VICTORY! I finally found the name of the plant I was looking for! The Latin is Mussaenda philippica. A picture is at this link. Finally, the mystery is solved, and I can rest easy again, except for the snippet of a tune I heard through the window of a passing car 5 DAYS AGO that I have yet to be able to identify, but one mystery at a time...
OK. HUM A FEW BARS! I probably know this song!
hermine never would have guessed Mussaenda!
An excellent example of why common names are useless.... 'round here we call that Summer Poinsettia.. So glad you found it.
Yes, common names are worthless indeed.
Around here, the "Summer Poinsettia" is Euphorbia cyathophora (often misidentified as Euphorbia heterophylla).
OK... but can you explain, WHY it was called buddha's lantern!-)
/ Jim
Heck, common names can even differ from region to region within the US. That is why there is botanical Latin - so that plant names are universal regardless of one's native language or location. Rose of Sharon is Hypericum in the UK?? That is new on on me! Hypericum in the US is commonly known as St John's Wort and Rose of Sharon is Hibiscus. And primrose is still used to commonly refer to primulas here also - 'evening primrose' is the designator for Oenothera species.
pam - gardengal
LOL and most common one here is Bluebell, which is something different in Scotland to England;-)
And when you start looking at the rest of Europe, and cultivar names translated into other languages! LOL.. THe mind boggles;-)
Jim
I can indeed! The reason it is called Buddah's Lantern is because that is what the Busch Gardens people said it was. Who am I to argue with them? : )
LOL... Well, looks like its an uncommon common name.. Just looked up Mussaenda philippica buddha on google... 2 hits of 'Buddha's Lamp'... Close enough I spose;-)
Cheers
Jim
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