"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in message
...
Watched Titchmarsh who talked about Gunnera manicata and pronounced it
kate-a. Thought it was cart-a?
Saw Carol Klein getting rid of an Alkanet before it seeded and could swear
she was removing a Borage. I know they are related but do people call
borage
alkanet?

I think it would depend on how you pronounce other words I would say cart-a
but then I say war-ter rather than watt-er I am always a bit doubtful when
someone confidently says it should be pronounced such and such, I believe
the original international agreement (back in the 1700's) was that Latin
would be used and it would be pronounced as per local language
pronunciations and not as a Roman would have said it. Only rarely does
someone say the plant name in such a way I can't work out what they mean
(usually because they have only seen it written and never heard it said) so
the system works quite well without being too pedantic.

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)