from Ernie

Arnold Trachtenberg arnold@nj.rr.com
Mon, 18 Apr 2005 17:28:37 PDT
Subject:
RE: [pbs] Botanical nomenclature
From:
"Ernie O'Byrne" <eob@peak.org>
Date:
Mon, 18 Apr 2005 17:12:39 -0700

To:
"Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>


Since this has come up, I will ask the question that has kept me up nights
for years (well, maybe that is an exageration). What is reason behind
attaching the x meaning a cross to the word following, for example,
Helleborus xericsmithii. It seems that that leads to possible confusion, as
in the very example offered. Is it a dry loving hellebore (xeric) named
after someone named Smith, or a cross? Although I cannot come up with them
right now, I have seen other examples of similar possible confusions. Why is
a space not left between the two? Actually, most people, even most nurseries
do put in the space, but, I believe, incorrectly.

Illumination would be greatly appreciated.

Ernie O'Byrne
Northwest Garden Nursery
86813 Central Road
Eugene, ORegon 97402
USA
USDA Z. 7B


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