Names That Work #3: Clitoria
The vine Clitoria has a flower that is like an open sweetpea, and in fact it produces a pea-like downy seedpod. When I saw the name and the photo in a seed catalog, I knew I had to try it. Georgia O'Keeffe would have liked to paint it! Even when you consider the disappointing facts that a.) the seeds need special treatment (soaking before sowing), b.) most of the seeds didn’t germinate, c.) the remaining ones dwindled to exactly one pathetic plant for transplanting into a large patio pot, and d.) the flowers are white rather than the startling blue pictured in the catalog, you still have to admit that it’s a great match of name and appearance. For an amusing historical account of scientists and their wayward methods of naming plants, including this one, go here.