Suggestions on Cataloguing Pakistani Garden Plants

[M Farooq]

As we can see our rose database is growing daily and given that it has a simpler format, I was thinking that we should adapt a similar but simple format for individual plants. The key idea of this cataloguing process is that we should know the name of our plants growing around us. Being ignorant about other life forms around us is neither good for us nor good for other life forms. If you recall, naming the things was a fundamental trait gifted by God to man. This trait is neither present in animals or even in angels.

And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: “Tell me the names of these if you are truthful.” They said: “Glory be to You! We possess no knowledge save what You have taught us. Indeed, You alone are All-Knowing, the Wise.” He said: “O Adam! Inform them of their names.” When he had informed them, Allah said: “Did I not tell you that I know what is unseen in the heavens and on Earth, and I know what you reveal and what you hide?”


By just knowing the proper name of any plant, opens a treasure of knowledge in books, internet and even proper scientific information.. In short proper name and brief local information is more than sufficient. So I am thinking that we can simplify the format because it is fast and simple and less time demanding on the contributor.

(0) We provide the name of the plant, in Latin, English, and Urdu (with our provincial/ local languages). Don't worry about inaccuracy because online things are "self-correcting". Everyone makes honest mistakes and that's why we have 25 Latin names for a single plant because each botanist thought it was a different plant. Only later it is found that it was one and the same plant.
(I) Having a proper good quality picture of the leaves, flowers, and seed or whatever extra info we can have growing in a Pakistani environment.
(II) We provide a very good authentic web link about that plant which provides general information about that plant.
(III) We add local notes, by local notes it is implied any notes specific in our knowledge, if available.

Your suggestions are welcome.

[Munir]

As we can see our rose database is growing daily and given that it has a simpler format, I was thinking that we should adapt a similar but simple format for individual plants.
............................................................................................................................

. Farooq , Sorry I don't agree that the format is the problem & needs a change. In fact, being in tabulated form I consider it to be much simpler than that of the Rose Database, from the point of view of both the contributor & the reader .It is more convenient to enter the details, just like fill in the blanks, obviating the chance of missing out anything inadvertently & more importantly for the reader it is just a quick glance . Moreover, any information if not readily available initially can be left blank, which remains prominent thus keeps reminding & can be conveniently entered later, whenever it becomes available. However, in the serial “Other Details” a lot of details, some of which may be duplications of the tabulated information (actually so in past entries) can & should be cut out.

. The actual problems, in my view are:
> Lack of enough inflow/contributions of data from the Members. Being much wider & diverse in scope, can’t be searched & fed only by a few persons as is the case now, though Mr. Kisana has done a wonderful job on his own, in fact ” much beyond the call of duty”. More members need to chip in to provide him support.
> Accessibility to the Database needs to be improved. Some suggestions were made earlier also, which I’ll try to retrieve or recall & repost.

[Mustansir Billah]

As we can see our rose database is growing daily and given that it has a simpler format, I was thinking that we should adapt a similar but simple format for individual plants. The key idea of this cataloguing process is that we should know the name of our plants growing around us. Being ignorant about other life forms around us is neither good for us nor good for other life forms. If you recall, naming the things was a fundamental trait gifted by God to man. This trait is neither present in animals or even in angels.

And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: “Tell me the names of these if you are truthful.” They said: “Glory be to You! We possess no knowledge save what You have taught us. Indeed, You alone are All-Knowing, the Wise.” He said: “O Adam! Inform them of their names.” When he had informed them, Allah said: “Did I not tell you that I know what is unseen in the heavens and on Earth, and I know what you reveal and what you hide?”


By just knowing the proper name of any plant, opens a treasure of knowledge in books, internet and even proper scientific information.. In short proper name and brief local information is more than sufficient. So I am thinking that we can simplify the format because it is fast and simple and less time demanding on the contributor.

(0) We provide the name of the plant, in Latin, English, and Urdu (with our provincial/ local languages). Don't worry about inaccuracy because online things are "self-correcting". Everyone makes honest mistakes and that's why we have 25 Latin names for a single plant because each botanist thought it was a different plant. Only later it is found that it was one and the same plant.
(I) Having a proper good quality picture of the leaves, flowers, and seed or whatever extra info we can have growing in a Pakistani environment.
(II) We provide a very good authentic web link about that plant which provides general information about that plant.
(III) We add local notes, by local notes it is implied any notes specific in our knowledge, if available.

Your suggestions are welcome.

