I can remember as a horticulture student the daunting task of learning botanical plant names. I was certainly no Latin scholar! I was given the reassurance that ‘the first 100 are the hardest’, which did prove to be although this provided little comfort at the time.
We can blame the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus for our plight! He devised the binomial naming system for plants, which is a beautifully simple two part naming system that is still used to this day. You may be familiar with the terms ‘genus’ and ‘species’. This system ensures that botanists and gardeners all over the world are confident they are talking about the same plant!
Before this there would be huge regional variations between plant names. One of my favourite plants is Antirrhinum, I grew up knowing them as snapdragons and I still love making them talk to each other when no one is looking! However I have also heard them being called bear’s mouth, which puts a different connotation to them. Many people love to grow Nasturtium in their gardens this plant was introduced to Europe after being discovered in America, its genus name is Tropeolum. However, previous to this the word Nasturtium was often used to refer to watercress and its genus name is Nasturtium officinale.
As you can see the potential for confusion is immense and potentially dangerous if you are telling people which plants are medicinal or edible! Having said that there is a certain charm, usefulness and descriptiveness to common names. Any gardener would do well to have a few of the so called common names of plants up their sleeve. They are part of the rich history and heritage of this land and many names provide an insight into social history and ancient customs.
Here in Somerset, we are known for apples and for enjoying a pint or two of cider, perhaps after a hard days graft in the garden. There are over 150 varieties that can be traced back to this region. The area now known as Glastonbury was once called Avalon, which means apple. When Cannington Court, a medieval building was recently being renovated archaeologists found records showing that what is the Walled Garden was once an orchard. We have a very old Devon/Somerset variety growing here with the great name ‘Sops in Wine’.
Another tree associated with this area is the Glastonbury thorn or for those who prefer to stick to Latin names, Crataegus monogyna ‘Biflora’. We have a cutting from the one in Glastonbury growing in the garden here at Cannington. Folklore says that Joseph of Arimathea (Jesus’ Uncle) is said to have travelled to Britain after Jesus’ death, reaching Glastonbury on Christmas morning. He was weary after his journey and thrust his staff into the ground, it immediately sprouted into a blossoming thorn.
Many common names for plants provide a clue as to where they grow and how they were used medicinally in times gone by. For example the once smelt never forgotten, hedge wound wort was used to treat wounds, as was the commonly found lawn weed, selfheal.
Trees in our landscape were worshiped and revered in ancient times. The mighty Oak being held in high esteem by many cultures across Europe. The celts saw the Oak as symbolising life, strength, wisdom, nobility, family, loyalty and honour. The word Druid is thought to be a gaelic derivation of their word for oak, Duir, which means men of the oaks.
We continue to enjoy a period of prolonged sunshine at Cannington. If you are not sure what the weather will hold, then next spring this rhyme may be of use as it will allegedly help you to predict.
If the oak before the ash,
Then we'll only have a splash.
If the ash before the oak,
Then we'll surely have a soak!
Whether the sun shines or the rain shines, I always smile when I am in the garden as the plants are either receiving food from the sun or a lovely drink from the clouds. Enjoy!
Jayne Alcock, Grounds Supervisor at The Walled Gardens of Cannington.
