself as you begin.  For instance, don't struggle with Sisyrinchium 
striatum in full; just refer to your plant as 'Sisyrinchium' (the genus 
name) for now.  Most gardeners will understand and, if they want to know 
more, will ask for the detail and, perhaps a description.  You will be 
surprised how quickly you will gain the confidence to add the 'striatum' 
(the species, or specific name) and, eventually the cultivar name.  Cultivar 
simply means 'cultivated variety'.

Also have a look in your local library or bookshop for a dictionary of 
horticultural latin.  It will teach you a lot about the structure of hort. 
latin and may even help with pronunciation.   However, even the (language) 
experts argue about how to pronouce it, so just be brave and have a go! :~)

Incidentally, the only common name I know for Sisyrinchium is 'Blue-eyed 
Grass', which has been mentioned and, as has been said, Sisyrinchium is not 
a grass - nor are all the flowers blue; some are cream, yellow or purple.

Enjoy the learning curve *and* your gardening.

Spider

Thanks evryone! 

I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say only
to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!

I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot of the
names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me and
ones like alba and niger etc..

I'll pick it up one day, got ages!

Thanks again.




-- 
Jess N

On 2009-11-04 21:17:24 +0000, Jess N  said:

> 
> Thanks evryone!
> 
> I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say only
> to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!
> 
> I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot of the
> names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me and
> ones like alba and niger etc..
> 
> I'll pick it up one day, got ages!
> 
> Thanks again.

I understand your wish for a common name but to be honest, it will be 
easier for you to learn the botanical names first.  It probably doesn't 
seem that way when you're struggling with them but it really does get 
it into your memory if that's how you learn it in the first place.  I 
did one term of Latin, so I'm not exactly a scholar but because I had 
parents in law who gardened quite seriously, I learned a lot from them 
and they always used the Latin names for plants, so for me, it became 
second nature.  That isn't to say that I don't also very much enjoy the 
'olk names for some of our native plants - they're very imaginative!
And for what it's worth, I've never heard of Sisyrinchium as blue eyed 
grass, so that wouldn't have got me too far in trying to help you.  
Many of us know the surname of a plant e.g. Sisyrinchium but don't know 
it's forename, e.g. Sisyrinchium striatum.  That's where the 
conversation with other gardeners comes in.  "I have this Sisyrinchium, 
do you know which it is?"  etc. etc.plant forenames and surnames being 
- obviously - like those called off on the school register "Jones, 
Jeremy"   ;-)
-- 
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Jess N  writes
>
>Thanks evryone!
>
>I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say only
>to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!

As long as it's only in your head, you could use the translation - 
"stripey pig nose" ;-)
>
>I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school.

I'm really grateful that I did. It's not just useful for gardening, it 
also helps with english spelling and makes spanish, portuguese and 
italian much more accessible.


-- 
Kay

"Jess N"  wrote in message 
news:Jess.N.5679c16@gardenbanter.co.uk...
>
> Thanks evryone!
>
> I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say only
> to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!
>
> I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot of the
> names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me and
> ones like alba and niger etc..
>
> I'll pick it up one day, got ages!
>
> Thanks again.

> Jess N

Must admit it is not the easiest habit to adopt if you are surrounded by 
people who use the common/trivial names for plants.  Don't bother about 
Foxgloves and Hollyhocks where the majority of even the best Haughty 
cultureless use those names:-)

On 2009-11-04 21:17:24 +0000, Jess N  said:

> 
> Thanks evryone!
> 
> I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say only
> to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!
> 
> I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot of the
> names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me and
> ones like alba and niger etc..
> 
> I'll pick it up one day, got ages!
> 
> Thanks again.

The most important bit to get hold of is the 'surname' which, unlike 
people is the first bit of the name.  After you've got that you can 
look the rest up, learn it later or even do a Google image search for 
the one you know/have got/have seen.  There's a pocket sized dictionary 
of botanical terms but I doubmany people really find they have the need 
for that!
-- 
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

>On 2009-11-04 21:17:24 +0000, Jess N  said:
>
>>  Thanks evryone!
>>  I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say 
>>only
>> to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!
>>  I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot of 
>>the
>> names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me and
>> ones like alba and niger etc..
>>  I'll pick it up one day, got ages!
>>  Thanks again.
>
Of course, it's a lot easier for old ladies, many of whom know Latin.
-- 
Kay

'Sacha[_4_ Wrote: 
> ;868812']On 2009-11-04 21:17:24 +0000, Jess N
> jsREMOVETHISnicholl@hotmail.co.uk said:
> -
> 
> Thanks evryone!
> 
> I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say
> only
> to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!
> 
> I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot of
> the
> names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me and
> ones like alba and niger etc..
> 
> I'll pick it up one day, got ages!
> 
> Thanks again.-
> 
> The most important bit to get hold of is the 'surname' which, unlike 
> people is the first bit of the name.  After you've got that you can 
> look the rest up, learn it later or even do a Google image search for 
> the one you know/have got/have seen.  There's a pocket sized dictionary
> 
> of botanical terms but I doubmany people really find they have the need
> 
> for that!
> -- 
> Sacha
> www.hillhousenursery.com
> Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
> South Devon

Well! After all that I will DEFINITELY remember Sissyrinchium
striatum!

