However, because this topic may seem redundant to anyone who had read my previous explanation a few years ago, I (begrudgingly) thought I would relate nomenclature to the considerably less refined but mechanically compelling LeMans GTO made by Pontiac. My brother Robert Tomeo happens to enjoy a remarkably well-preserved specimen of this classic "muscle car" that will leave any contemporary vehicle in the dust and is as brilliantly red as a fresh pansy.

Now that we have that established, we will be relating the name of this automobile to that of the "Boulder Creek" cultivar of English holly, not only because English holly is not as redundant as silver maple would be, but also because several cultivars of this species are available. Just keep reading. It will make sense in a moment.

The technical name of the automobile is Pontiac LeMans GTO and it is made by General Motors. The technical name of the English holly is Ilex aquifolium "Boulder Creek" and it is in the family Aquifoliaceae.

Latin names of the English holly should be italicized, but some prefer to not bother italicizing the name of the family. The cultivar name "Boulder Creek" is not italicized because it is not Latin. The name of the automobile is likewise not italicized because it is as American as Buick and silver maple. The family Aquifoliaceae is a classification that is not typically of interest to garden enthusiasts, but is more specific than the preceding classification, which I won't even begin to discuss.

The family Aquifoliaceae is a broad classification that includes many genera, just as General Motors includes several manufacturers of automobiles. (In Latin, "genus" is singular and "genera" is plural.) Within this family, the genus Ilex is more specific, but is still somewhat vague, just as Pontiac is. Within this genus, the species aquifolium designates a very particular Ilex, just as LeMans is a particular model of Pontiac. It is incidentally no coincidence that "genera" resembles "general" and "specie" resembles "specific."

GTO is a distinctively equipped LeMans that was perpetuated separately from more common LeMans models. Similarly, "Boulder Creek" English holly is a cultivar that exhibits distinguishing characteristics and must be perpetuated by vegetative propagation (cloning). These characteristics may not be genetically transmitted, so cannot be reproduced by seed (sexual reproduction).

Varieties, such as "Silver Star" English holly, are similar to cultivars, but are genetically stable and can therefore be perpetuated naturally by seed. I do not know how to relate this to the LeMans, except that some naturally emerge from the assembly line painted red like a pansy but others are red like a petunia, and some are red like a primrose, or a poppy ...

Perennial of the Week: Meyers asparagus

My colleague Brent Green introduced Meyers asparagus—Asparagus densiflorus "Meyers"—to me as "foxtail asparagus," which is how I have always known it. Dense foliage is symmetrically suspended on several upright stems that may be as tall as two feet. I have never actually seen the leaves, which I am told are inconspicuous scales among the very small and finely textured foliar stems known as "cladodes" that comprise the foliage.

Full sun exposure is preferred, but foliage will be darker green in part shade. Too much shade may cause etiolation (stretching towards light) and discoloration of foliage. Old foliage is not abscised, so should occasionally be groomed out of healthier new growth. Meyers asparagus responds favorably to fertilizer applied during spring. Regular irrigation promotes healthier and deeper green growth. The fibrous roots are tough and resilient and can easily regenerate foliage that may have been damaged by lapse of irrigation when irrigation resumes.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.