[bigfootbob]

"They are both Solanaceae, and both have the common name of Angel's trumpet."

Agreed, they are both Solanaceae so are about 1,699 more plants. I've never heard of Jimsonweed being referred to as Angel Trumpet. I pulled out the trusty Hortus III and they don't call Jimsonweed "Angel Trumpet" either.

Perhaps if these kids who are trying to find a good time should try Aconitum!

[piasa]

That's the problem with common names. They tend to vary from region to region, time period to time period and with every fad. They're very misleading. I've even heard people refer to 4 O'clocks as 'angel's trumpets.'

Instead of the problem getting resolved, nursuries and landscape designers compound the problem by giving their own cute names to plants to increase sales.

Journalists don't help, either.

And scientific names are changed on occasion as genetic research goes on, so even scientific names can get people confused if they are working out of old field guides. That can't be helped, but it's annoying once you've finally memorized the latin names for all your plants only to discover your info needs serious updating. (I still keep forgetting what they changed uniola latifolia to.)

Kids should stick with smoking Indian cigars and save their brains for calculus.