Hello Paalexan ... "The short version of all those disagreements being that whenever you have high hobbyist interest in a taxonomic group, some of the hobbyists want to recognize all variation at the species level, which leads to large numbers of spurious species." I agree but at the same time taxa are being divided by new data which in a morphological or better yet a "visual sense" are very simalar .. example : the breakup of the genus Opuntia. This makes new taxa a bit "spurious" to the serious hobbyist. Also .. I think ... the motivation to accept new nomenclature differs between taxonamist and hobbyist. To the taxonamist new names often demonstrate scientific progress of some kind .. to the hobbyist confusion as to who is called what now ?? To the hobbyist the cost of accepting new names are not justified by the benafits. In this sense the taxonamist is the "splitter" and creator of too many "needless" taxa. In addition groups like Cactii and Orchids are also fairly complex in morphology and have been researched considerably more then other taxa and to no ones fault one would expect a long nomenclatural history. All this is complicated by variabilty introduced by cultivation. Lastly .. Who really is the taxonamist ? Does anyone or a single group really have the final word ? A hobbyist could very well bethe "expert". I would guess that in many groups of plants it is much easier for a single expert or small group of experts to agree and set nomenclature. In other popular groups of plants their is a very large audience that needs to agree on who is called what and why. More chance for disagreements and even intentional "revolts" against name changes. Just some more thoughts ... good chatting with you .. thanks for the Journal references ... very helpful !! Good Day ...

I stumbled upon this post a few weeks back because I too was really puzzled by the appearance of these tiny black dots sprinkled all over my wall paper, monstera plant, the curtains, and my bedding. They looked like poppy seeds but attached/stuck to the plant, wallpaper, and the fabric. After carefully scraping them off with my fingernail and vacuuming the curtains, I would be astonished to find a new set of dots peppering the same wall all over again a few hours later. I got a bit obsessive over the next couple of days as this really bothered/disgusted me (the plant is right next to my bed/pillow), but eventually I found the culprit (actually on several occasions). It turned out to be a moth, or at least that's what I figured once I saw it. When I researched the internet trying to figure out what these dots/seeds/eggs could be, I passed on the idea of it being moth eggs because in all the photos the eggs were neatly arranged close together, but mine were spread all over the place about 10-50 cms apart 1 egg at a time. During the day, I typically open the windows to air out, sometimes only a bit, so I guess moths must find their way inside the house and then hide themselves very well. I found one hidden in the folds of the curtain. I found a second moth a few days later again in the very corner of the room hidden by the folds of the curtain. I think these suckers are just very good at hiding & camouflaging because my husband and I were carefully screening the folds and looking all over and didn't notice any the previous days. I even watered the plant daily to ensure there weren't any moths or other culprits hiding in there. Unfortunately I continue to periodically find these black pin-sized heads on the same wall and curtain, but I'm less freaked out about it now that I know what it is and much more thorough at looking for the culprits. My advice is to make sure you close the windows and really check all the cracks since they're very good at hiding.

I have the sensitive briar growing in 8a-b. I think their are different varieties of it. I had a horrid variety when living in Hawaii. It is considered a pernicious weed their. It sends out rooting runners from a central deep taproot and stays low to the ground sending thorny arms everywhere. It can not be chopped with a lawnmowers since the arms are often below the sod. It is a thorny bane to all barefooters and we are many in Hawaii. We used to shake our heads at the touristas that thought it such an exotic plant and would buy them to take home. Then I moved to Central Texas and met their well behaved cousin for sale in a Native Nursery. I like them now. They grow wild on my land. They do not take over. I let them go. My girl friends in Hawaii think I am crazy now too. I would NEVER take the type that has invaded there home.

I dug all of the P. amilis plants that I could find out of our mowed areas and put it in flower beds, under taller shrubs. It makes a wonderful ground cover and if I want any of its' space for something else, it pulls up so easily. On unmowed plants, the flowers get much bigger. I don't think anyone has ever accused P. oleracea of being ornamental, but it also makes a great cover under taller entities, and is the Portulaca that is edible purslane. P. umbraticola is sold in stores as ornamental purslane, and a great deal of work is done in creating cultivars of that.