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Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Just thought I’d raise an issue here.
State flowers… most states have specific, individualized flowers, but there are quite a few that must SHARE a flower. What’s up with that?
Pennsylvania’s Mountain Laurel must be shared with Connecticut.
North Dakota and Iowa have joint custody of the Wild Prairie Rose.
Kentucky and Nebraska? Goldenrod both.
Louisiana and Mississippi, two ADJOINING states, endure the indignity of a tandem Magnolia claim.
This predicament is also familiar to North Carolina and Virginia, who tussle over dibs on the American Dogwood.
Arkansas proudly boasts the Apple Blossom as its very own floral signet? Not so fast… so does Michigan.
New Jersey? Violet. Rhode Island? You guessed it: Violet. And get this: Wisconsin… Wood Violet. Cold comfort there, with only that slight variation preventing a troika.
Similarly, Washington has its Coast Rhododendron, whilst West Virginia must settle for a plain old Rhododendron. Still, it’s something.
Meanwhile, Johnny-come-lately Hawaii gets the “Pua Aloalo” …which is individualized as well as region (and language) specific.
This prompts a few thoughts as to state specificity or lack of same.
For example, Idaho has the Syringa or Mock Orange, which (and here’s the kicker) botanists know as “Philadelphus lewisii” …now, everyone knows Jerry is from New Jersey, not Philly, but, OK an understandable error. But why “Philadelphus” all the way out in spudland? Why? While poor Pennsylvania itself is saddled with the Moutain Laurel along with Connecticut? I wish this were a unique problem, but hark:
Observe the brash left coast symmetry: California / California Poppy / (Eschscholtzia californica)… well! La DEE da, California! Who did you BLOW for that honor?
No such tripartite harmonius latinus nomenclatus holds for other states.
Remember that American Dogwood? It’s “Cornus florida.” So why the FUCK is it doing double duty for North Carolina and Virginia? Florida has, predictably, the Orange Blossom. How Special. Citrus sinensis, if you must know.
North Dakota and Iowa: The Wild Prairie Rose, as I said. But dig this: it’s “Rosa arkansana” WHAT? WHAT?!?!? Need I remind you of Arkansas’ Apple Blossom? Why not a little Rosa arkansana THERE? Bet your ass Michigan would be OK with that.
I am getting a little worked up, so consider South Dakota’s Pasque Flower, which is “Ppulsatilla hirsutissima” …a Ppeculiar name that translates as: “a hairy Ppulsatilla.” That state’s bird is a Ring-Necked PHpheasant, which does Ppossess a fair amount of fuzzy down around its Ppulsatilla, so at least some sanity prevails in the land.
Or does it? Tennessee claims FIVE state songs! My Homeland Tennessee, When It's Iris Time In Tennessee (and yes, the Iris IS the state flower, thank God), My Tennessee, The Tennessee Waltz and Rocky Top Tennessee. Such gluttony. Such overkill.
Me, I'm a New Yorker. Plain old Rose, one song (I Love New York), that's all. No bullshit here.
State flowers… most states have specific, individualized flowers, but there are quite a few that must SHARE a flower. What’s up with that?
Pennsylvania’s Mountain Laurel must be shared with Connecticut.
North Dakota and Iowa have joint custody of the Wild Prairie Rose.
Kentucky and Nebraska? Goldenrod both.
Louisiana and Mississippi, two ADJOINING states, endure the indignity of a tandem Magnolia claim.
This predicament is also familiar to North Carolina and Virginia, who tussle over dibs on the American Dogwood.
Arkansas proudly boasts the Apple Blossom as its very own floral signet? Not so fast… so does Michigan.
New Jersey? Violet. Rhode Island? You guessed it: Violet. And get this: Wisconsin… Wood Violet. Cold comfort there, with only that slight variation preventing a troika.
Similarly, Washington has its Coast Rhododendron, whilst West Virginia must settle for a plain old Rhododendron. Still, it’s something.
Meanwhile, Johnny-come-lately Hawaii gets the “Pua Aloalo” …which is individualized as well as region (and language) specific.
This prompts a few thoughts as to state specificity or lack of same.
For example, Idaho has the Syringa or Mock Orange, which (and here’s the kicker) botanists know as “Philadelphus lewisii” …now, everyone knows Jerry is from New Jersey, not Philly, but, OK an understandable error. But why “Philadelphus” all the way out in spudland? Why? While poor Pennsylvania itself is saddled with the Moutain Laurel along with Connecticut? I wish this were a unique problem, but hark:
Observe the brash left coast symmetry: California / California Poppy / (Eschscholtzia californica)… well! La DEE da, California! Who did you BLOW for that honor?
No such tripartite harmonius latinus nomenclatus holds for other states.
Remember that American Dogwood? It’s “Cornus florida.” So why the FUCK is it doing double duty for North Carolina and Virginia? Florida has, predictably, the Orange Blossom. How Special. Citrus sinensis, if you must know.
North Dakota and Iowa: The Wild Prairie Rose, as I said. But dig this: it’s “Rosa arkansana” WHAT? WHAT?!?!? Need I remind you of Arkansas’ Apple Blossom? Why not a little Rosa arkansana THERE? Bet your ass Michigan would be OK with that.
I am getting a little worked up, so consider South Dakota’s Pasque Flower, which is “Ppulsatilla hirsutissima” …a Ppeculiar name that translates as: “a hairy Ppulsatilla.” That state’s bird is a Ring-Necked PHpheasant, which does Ppossess a fair amount of fuzzy down around its Ppulsatilla, so at least some sanity prevails in the land.
Or does it? Tennessee claims FIVE state songs! My Homeland Tennessee, When It's Iris Time In Tennessee (and yes, the Iris IS the state flower, thank God), My Tennessee, The Tennessee Waltz and Rocky Top Tennessee. Such gluttony. Such overkill.
Me, I'm a New Yorker. Plain old Rose, one song (I Love New York), that's all. No bullshit here.
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