Evening star., 1933-12-20
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEWELL.

The desire to know the name OF q
bird, or a plant, or a fish is q part
Of the. interest in such things.
Those who manifest this personal in
terest often want to know the scientific
name of the specimen which claims
their attention.
Just why this intensity, this insis-
tence on the so-called scientific name.
1t is difficult to say, because such
words seldom mean anything to the
layman.
No doubt the real reason Is that one
feels with this knowledge he has q
better chance of finding new speci-
mems in the future If he wants them.
Il 4 **
Scientific nomenclature Is like music,
universal, known the world around, so
that Cardinal cardinals means just one
bird, wherever you go.
In all the seven seas, at least In
theory, the Pterophyllum scalare means
just one small tropical fish.
And Euphorbia heterophylla is Just
one plant, popularity called the Mexican
fire plant.
These reflections come about through
the search Of local gentleman for the
proper name of plant which he says
Is widely spread through his neighbor-
hood
It is of easy growth, blooms in the
Fall, with red flowers, more properly
bracts, resembling the popular hot
house poinSettia of Christmas fame.
n X IL
The chances are that the flower he
wants is the one named above. but it
may be Monardella macrantha, or
even Monarda didyma.
The so-called Mexican fire plant
belongs to the poinsettia family, as the
EuphorbiaS are commonly, though in
correctly called, while the other two
plants named are members Of the ber-
gamot or bee-balm group.
One would have to be familiar with
this trio in a botanical way in order
to select, from a description, the plant
wanted. One would have to be a
botanist. Few amateur flower lovers
are botanists, and the point Is, we be-
lieve, that there Is no reason why they
should be.
The common name, or popular name,
is quite enough for all average pur-
poses. 1t serves to identify a plant as
well as the great average home gar
dener wants it identified
Lacking this popular name, however,
there Is really no need for getting ex-
cited or making much Of q search for
the scientific name.
The poet reminded us, truly, that q
rose by any other name would smell as
sweet.
We may take 1t that he meant, fig-
uratively, that the name of a flower Is
not very important, after all, In the
endowment of it.
At this time of year, when garden
activities for most Of us are at stand
still, 1t Is pleasant to dream for a time
Of an Unnamed Garden.
In such a place the gardener who
has fused around with his little mowl-
edge Of scientific nomenclature would
be totally at peace.
Those long Latin names, difficult OF
pronunciation, which all of ones
friends seem to pronounce differently,
just out Of spite, would be forgotten for
the hundred and one common names
Of the people.
Even these names. In the perfect
Unnamed Garden. would give way to
Noname!
There would be no names there, only
flowers.
The scent Of some white flower would
permeate the dewy air, the sight of
some pink blossom would beckon the
watchful eye, the graceful growth OF
some dark green vine would be a silent
benediction to the soul, an ever-present
help to all the butterflies and bees.
***
It would be fun, would II not, to walk