This article turned up in the paper on Wednesday, via the Beeb's Gardeners World magazine. Its a pretty poor version of the one as it gives six plants that are supposedly racist. Mostly that they were found by people who at one time owned slaves.
That's it, the only people with the funds to explore in the nineteenth century, were also the ones bringing back plants to the UK and Europe. Stuff like Camellias and Wisteria, which are the epitome of suburban gardens round here.
The other thing is things called Hottentot. Which is supposedly a racist name for a certain race of San Bushman. So it's not things like the actual Hottentot Fig Carpobrotus Edulis, an invasive succulent naturalized in many areas around the world, but something not actually flagged up. The Jade Necklace plant which I never knew as anything but Crassula Jade Necklace. Crassula Rupestris X Marneriana to give its proper Latin binomial.
They also don't mention Mother In Laws Tongue now sadly retconned to Snake Plant or Mother In Laws Cushion (Kroenleinia Grusonii) which we know now to be a weird Ferocactus / Echinocactus hybrid. Which is weird, but understandable, as it comes under sexism / Les Dawson jokes.
No comments:
Post a Comment