I well remember my dutch friends incomprehension when talking about Kniphofias! The british pronounce this totally at variance with the dutch. The genus was named after a dutchman... They pronounce it K- nip- hoff- ia with a hard k. The british never pronounce the k. To them it is Ni-fo-fia. Goodness knows how to truely pronounce Houttynia! Perhaps we should just stick to what our native language teaches us and just write the name out when there is incomprehension? In the early 1980's when visiting Russia this is what I did. Mark > Message du 03/09/14 00:32 > De : "Judy Glattstein" > A : pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > Copie à : > Objet : [pbs] Speaking of Plant Names > > Many years ago when we were living in the Netherlands I pronounced plant > names with my American accent (Latin plant names, to be sure. Wouldn't > want to be accused of using "baby talk" common names.) My Dutch friends > were of course using their pronunciation. > > And we were often unsure of just what plant was being mentioned the > other person. > > BUT if we wrote out the name, why then everything became clear. > > Judy in hot and humid New Jersey, where all the plants know who they are > even if I do not > > --- > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. > http://www.avast.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/