Plant name pronunciation

[diane1]

I really love my garden and I feel I know quite a deal about plants and horticulture but when it comes to calling plants by their 'posh' name I'm snookered I just can't pronounce it right. I was told about a book that could help you to say these names correctly but my friend could not recall the name of the book, anyone out there know?

[Cetti]

I know what you mean diane especially when the nurseryman or whatever tends to look down their imperious noses at our stumbling attempts.

You will find the help you need at the back of 'The Flowering Shrub Expert' by Dr.D.G.Hessayon - or carry on as I do describing unknown plants as ' pink flowers with pointy petals' a good nurseryman will know exactly what you mean. ;-)

[Quizmonster]

If you have time to 'prepare', Diane, before going to the nursery, here's a possible approach. Click http://www.yourdictionary.com/ and the link will take you to a dictionary website. Once there, type the 'posh' name into the slot and click on 'Go'. The new page will display the word, together with a red lopudspeaker symbol and the word 'Listen'. Click the loudspeaker and and you'll hear the correct pronunciation.

For example, the grand name for 'buttercup' is 'ranunculus'. Type that in and you will hear exactly how to say it. Of course, if you don't even know what the posh name is, you may have to use the same dictionary website itself to find out! So, try typing 'buttercup' into the slot and it will tell you it's a ranunculus. It will work for other plants, too, and you now have the ability to stun that uppity nurseryman into silence! Cheers

[Quizmonster]

"What, in heaven's name, is a lopudspeaker?" I hear you ask...and I have no idea what the answer is!

[darth vader]

it's a loudspeaker that's been for a p(ee)

[thekraut]

my brain hurts!

[Quizmonster]

Nice one, Darth!

[Janetex]

Enjoy your garden, you seem quite clever to me. We once spent an age planting & replanting daffodils cos we didn't know which way up to place the bulbs. Don't be initimated, most nurserymen are not experts at pronunciation anyway.

[diane1]

Cetti you are so right a good description often works wonders, Quizmonster, ohh fantastic web site I had such fun with this one. Janetex bulbs sometimes get me too, I was told once if in doubt to which way up it should go plant it side ways- it works. thanks everyone for the moral boost.

[rarinrob]

Diane, the book you're after is called Plant Names Simplified. It's a small, black paperback, A5 in size and also gives you the meaning of the latin as well as helping you with the pronounciation. Here's a link to it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/090051304
7/ref=sr_aps_books_1_1/202-6262076-1669403