Hi there, I am using the iOS version of Seek running v. 2.14.2 (252). In the Seek app, plant names have been changed. Everywhere- the camera, information page, related species, etc.- there have been name changes to specific plants. Often it shows the scientific name, to the point I believed it was a bug showing the scientific names instead of the common names, but I have just noticed other name changes that aren’t scientific, which makes me believe that this is an intentional change. Examples and pictures are given below.
My question is, why did this change happen? I miss seeing the common names and the interesting descriptions of the plant in each name. Reading just the Latin names doesn’t tell me much about a new species I have found, and I can’t find out what it is until I connect to the internet and look it up. Aside from the loss of common names, other name changes remove local names for plants. Here in New Zealand, akeake (Dodonaea viscosa) has become varnishleaf. I enjoyed learning the Maori names, and it was even a selling point that I would make to many people to get involved.
So why the change? I’m not sure if I needed to post this in feature requests, but is there any way to revert this change? It isn’t very helpful and leaves out a lot of good information to know. If anyone else has noticed this or has any information, do pipe up, I would love to hear what you have to say :) Thank you!
Examples:
Akeake → Varnishleaf (Dodonaea viscosa)
Chinese Weeping Willow → Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)
European Raspberry → Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
Garden Pansy → Viola wittrockiana
Rosemary → Salvia rosmarinus