Common names

English Names can be useful when talking to the ‘general public’ (public forays), otherwise I stick to Latin: then everyone knows what you’re talking about. For example what is “Brown Rollrim”? We now have three segragates of Paxillus involutus which may be quite common: ammoniavirescens, obscruisporus & cuprinus. On public forays, ‘in the field’ I would call collections Brown Rollrim or Paxillus involutus but I would be taking a sample home to check which of the 4 species it is. If you say to most field mycologists “I’ve found a Goldleaf Shield” they won’t know what you mean but they will immediately know if you say Pluteus romellii.

I sometimes use English names when they are well established and the scientific name is hard to say.

When a genus is obvious and familiar, I use the scientific name, eg Russula. For less familiar fungi to me, I can often remember just the English name, eg Candlesnuff Fungus (off the top of my head, I can’t remember the scientific name.) For the forum, however, it takes a few seconds to look up the scientific name, so I use that to avoid confusion.

In anything other than strictly mycologist company, if a fungus has an “accepted” common name, (in terms of British Mycological Society list of accepted common names), and whether I agree that the name appropriately fits the fungus in question – or not, I will always try to give that name along with the scientific name. But I do advise those present of the potential pitfalls in using common names.

I think in such circumstances, giving the common name as an additional snippet of information, makes for a more receptive audience, leaving them more likely to remember what’s been seen or shown to them. – If that leads to some of them forming a lasting interest in the subject, so much the better!

Regards,

Mike.

I agree entirely Mike, as a beginner a few years ago it certainly helped me to progress as initially common names seem to be easier to remember, albeit you really do need to learn the scientific …

I agree that the use of scientific names is essential to be precise. However the use of English names engages a wider audience – many people with an interest in fungi but no depth of knowledge look blank when you use the scientific name. Certainly on Glamorgan Fungus Group Forays we have a number of attendees who struggle with the Latin (I do as well at times!). When I write up our Species list I use the English name (if there is one!) first and then the scientific name.