Leucojum
Mary Sue Ittner (Sat, 27 Mar 2004 18:02:50 PST)

Dear John,

Are you saying that the only two species that will be considering Leucojum
are Leucojum aestivum and L. vernum? Did I read that right? All the rest
will now be known as Acis? How in the world do you pronounce Acis? Does the
world follow what Kew proposes? This isn't a change based on DNA testing,
but a change on the basis of physical characteristics? Is it possible that
when DNA is done, that they will all be back together?

I think I said it before but if the botanical names keep changing as
rapidly as they seem to lately soon we will no longer be able to say to all
those people who prefer using common names that using botanical names
allows us all to know that we are talking about the same plant. How do we
keep up?

I haven't quite recovered from the thought that the first year my Scilla
natalensis is finally going to bloom it has been converted to Merwilla
natalensis.

Mary Sue