AusBonsai

Hi Jester,

Short answer:
Common name = Claret Tops.
Scientific Name = Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops'.

Long Answer:
It is a cultivar. The cultivar name is generally the common name for most species. Though the common name is not set by anybody. In botanical circles the botanical name is used. The common name is not generated or monitored by anybody. You could call it a fluffy pink lama if you wanted to. And if everybody started calling it fluffy pink llama, then that would become the common name. That is why common names are painful. I believe there are atleast 13 species that are commonly called "wax flower" for example. However, most people would recognise this plant if you said "Claret Tops". So the common name would be Claret Tops.

Now, it must be understood that Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' (this cultivar) does NOT exist in the wild. Melaleuca linariifolia (the regular large growing green species) does. Since Melaleuca linariifolia 'purpurea' has a latin name, it DOES naturally exist in the wild. I dont know anything about M. linariifolia 'purpurea', but it's name implies it is a purple foliage form. It does not imply it is dwarfed, where as M. linariifolia 'Claret Tops' is a dwarf. Perhaps that is why they are different.

Does that help?

cultivar = cultivated variety (as in not a natural variety)

G`day all bit late for this now , maybe this one would have looked good like this. CHEERS ROD...

Definitely an improvement but still a bit top heavy like those german helmets we used to joke about

Brian

That helps perfectly Joel. The only reason I got confused in the first place was because prior to my first post, I did in fact have a look on the net and the names that were set for this tree varied considerably. I understand the nomenclature of naming conventions but different websites are sometimes ill-informed. In any case, thanks for straightening that out. The main reason for me being so anal about the names is because for some time now I have been building my own bonsai library of various species including photos, common names and botanical names and I want to keep strict control of the names so as to minimise confusion down the track. The other thing that confused me a little was that many , if not all the Melaleucas I have catalogued so far have common names like Saltwater Paperbark or Bracelet Honey Myrtle, so Claret Tops did'nt feel quite right to me, but if that's the common name, well, that's the common name.

Thanks again

Regards

John

P.S. Do you know the botanical name for Fluffy Pink Lama?

Joel wrote:Hi Jester,

Short answer:
Common name = Claret Tops.
Scientific Name = Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops'.

Long Answer:
It is a cultivar. The cultivar name is generally the common name for most species. Though the common name is not set by anybody. In botanical circles the botanical name is used. The common name is not generated or monitored by anybody. You could call it a fluffy pink lama if you wanted to. And if everybody started calling it fluffy pink llama, then that would become the common name. That is why common names are painful. I believe there are atleast 13 species that are commonly called "wax flower" for example. However, most people would recognise this plant if you said "Claret Tops". So the common name would be Claret Tops.

Now, it must be understood that Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' (this cultivar) does NOT exist in the wild. Melaleuca linariifolia (the regular large growing green species) does. Since Melaleuca linariifolia 'purpurea' has a latin name, it DOES naturally exist in the wild. I dont know anything about M. linariifolia 'purpurea', but it's name implies it is a purple foliage form. It does not imply it is dwarfed, where as M. linariifolia 'Claret Tops' is a dwarf. Perhaps that is why they are different.

Does that help?

Jester wrote:That helps perfectly Joel. The only reason I got confused in the first place was because prior to my first post, I did in fact have a look on the net and the names that were set for this tree varied considerably. I understand the nomenclature of naming conventions but different websites are sometimes ill-informed. In any case, thanks for straightening that out. The main reason for me being so anal about the names is because for some time now I have been building my own bonsai library of various species including photos, common names and botanical names and I want to keep strict control of the names so as to minimise confusion down the track. The other thing that confused me a little was that many , if not all the Melaleucas I have catalogued so far have common names like Saltwater Paperbark or Bracelet Honey Myrtle, so Claret Tops did'nt feel quite right to me, but if that's the common name, well, that's the common name.

Thanks again

Regards

John

P.S. Do you know the botanical name for Fluffy Pink Lama?

Joel wrote:Hi Jester,

Short answer:
Common name = Claret Tops.
Scientific Name = Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops'.

Long Answer:
It is a cultivar. The cultivar name is generally the common name for most species. Though the common name is not set by anybody. In botanical circles the botanical name is used. The common name is not generated or monitored by anybody. You could call it a fluffy pink lama if you wanted to. And if everybody started calling it fluffy pink llama, then that would become the common name. That is why common names are painful. I believe there are atleast 13 species that are commonly called "wax flower" for example. However, most people would recognise this plant if you said "Claret Tops". So the common name would be Claret Tops.

Now, it must be understood that Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' (this cultivar) does NOT exist in the wild. Melaleuca linariifolia (the regular large growing green species) does. Since Melaleuca linariifolia 'purpurea' has a latin name, it DOES naturally exist in the wild. I dont know anything about M. linariifolia 'purpurea', but it's name implies it is a purple foliage form. It does not imply it is dwarfed, where as M. linariifolia 'Claret Tops' is a dwarf. Perhaps that is why they are different.

Does that help?

Hi again,

Thanks Greth! Jester, the common name of the straight species (M. linariifolia) is "snow in summer". Unfortunately, there is another species called that too. I think its M. armilaris, but i cant be certain. "Snow in Summer" is also a registered cultivar name. Again, common names are painful!

As for the llama, this was a nice test! I got out my plant names explained book and looked up woolly, and chose the most appropriate one, 'erio-'. If i combine that with "rosa" which means pink, or "rose coloured", i imagine the scientific name would have to be something like Lama glama 'eriorosa'. What do you think? hahaha

Joel.

Hi Joel, I actually thought the common name for the straight species for M.Liinarifolia was Flaxleaf Paperbark???

John

Jester wrote:Hi Joel, I actually thought the common name for the straight species for M.Liinarifolia was Flaxleaf Paperbark???

John

It is also known as the Narrow-leaved Honey Myrtle, narrow leaved paperbark, Flax-leaved paperbark, and Snow in summer. So as Joel has been trying to say where you know the Botanical name it is best to use it.

I was once corrected for using a common name, after I had used the Botanical name, I used a name of Swamp paper bark for Melalueca rhaphiophylla. I was told the

offical common name for M. ericifolia was swamp paperbark. the M.rhaphiophylla has this common name also along with needle leaved honey myrtle.

Both these tree's grow in swamps.

Noel I appologise for not using all the correct type face and proper terms but my old brain has enough to contend with, but I will and do use the Botanicl name as offten as possible.

Cheers Pup

In general, people know more common names than botanical names. But the botanical names only ever refer to one species, and each species only has one. It is worse the time it takes to get to know them. But people are busy and they are hard to remember. I use botanical names where i can, and common names if the common names are well know "Chinese Elm" etc.

I bought another M. linariifolia 'Claret Tops' today. I saw it had some nice movement, remembered this tree, then quickly snatched it up. Cant wait to get stuck into it!

Joel.

Good luck with that one Joel. I would'nt mind getting my hands on a M.Nesophila . Don't know how available they are in Sydney but I love the small leaves, the colour of the bark, and the flowers are just spectacular.

Magical Rod !!! Lifts that tree to another level. Detail !!!