The common names of plants often vary from region to region, which is why most plant encyclopedias refer to plants using their scientific names. Many plants have several common names, and many common names refer to several distinct plants.
For example, Allamanda is a genus of tropical shrubs belonging to the family Apocynaceae. Some species of Allamanda genus are:
blanchetii (synonym: violacea)
- Allamanda 1.jpg (160.19 KiB) Viewed 5633 times
- Allamanda 2.jpg (158.67 KiB) Viewed 5633 times
cathartica
- Allamanda 3.jpg (186.47 KiB) Viewed 5633 times
schottii (synonym: neriifolia) & alba.
- Allamanda 4.jpg (137.76 KiB) Viewed 5633 times
All these species are commonly known as a single name Allamanda.
There are some plants which are also known as Allamanda but they are not Allamanda at all but a completely different genus.
- Urechites lutea.jpg (111.23 KiB) Viewed 5633 times
These Plants are commonly known as Allamanda Vine. In some other part of the world they are also known as Wild Allamanda or Yellow Mandevilla or Yellow Dipladenia, but these plants are actually Urechites lutea (Synonym: Vinca lutea, Pentalion luteum).
- Strophanthus gratus.jpg (122.07 KiB) Viewed 5633 times
The above plant is commonly known as Rose Allamanda or Climbing Oleander, but it is not Allamanda nor Oleander. It is from genus Strophanthus & specie of gratus.
- Cryptostegia grandiflora.jpg (81.6 KiB) Viewed 5633 times
Common name Purple Allamanda or Ruber Vine but even not from the family of Apocynaceae. Belongs to family Asclepiadaceae with scientific name of Cryptostegia grandiflora.
These are some examples about just one plant specie and often produce some confusion. What is your opinion about common names?
