Aug 16, 2022
Not a non-academic but also not a phycologist: I think common names are really helpful for getting people interested in organisms since there isn’t so much opaque baggage attached as there is with scientific names, and also because a nice descriptive common name can get people to ask more questions. Like, even tho Desmarestia isn’t a kelp, picking it up on the beach with a nonscientist and calling it “acid kelp” is often enough to get people interested.
yeah, that's my line of thinking too! And Desmarestia/Acid kelp in particular is such a great example because it really tells you something cool about the species (and very important to know if you're collecting lmao)
#tysm for the input! :D i really appreciate it#ask#frumpytaco#tbh tho my lab does a lot of kelp work and my PI in particular has beef with anyone calling non-laminarales things kelps lmfao#*laminariales#so i usually call it acid seaweed to avoid being the lab disappointment LOL#or acid blade#but i agree its one of the best common names even if its isnt strictly accurate to the taxonomy