[MAIPC] Nomenclature

Tue Nov 22 15:07:53 PST 2022

Patricia,
I’m a big fan of all the good work you’re doing. Thanks for brining up this important and interesting subject.

Lots of the words that figure into both common and scientific names are derogatory and/or offensive. In most of the cases below I have mixed feelings about searching for alternate common names (with the exception of bittersweet which I have seen some preferring the term Asiatic bittersweet). I know that in other contexts (e.g. COVID and flu, etc.) some people have tried (and sometimes succeeded) to turn the names of regions into something with negative connotations. In the recent case of the coronavirus outbreak some people chose specifically to use terminology that wasn’t common parlance to stoke these negative associations. Thankfully, I don’t see the parallel between that abhorrent behavior and the botanical examples below.

To me, the names Japanese stiltgrass and the like merely refer to locations that the species originate from (likely somewhat inaccurately – but being accurate with biological names is a different problem). We can all agree that there’s nothing offensive about being from Japan, China, Norway, or anywhere. What would definitely be troubling is if people were pushing messages that these are anything other than purely descriptive when using these terms. I admit that could certainly be possible, but I haven’t yet seen that myself.

What I certainly want to avoid is using offensive terminology to describe plants (and anything else), and I think people are doing great work in places to address that (e.g. spongy moth). I also want to avoid (and I know very well that you aren’t suggesting this yourself – but it could arise from renaming efforts) the idea that being from any of these countries is a bad thing.

I also want to avoid unnecessary confusion around invasive species listing and management, which could be an unfortunate byproduct of renaming species that are still for sale. If someone can buy Norway maple, I want to make sure I’m able to tell them what to avoid in the same easy-to-understand terms.

If there is more light to be shed on this discussion I would be grateful to hear them. Thanks again for bringing up this interesting and important issue.

Norris

—
Norris Z. Muth, Ph.D. (he/him)
Juniata College
Zoom meeting<https://juniata.zoom.us/my/muthlab>
muthlab.org<http://muthlab.org/>

________________________________
From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> on behalf of Greenberg, Patricia <Patricia.Greenberg at fairfaxcounty.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 10:15:58 AM
To: MAIPC at Lists.maipc.org <maipc at lists.maipc.org>
Subject: [MAIPC] Nomenclature

CAUTION: External Email

Hi,

I’m continuing a conversation about the names of invasive species that feel insensitive to use. Recently, Virginia Master Naturalists held a webinar on this topic (which I haven’t watched yet).

What's in a Name? Thoughtful Nomenclature Makes a Difference
Presenter: Angela Gupta, University of Minnesota Extension
Recorded: 10 November 2022
Watch the video<https://video.vt.edu/media/VMN+CE+WebinarA+What%27s+In+a+NameF+Thoughtful+Nomenclature+Makes+a+Difference/1_r4imzpls> (Note: this version of the video has machine-generated captions. Caption editing is in progress, and the new version with edited captions will be posted here in approximately two weeks.)

I am planning to work with our botanist to find names for invasives that reference their location of origin, such as:

Oriental bittersweet

Japanese stiltgrass

Japanese/Chinese wisterias

Chinese Holly

Japanese Holly

And others

My question to you is if you or people you know have started these conversations and if so, what names are you using/changing?

Thank you,

Patricia Pearl Greenberg
Ecologist II

Invasive Management Area (IMA) Program Manager

Natural Resource Branch

Fairfax County Park Authority

Office: 703-324-8673

patricia.greenberg at fairfaxcounty.gov<mailto:patricia.greenberg at fairfaxcounty.gov>

(She/Her/Hers)

ISA Certified Arborist, MA-6067A

ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified

[cid:image001.jpg at 01D8FE57.7B53D0D0]<https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/invasive-management-area>

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