Moraea vuvuzela

[Calvin Becker]

A news report on a local South African radio station about the above species caught my interest this afternoon. Googling turned up the following links:

http://afrol.com/articles/36478

http://www.sanbi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=973:new-plant-species-honours-sas-hosting-fo-the-fifa-world-cup&catid=66:research-news

[TheOnionMan]

A news report on a local South African radio station about the above species caught my interest this afternoon. Googling turned up the following links:

http://afrol.com/articles/36478

http://www.sanbi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=973:new-plant-species-honours-sas-hosting-fo-the-fifa-world-cup&catid=66:research-news

Interesting.  Regarding this new species, Moraea vuvuzela, and the news article with the mention a couple times of a "soccer fan utensil" , I had to look up what the hey they are talking about.  This link should clear that up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuvuzela

[JPB]

Beautiful plant! How does it sound???

[shelagh]

Actually Hans, looking at the picture I didn't think it was 'loud' enough

[Gerdk]

This is indead a vuvuzela which is bearable!

Gerd

[Lesley Cox]

Even now, I'm not sure if this is a wind-up, like Susan's lovely article about the Vuvuzela Philharmanic.
Edit - I wrote Philharmanic accidentally but maybe the misprint is appropriate.

[Calvin Becker]

I think it is legit Lesley as John Manning (http://www.sanbi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=224&Itemid=689) was interviewed in the radio article and described the reasoning behind naming the plant.

[Rogan]

Tsk, tsk! South Africans will try anything to gain an audience!     _{...got any seed yet Calvin?}   

[Calvin Becker]

Ha ha no not yet Rogan but will work on it!

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks for the link Calvin. It seems unlikely that such an august body of PhDs would be taking the mickey.
Of course the name Vuvuzela would be appropriate for many liliaceous plants as well, with their long, fine trumpets. Maybe there will be a world-wide rash of them in coming months.