( I don't think I'll tell anyone that I'll be calling it 'blue eyed
grass' in my head though!
I might get told off!)

Thanks!!




-- 
Jess N

On 2009-11-07 13:30:44 +0000, K  said:

> 
>> On 2009-11-04 21:17:24 +0000, Jess N  said:
>> 
>>>  Thanks evryone!
>>>  I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say only
>>> to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!
>>>  I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot of the
>>> names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me and
>>> ones like alba and niger etc..
>>>  I'll pick it up one day, got ages!
>>>  Thanks again.
>> 
> Of course, it's a lot easier for old ladies, many of whom know Latin.

OI!!  One term, old lady yerself!!  ;-)
-- 
Sacha

Sacha  writes
>On 2009-11-07 13:30:44 +0000, K  said:
>
>>
>>> On 2009-11-04 21:17:24 +0000, Jess N 
>>> said:
>>>
>>>>  Thanks evryone!
>>>>  I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say only
>>>> to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!
>>>>  I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot of the
>>>> names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me and
>>>> ones like alba and niger etc..
>>>>  I'll pick it up one day, got ages!
>>>>  Thanks again.
>>>
>> Of course, it's a lot easier for old ladies, many of whom know Latin.
>
>OI!!  One term, old lady yerself!!  ;-)

You were not my target ;-)
-- 
Kay

The message 
from Jess N  contains these words:

> Well! After all that I will DEFINITELY remember Sissyrinchium
> striatum!

> ( I don't think I'll tell anyone that I'll be calling it 'blue eyed
> grass' in my head though!


    Good idea,  because s.striatum is a taller plant with creamy pale flowers.
    Blue eyed grass has blue flowers, and is a much smaller, different
sisyrinchium .

    Janet

On 2009-11-07 16:57:39 +0000, K  said:

> Sacha  writes
>> On 2009-11-07 13:30:44 +0000, K  said:
>> 
>>> 
>>>> On 2009-11-04 21:17:24 +0000, Jess N  said:
>>>> 
>>>>>  Thanks evryone!
>>>>>  I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say only
>>>>> to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!
>>>>>  I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot of the
>>>>> names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me and
>>>>> ones like alba and niger etc..
>>>>>  I'll pick it up one day, got ages!
>>>>>  Thanks again.
>>>> 
>>> Of course, it's a lot easier for old ladies, many of whom know Latin.
>> 
>> OI!!  One term, old lady yerself!!  ;-)
> 
> You were not my target ;-)

I'll sleep better for that reassurance.  ;-))  I wonder if there's some 
trick of the brain to learning these plant names - something 
subconscious, I mean.  I forget peoples' names in seconds and what is 
worse, I attribute to them names I think they should have but don't 
possess.  We know a wonderful woman I persist in thinking of as Olga 
and her real name could not be more different.  This happens to me from 
time to time and it's terrible embarrassing as I have to pause to make 
sure I'm going to call them by the right name!   But for some reason, 
plant names go in and (mostly) stick.  I can't begin to explain it 
because my parents weren't great gardeners, did not know Latin names 
and I only started to pick them up in my early 30s from my outlaws.  
Perhaps it's because they called everything by their Latin names from 
the get-go when talking to me about making a garden.
-- 
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

On Nov 7, 4:57 pm, K  wrote:
> Sacha  writes
>
>
>
> >On 2009-11-07 13:30:44 퍍, K  said:
>
> >>> On 2009-11-04 21:17:24 퍍, Jess N
> >>> said:
>
> >>>>  Thanks evryone!
> >>>>  I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say only
> >>>> to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!
> >>>>  I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot of the
> >>>> names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me and
> >>>> ones like alba and niger etc..
> >>>>  I'll pick it up one day, got ages!
> >>>>  Thanks again.
>
> >> Of course, it's a lot easier for old ladies, many of whom know Latin.
>
> >OI!!  One term, old lady yerself!!  ;-)
>
> You were not my target ;-)
> --
> Kay

LOL  I'm an old lady and I was taught Latin at school but it can't be
me because I have forgotten nearly all of it :-)

