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Do you ever wonder who thinks up names for some of our plants?

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Flora (2) Botany (1) Flower names (1)

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I often wonder why some of our prettiest plants have such awful names. For instance, "Pig Face" has such a bright and happy flower, coming in many colours - none of which look anything like a pig!

I can see the reasoning behind plant names like Black-eyes Susan, Mother-in-law's Tongue and Stinking Rogers but how about the creeping vine, Morning Glory? What's with that one?!

#Botany
#Flora
#Flower names

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Top Answers

Pig face!!!! I've spent years trying to find the name for that flower. I actually like the name, it makes me giggle. I'm going to have a front yard full of it now I know.

Flower names do make me wonder sometimes lol I have a hunch that morning glory flowers came before *ahem* .... morning glory.

by meggf

It does make me wonder sometimes. Whether they named the plant after themselves (which often seems to happen). I like it when they named it after someone they cared about.

by Matteo Lor

Love this question, and Yes! because some of the name are a tad out there.
You have to wonder, were they on drugs?*#!? 'pig face' for one of the most lovely of flowering plants.
The list also is difficult for some to even remember or say.
It has always made me sit up and think 'why'?
Who does that.Make a name that really is nothing like the flower or plant.

by jonaja

My pic is one good point!....lol

by jonaja

LOL at the pic, jonaj!

by Vee

Vee....''what plant could ever look like Captain Kirk''? hummm

by jonaja

No, but they're creative. I'll give them that. There's nothing wrong with 'pig face'; pigs are cute!

by Vee

I sometime wonder about the rational behind the scientific names of many of these plants and animals. I can hardly even pronounce them. What's with that?
The scientific name for cat is Felis catus, dog is Canis lupus familiaris for turtle is Testudines. What's with that?

I just assumed that these animals were first discovered by non english speakers.

by dwatk

It may make sense in Latin.

by lynne

Yes I often wonder that too.

by Maria

I spend a bit of time in botanical gardens and YES some of the names are just plain weird! Can't think of any at the moment, but I've seen some strange ones.

by lizzi

by junea

Many plants , although they have been altered by breeding, are hundreds of years old so the names come originally from Latin or Greek.
Over the years gardeners have given plants alternative names. Yes, some of these are quite amusing.. This makes them easy to remember, I think!

by junea

I wonder who thinks up names for the plants, and as well as our street names.

by Diana Nairn

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