I'm called schlippenbachii .
Named for Mr. Schlippenbach,
Even though he was not my first choice:
Far too rarely taxonomists,
Historical botanists,
Give namesakes that much of a voice.
Do you think nudiflorum
Was furnished a forum
When renamers revised the last time?
Was my naming an omen
That they'd find a cognomen
That folks can't pronounce, spell or rhyme?

Some day some revisionist,
Ambitious taxonomist
May learn who first gave me the eye —
'Twas poor Mrs. Buttercup,
Sweet Mrs. Buttercup,
Who showed Mr. Schlippenbach I!

Copyright 1987 Bob Carlson