greengrocer for a kilo­ gram of Solanum tuberosum or Musa paradisiaca subsp. sapientum), their most important draw­ back is the fact that they vary widely, not only from one language to another but also from coun­ try to country, even from region to region within a large country. More importantly, vemacular names in any given language are usually only available for the plants growing locally, or for plants of some special importance, such as crops and vegetables, medicinal plants, or important garden plants. For all other plants, the Latin names used by botanists and other scientists have to be employed. Such names often appear complicated or even awkward to the ears of those not accustomed to them.