Ep11: From Dogwood to Diospyros--Origins of Local Plant Names

Title: Languaging in Hampton Roads

Episode 11: From Dogwoods to Diospyros: The Origins of Plant Names in Hampton Roads 

Hosts: Jill Winkowski and Prue Salasky

Date: Nov. 30, 2024

Length: 36 min

Publication Frequency: Fourth Friday (approx)  of each month

In this episode of Languaging Hampton Roads, we talk with three botanical experts about the origins of common and scientific names of plants and fungi that grow in the Hampton Roads area: Nicole Knudson is a botanist and owner of the Norfolk-based business Lady Fern’s Native Plants, 4900 Colley Ave, Norfolk;  [e-mail]; Vickie Shufer is a naturalist and herbalist and owner of Wild Woods Farm, Virginia Beach, https://wildwoodsfarm.us; and Sarah Winkowski, a Hampton Roads native who is a graduate student at the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington. 

Our experts take us on a journey from high among the trees to low on the woodland floor and finally under leaves and logs, as they explain the names of some of our iconic plants, such as the dogwood tree, the persimmon tree, Spanish moss, the Yaupon holly, and mushrooms such as chicken of the woods and the chanterelle.

 Our discussions also span history with commentary on how the common names of plants have evolved over the years, including the Native American origins of the English common name of the Yaupon holly; the medieval idea that plant shapes signified their medicinal use; and the prolific period of botany work in colonial Virginia and its connections to Carl Linnaeus. Listening to this episode is like exploring our native environment, a foray into the natural areas of Hampton Roads.

In this episode, we promised to provide a list of volunteer opportunities for those who want to get more involved in the area’s native plants:

Places to volunteer with native plants include the Norfolk Botanical Garden https://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org; the Elizabeth River Trail, https://elizabethrivertrail.org; the Elizabeth River Project, https://elizabethriver.org. 

 Also, check out Virginia’s Master Gardener organization to find your city’s chapter: https://mastergardener.ext.vt..edu.

Another Virginia Extension program is the Virginia Master Naturalist program; the Tidewater chapter, Tidewater Master Naturalists, https://tidewatermn.org is taking applications now through January for the 2025 volunteer training class.

Virginia Native Plant Society, https://vnps.org to find your local chapter.