Richard Dixon of The Times needs some help and his reputation is at stake. You see, he is in a one-on-one battle with his boss, editor of The Times, James Harding over the correct spelling of Wisteria.
Dixon's argument is that Wisteria, first named Glycine frutescens by scientist and plant botanist Carl Linnaeus, was later revised to commemorate Caspar Wistar by Thomas Nuttal, some sixty five years later.
Dixon argues that the plant was indeed called Wistaria but quickly became corrupted to Wisteria; a spelling that is now very much in the mainstream as far as gardeners are concerned.
What are your views. Do we stick with Wisteria or should we all force ourselves to call it Wistaria - Perhaps this is one for garden writers?
I remember, vaguely, whilst studying at Merrist Wood near Guildford, being told by my tutor Rosemary Higginbottom, that Wistaria was in fact correct. However, I have always referred to it as Wisteria.
The photo is of Wisteria floribunda 'Macrobotrys' at Exbury Gardens.
I think if Ricard Dixon insists on calling it wistaria then readers of The Times will probably think he's made a typo.
Posted by: Martyn Cox | Jun 05, 2009 at 07:36 AM