Name meanings are good to a point. Sometimes when A tree is translated from one language to another , it translates to another existing cultivar making identification confusing. It seems to happen with Japanese Maples. It is difficult sometimes to determine correct names of specific trees.
when trees are translated from Japanese to English you can end up with 2 trees with the same name. Not all cultivars originate in Japan. They are being developed all over the world as well as The United States.
If you use japan as a point of naming trees then you can't use translation. It has to more of franetic spelling of japanese names. This way you always maintain the integrity of specific species.
In a sense you have to have a universal language which covers all names of trees. It has been Latin up until now. If you develop another universal language then it just gets confusing.

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SteveW
Long Island NY

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