New and Unread Tree-Mails
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Name: Virginia Charleston, SC (Zone 8b) Köppen climate classification Cfa  scvirginia Jul 15, 2018 11:20 PM CST |
| Missouri Botanical Garden states that Syringa reticulata is the Chinese Tree Lilac, while S. reticulata ssp. reticulata is the Japanese Tree Lilac. In the NGA Plants Database, Syringa reticulata is given the common name of Japanese Lilac, which is a conflict. http://www.missouribotanicalga... GRIN calls S. reticulata simply Tree Lilac, but like the Missouri Botanical Gardens, they also call S. reticulata ssp. reticulata Japanese Tree Lilac. Charles Sargent's S. japonica = S. reticulata ssp. reticulata. Meanwhile, I'm not sure I've ever even seen a lilac of any kind...? Virginia |
Name: Zuzu Northern California (Zone 9a)              |
| Thank you for your proposals adding Chinese Tree Lilac to S. reticulata and Japanese Tree Lilac to S. reticulata subsp. reticulata. I've removed Japanese Tree Lilac from the list of S. reticulata's common names. |
Name: Deb Planet Earth (Zone 8b)   Bonehead Jul 16, 2018 5:54 AM CST |
| Who would have thought a common name could be 'wrong'... But, carry on. I want to live in a world where the chicken can cross the road without its motives being questioned. |
Name: Virginia Charleston, SC (Zone 8b) Köppen climate classification Cfa scvirginia Jul 16, 2018 11:59 AM CST |
Who would think that a plant that's apparently so RARE would need a COMMON name? Oh, but I guess it's us who are the commoners...?  Virginia |
Name: Lin Vosbury Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)            plantladylin Jul 16, 2018 1:50 PM CST |
| LOL, I noticed a few S. reticulata subspecies with the common name of "Pekin Lilac" and I thought it was a misspelling of Peking. One variety is spelled "Peking" while the others are "Pekin": https://garden.org/plants/sear... but it's apparently spelled both ways. People sometimes stick the exact same common name on plants that come from entirely different parts of the world; plants that have totally different care and culture requirements. Common names may not be "wrong" but they can be extremely confusing, especially for those new to gardening. ~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt! ~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot! |
Name: Suzanne/Sue Sebastopol, CA (Zone 9a) Sunset Zone 15         |
| I removed the G in that one peking as it's wrong. My gardening Blog! Handmade quilts, face masks, new & vintage fabrics in my Etsy store. Summer Song Cottage Instagram Sewing posts |
Name: Sue Ontario, Canada (Zone 4a)        sooby Jul 24, 2018 7:57 PM CST |
scvirginia said:Missouri Botanical Garden states that Syringa reticulata is the Chinese Tree Lilac, while S. reticulata ssp. reticulata is the Japanese Tree Lilac. In the NGA Plants Database, Syringa reticulata is given the common name of Japanese Lilac, which is a conflict. Yet the top of that same Mobot page gives Japanese tree lilac as the common name for Syringa reticulata. Most articles I've seen do the same. |
Name: Deb Planet Earth (Zone 8b) Bonehead Jul 25, 2018 1:56 PM CST |
| I'm confused why we are spending any time debating common names. My experience is these change often, usually regionally. A common name has no particular validity in my mind, we should just stick with being sure the latin name is correct. I do often give a thumb to a common name, particularly when the 'chosen' one is not how I think of a plant. At the same time, I am curious at how others refer to the plant. Why not simply include all variations of a common name? I want to live in a world where the chicken can cross the road without its motives being questioned. |
Name: Sue Ontario, Canada (Zone 4a) sooby Jul 25, 2018 2:34 PM CST |
| Ordinarily I'd agree, Deb, but Japanese tree lilac is pretty universal as the common name for Syringa reticulata and not just in North America, see the RHS UK page for it. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/... But now only the cultivar 'Ivory Silk', the subspecies and some other cultivars come up on a search for Japanese tree lilac in the NGA database. |
Name: Zuzu Northern California (Zone 9a) |
| I've added it back to the species entry. |
Name: Deb Planet Earth (Zone 8b) Bonehead Jul 25, 2018 2:54 PM CST |
| So if I understand correctly, all the S. reticulata should (or could) have a common name of Japanese tree lilac? Wouldn't that work for search purposes? And for those who think of any of them as a Chinese tree lilac, let that stand? Sticking with lilacs, the 'preferred' common name for S. vulgaris was 'Common Lilac.' I've never thought of it as such. It also lists 'French lilac' as a common name, which also does not resonate with me. My impression of French lilacs are the much shorter, not so blowsy, cultivated lilacs. I'd never heard the term 'common lilac.' I thumbed simply 'lilac' for a common name which moved that up to 'preferred' and to me are the regular white and light purple lilacs growing in grandma's yard. Anyone could just as easily thumb either 'common lilac' or 'French lilac' to change that yet again. No harm, no foul. I just don't think we should negate anyone's common name. It's like saying a person is wrong for saying 'pahTAHto' rather than 'pahTAYto.' I want to live in a world where the chicken can cross the road without its motives being questioned. |
Name: Deb Planet Earth (Zone 8b) Bonehead Jul 25, 2018 2:56 PM CST |
| Cross posted with Zuzu. Thanks. (Not even my battle, but still...) I want to live in a world where the chicken can cross the road without its motives being questioned. |
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