What is a plant diagnosis and how do I avoid one?
A plant diagnosis is a fancy way of saying plant description, which is what a botanist must write and publish when a new plant is discovered. With one exception, a diagnosis must be written in Latin. There are, in fact, computer programs available to do this. The exception is made for palaeobotanists who may write, if the spirit so moves them, in English. Officially this is so palaeobotanists can communicate findings with other palaeobiologists easily and in a common language. The unspoken reason is because palaeobotanists, having spent their lives studying extinct forms of life, refuse to deal with another. It goes without saying that you want to avoid a plant diagnosis at all costs. Fortunately, this is simple: just don’t discover new plant species. From George P. in Quesnel B.C.: I’ve heard Botanical Latin can induce sleep. Is this true? Yes. One of the unsung side benefits of learning all those darn Latin names is that you can count sheep by them. Suppose you’re having trouble slee
