"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet"
From Romeo and Juliet
By William Shakespeare
I mentioned in my previous post that I had purchased what I thought was a little palm tree when I brought home a ponytail palm. What’s up with that? Isn’t a ponytail palm a palm? Well, no. It isn’t.
The ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is a member of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) and is closely related to yucca, hosta, snake plants, spider plants and lily of the valley (which itself is not a true lily, because of course it isn’t.) True palms belong to the Arecaceae (are-a-KAY-see-eye) family. The Beaucarnea recurvata derives its Latin name from 19th century Belgian succulent collector Jean-Baptiste Beaucarne plus the Latin recurvata meaning “bent”. While they used to be rare as houseplants, they are today quite common and easy to find in shops and garden centers. Unfortunately, during this same time, they have become critically endangered in their native habitat. Where they were once found throughout the deciduous forests of eastern Mexico, they are now found only in the state of Veracruz. Mature wild specimens can grow to more than 15 feet (almost 5 meters) with some individual trees reaching an age of 350 years!
Okay. I’m getting a little too excited. And I’m sure I will have a lot more to say about ponytails in the near future (they are wonderful, easy-to-care-for plant companions). But I digress. The purpose of this post is to point out that in the world of houseplant names can be misleading. Peace lilies aren’t alums (lilies), they’re aroids. Rubber tree plants are neither rubber nor trees. Swedish ivy isn’t ivy. And don’t even get me started on monsteras. Common names for plants come from common parlance and vary greatly from region to region and even from speaker to speaker. Some plants are known by dozens of different names. Some people would call our ponytail an elephant foot palm. Is it pothos or devils ivy or Scindapsus? A recent trip to a garden center uncovered dracaenas being sold under at least eight different names. A Swiss cheese plant may be sold in one store as a monstera while in another it is labeled a philodendron. A little research revealed it to be neither but in fact a Rhaphidophora tetrasperma.
So isn’t it just easier and certainly more clear to use the scientific (Latin) names. Well yes…and no. The truth is that scientific classifications can be tricky sometimes. The discovery of new species and genetic testing can result in changes to the taxonomy of plants. Also scientists don’t always agree about these things. Plus people make mistakes that are later corrected.
In addition to these disparities, commercial plants are often labeled with the names of subspecies, varieties, cultivars and even trademarks. Plus plants can be mislabeled either by mistake or with intention. Think that Monstera deliciosa you got at the big box store for thirty bucks is real? Think again. It is most likely a different related monstera species.
Names change for cultural reasons as well. Some years ago political correctness led us to abandon the most common nickname for the Tradescantia zebrina. So what do we call the plant former known as a wandering Jew? Well there are no lack of choices. I’ve heard inch plant, zebra vine, Trad and the cringe-inducing “wandering dude” (ugh!). So let’s just stick with the Latin name shall we? Tradescantia zebrina. But wait. Didn’t it used to be Zebrina pendula? It’s enough to drive a plant lover mad.
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