I would like to see rose database like:
1. Main topic Pakistan Rose Database
2. Then in it a sub topic of types
3. Then in it name of roses.
It is just a suggestion.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

This catalogue should be for easy consultation of gardeners of all level.
I, as an example of a user would be interested only in fruit/ornamental trees, bushes, flowering plants and vegetables/herbs.
Say I want to plant a fruit tree of certain size in Lahore, I should search
Trees > fruit trees and select Imly the data should tell me if it can grow and fruit in Lahore, the time to fruit and cultivation requirements,
I want a flowering tree I go to tree > flowering tree, should give a list of flowering trees under common name and then botanical name.The data should the detail information including areas where it will flourish/bloom.
Hippeastrum, Daylilies and Glads would be under flowering perinials > Bulbs/Rhizomes/corms.
Niaz bo (sweet basil) will be under Vegetables > Herbs
A data listed under botanical name is of little use to me, for that the search engines are already there.
Arif

[M Farooq]

This catalogue should be for easy consultation of gardeners of all level.
I, as an example of a user would be interested only in fruit/ornamental trees, bushes, flowering plants and vegetables/herbs.
Say I want to plant a fruit tree of certain size in Lahore, I should search
Trees > fruit trees and select Imly the data should tell me if it can grow and fruit in Lahore, the time to fruit and cultivation requirements,
I want a flowering tree I go to tree > flowering tree, should give a list of flowering trees under common name and then botanical name.The data should the detail information including areas where it will flourish/bloom.
Hippeastrum, Daylilies and Glads would be under flowering perinials > Bulbs/Rhizomes/corms.
Niaz bo (sweet basil) will be under Vegetables > Herbs
A data listed under botanical name is of little use to me, for that the search engines are already there.
Arif

Arif sb your suggestion is in fact excellent. I am not sure whether it is easy for the previous 200 entries to be classified this way but next time in the title one can include this info in the subject line like Tree: Delonix regia (Flame of the Forest). Lets see what others have to say.

[M Farooq]

As we can see our rose database is growing daily and given that it has a simpler format, I was thinking that we should adapt a similar but simple format for individual plants.
............................................................................................................................

. The actual problems, in my view are:
1. Lack of enough inflow/contributions of data from the Members. Being much wider & diverse in scope, can’t be searched & fed only by a few persons as is the case now, though Mr. Kisana has done a wonderful job on his own, in fact ” much beyond the call of duty”. More members need to chip in to provide him support.
2. Accessibility to the Database needs to be improved. Some suggestions were made earlier also, which I’ll try to retrieve or recall & repost.

Sir you hit the nail right on its head i.e. lack information flow. A single person cannot be a expert of roses, trees, herbs, climbers, annuals, and tropicals at the same time. I knew about vines and tropical fragrant plants...and that's what I added. Kisana has done a wonderful job, I would say far better than mine and some of active members like you, Farhan and Khabbab helped us in providing personal pictures. You made extra efforts to go to nurseries to take plenty of pictures.

None of us had or have any underlying motivation. It is purely for educational purposes of our very own public - just to create awareness among the readers. Admittedly, all of us would confess that we have learnt new things, new plants and new names from the process of compilation of garden plants. However, if the audience is not taking interest or participating (even in terms of providing pictures which is the least anyone can do) ...this idea of cataloguing will eventually die its natural death. As to the point of "sorry, we are busy" attitude...the fact is that everyone is busy, and all of us are doing very serious business totally unrelated to gardening. It all depends on interest. In short:

Matti ki mohabbat mein hum ashufta saron nay
Woh qarz utaray hain jo wajib bhi nahin thay

So please participate, if you guys like to see the list grow. Thanks.

Regards.

[Munir]

Brig Arif has hit the second 'nail on the head'.I agree with Brig Arif;I meant the same when I mentioned "accessibility":

. The actual problems, in my view are:
1. .......
2. Accessibility to the Database needs to be improved. Some suggestions were made earlier also, which I’ll try to retrieve or recall & repost.

The Databank needs to be reorganised/rearranged & made user-friendly,for easy/systematic reference.I am sure there would be many suggestions in this regard from the members.I remember suggestions were invited earlier also, but very few were made.However,I think Brig Arif raised these points then also.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Re-arranging can be made by creating separate sub-forum (such as shrubs, Roses, Trees etc).
Will do that Insha Allah in times to come.....
I am already into autolinking plant names (Key words) with database entries.
Both of above are time taking jobs.

But at the moment....this is the time to be in Garden .....

[Farhan Ahmed]

We have to keep in mind "that a true database has features through which desired information can be mined through numerous ways" but our database is sort of a make shift arrangement. Everything has to be done manually do list, arrange etc etc

[Farhan Ahmed]

Botanical list was chosen for a purpose. and as one can see most re known common names are also listed beside botanical names. Botanical name is final. Lets say i have a plant to enter in database and it has 6 common names, 2 urdu names. What should then be the entered. Who/how we decide which common name is more known to audience. What if a plant does not have a common name. Nicknames though easy can not be base of a database. Again the point remains lets say if its access based database we can lilst items in N number of ways such as plant type, common name, growing areas, bloom color etc....not in the arrangement we have at the moment.