What's the difference in a name?

Both the above flowers bloom on plants which take a long, long time to grow. Both the flowers are very attractive, one a striking yellow while the other an eye-catching red. Yet, among the Chinese especially, one is well-known by name but the other's name is not even known by this writer. I only know it to be one of the many cactus in this world.

And when anyone is given a choice of taking one of them home, most people would choose the one with the red flower. Why?

The one with the red flower is more popular because of its name. In Chinese it is known as the 'Fu Kui Hwa' which means prosperity flower. It is because of the name that this flower is desired to grace the homes of people who believe that wealth will flower in its wake. So, names are important. It is true of so many things that parents choose their children's names according to the desired result. Nowadays we have the money plant which according to some have a poisonous sap. Though looking more like plastic leaves on a plastic stem, it is precious to homes where the people think that it could help pave the way to money. Then there is the coin plant, with rounded leaves visualised as coins which is another popular plant. Looks like the name maketh the plant and its popularity.

My own son has a preference for the cactus and the beautiful blooms that a good number of them have. This is possibly the effect of the parents never imparting the belief that names can bring about changes in ones life. Of course, sometimes names do have some effect on the bearer when it comes to children and that was the reason I chose my children's names very carefully. (I have written about that in an earlier posting.) However, plants ought not to play such an importance where the name is concerned. The importance of the plant ought to lie in the nutrients it contains, its uses as oxygen factory, food, health and aesthetic value.

Nevertheless, humans are such that names somehow plays an important part in life and knowing that nursery owners and plant propagators know the marketing strategy of giving the right names to bring the desired effect on the minds of the customers.