Judith

On Nov 7, 11:32 pm, Sacha  wrote:
> On 2009-11-07 16:57:39 퍍, K  said:
>
>
>
> > Sacha  writes
> >> On 2009-11-07 13:30:44 퍍, K  said:
>
> >>>> On 2009-11-04 21:17:24 퍍, Jess N  said:
>
> >>>>>  Thanks evryone!
> >>>>>  I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to say only
> >>>>> to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!
> >>>>>  I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot of the
> >>>>> names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me and
> >>>>> ones like alba and niger etc..
> >>>>>  I'll pick it up one day, got ages!
> >>>>>  Thanks again.
>
> >>> Of course, it's a lot easier for old ladies, many of whom know Latin.
>
> >> OI!!  One term, old lady yerself!!  ;-)
>
> > You were not my target ;-)
>
> I'll sleep better for that reassurance.  ;-))  I wonder if there's some
> trick of the brain to learning these plant names - something
> subconscious, I mean.  I forget peoples' names in seconds and what is
> worse, I attribute to them names I think they should have but don't
> possess.  We know a wonderful woman I persist in thinking of as Olga
> and her real name could not be more different.  This happens to me from
> time to time and it's terrible embarrassing as I have to pause to make
> sure I'm going to call them by the right name!   But for some reason,
> plant names go in and (mostly) stick.  I can't begin to explain it
> because my parents weren't great gardeners, did not know Latin names
> and I only started to pick them up in my early 30s from my outlaws.  
> Perhaps it's because they called everything by their Latin names from
> the get-go when talking to me about making a garden.
> --
> Sachawww.hillhousenursery.com
> Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
> South Devon

Don't!!!!   I am really bad with names, I have started waving my hand
around vaguely when I forget and my husband steps in with the name.

Judith

On 2009-11-08 12:48:50 +0000, Judith in France 
 said:

> On Nov 7, 11:32 pm, Sacha  wrote:
>> On 2009-11-07 16:57:39 +0000, K  said:
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> Sacha  writes
>>>> On 2009-11-07 13:30:44 +0000, K  said:
>> 
>>>>>> On 2009-11-04 21:17:24 +0000, Jess N <jsREMOVETHISnich...@hotmail.co
> .uk> said:
>> 
>>>>>>>  Thanks evryone!
>>>>>>>  I promise I'll remember the latin I just need a other name to sa
> y only
>>>>>>> to myself in my head so I know what I'm talking about!
>>>>>>>  I wish I had had latin lessons when I was in school. Quite alot
> of the
>>>>>>> names are descriptive but the only ones that make any sense to me a
> nd
>>>>>>> ones like alba and niger etc..
>>>>>>>  I'll pick it up one day, got ages!
>>>>>>>  Thanks again.
>> 
>>>>> Of course, it's a lot easier for old ladies, many of whom know Latin.
>> 
>>>> OI!!  One term, old lady yerself!!  ;-)
>> 
>>> You were not my target ;-)
>> 
>> I'll sleep better for that reassurance.  ;-))  I wonder if there's so
> me
>> trick of the brain to learning these plant names - something
>> subconscious, I mean.  I forget peoples' names in seconds and what is
>> worse, I attribute to them names I think they should have but don't
>> possess.  We know a wonderful woman I persist in thinking of as Olga
>> and her real name could not be more different.  This happens to me from
>> time to time and it's terrible embarrassing as I have to pause to make
>> sure I'm going to call them by the right name!   But for some reason,
>> plant names go in and (mostly) stick.  I can't begin to explain it
>> because my parents weren't great gardeners, did not know Latin names
>> and I only started to pick them up in my early 30s from my outlaws.  
>> Perhaps it's because they called everything by their Latin names from
>> the get-go when talking to me about making a garden.
>> --
>> Sachawww.hillhousenursery.com
>> Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
>> South Devon
> 
> Don't!!!!   I am really bad with names, I have started waving my hand
> around vaguely when I forget and my husband steps in with the name.
> 
> Judith

Unfortunately, Ray's just as bad as me at peoples' names.  When someone 
comes up to say 'hello' to him and he doesn't call them by their name, 
I know it's time for me to fade away because he won't be able to 
introduce us!  About a month ago a really good friend of ours popped in 
unexpectedly and Ray was calling me downstairs to see her.  I'm 
upstairs miming "WHO IS IT?" and he's smiling fixedly and saing "Come 
down, there's a nice surprise here for you".   It was hilarious!  He 
admitted to me later that despite having known them for years, being in 
and out of each others' houses etc., he had totally blanked out her 
name and obviously, couldn't ask her what it is!  As to plant names, 
both of us are usually fairly good at those but the other day he said 
something to me about a Phlomis and I had a total blank as to what 
Phlomis is - luckily the blank resolved itself but it's quite alarming!
-- 
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

>>snip> > I'll sleep better for that reassurance.  ;-))  I wonder if there's 
>>some
> trick of the brain to learning these plant names - something subconscious, 
> I mean.  I forget peoples' names in seconds and what is worse, I attribute 
> to them names I think they should have but don't
snip

My husband forgets peoples names - altho he says that is not true - so he 
gives them all nick names including me, he should know who I am by now, :-)

kate