2023 Little Easy Bean Network - Beans Beyond The Colors Of A Rainbow

[Eleanor]

Regarding naming these beans – please consider three varieties as cautionary tales:

“Buddha's Bellybutton”

Identified as PI 346325, it was collected in India and received by our National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) in 1969 with the top name PLB-61; no Buddha or body part involved.​

“Charlie Tinker's Grey Ball”

While I don't have the envelope handy for this comment, I too had access to the “Simcox collection” which included an NPGS envelope identified with a PI number and the hand-written note “Charlie Tinker's Grey Ball.” Accessing the PI number reveals the bean was donated by University of Florida Prof. Mark Bassett as a genetic marker for a grey seedcoat; no Charlie Tinker involved.​

“Nonna Agnes Blue”

“This is the same bean formerly known as 'Nonna Agnes Blue,' but we've determined that a new name is necessary. This bean was introduced to the US by an American who named it after his grandmother, who had no actual connection to the bean or its development. So since no one named Agnes had anything to do with this bean, and we don't know anything about its origin other than the town where it was found, we will henceforth refer to it as 'San Bernardo Blue' (or 'Azzurro di San Bernardo' in Italian). Seed purveyors have a duty to be as transparent as possible when it comes to names and stories attached to seeds, and we feel strongly that 'San Bernardo Blue' is the most appropriate, accurate, and honest name for this bean, based on everything we know about it.” source​

I understand the excitement a “new” cache of seemingly unnamed seeds creates; however, I sincerely believe the “duty to be as transparent as possible when it comes to names and stories attached to [these] seeds” is more important than an appealing name, which is why I have always appreciated "Pxbt-pp-3-97b-ooh".

 

[Blue-Jay]

Regarding naming these beans – please consider three varieties as cautionary tales:

“Buddha's Bellybutton”

“Charlie Tinker's Grey Ball”

“Nonna Agnes Blue”

I never had any intention of touching the names of these beans. I'm talking about these packets that I have that have no names to them what so ever. Some only and indication of a very approximate place they were probably collected from. These are the ones I want to name. All the PI numbered beans I have most all have have proper names and will stay that way.

In regard to "Pxbt-pp-3-97b-ooh". This is a Robert Lobitz code for this bean. What it means only Robert could tell you. I'm quite sure that had Robert lived longer this coded bean would have been named by him and that number would have disappeared.

I'm not particularly excited about this new cache of beans, but I feel they do need to begin to start a life with some sort of identity. Otherwise I feel I could either give the beans back or they can stay frozen in the bottom of a freezer or in sack in someones basement untouched forever.

 

[Eleanor]

I never had any intention of touching the names of these beans. I'm talking about these packets that I have that have no names to them what so ever. Some only and indication of a very approximate place they were probably collected from. These are the ones I want to name.

In regard to "Pxbt-pp-3-97b-ooh". This is a Robert Lobitz code for this bean. What it means only Robert could tell you. I'm quite sure that had Robert lived longer this coded bean would have been named by him and that number would have disappeared.

I'm not particularly excited about this new cache of beans, but I feel they do need to begin to start a life with some sort of identity. Otherwise I feel I could either give the beans back or they can stay frozen in the bottom of a freezer or in sack in someones basement untouched forever.

I understand.
My comment is merely the expression of my concern.

 

[Blue-Jay]

I understand.
My comment is merely the expression of my concern

No problem with your concern. I messaged Karen Golden who I have obtained the beans from and will see what she has to say. She might contact Joseph Simcox who collected and brought these beans into the country. Perhaps will get some feedback from him on how to or if to proceed. Some of the beans do have names and I would not change them.

 

[heirloomgal]

What an opportunity to have all those new beans @Bluejay77 . I think so highly of Joseph Simcox, and am amazed that he literally travels the world finding new seed varieties. His instagram is pretty awesome. To have more beans from his collection is pretty neat!

My feeling is that if he hasn't put a label on a packet of beans it likely doesn't actually have an attached name. I think it's highly likely that the tendency North Americans have with alphabetizing, naming and keeping a distinct & public history of different varieties of things is far less likely to happen elsewhere around the globe. My guess is those unnamed beans in the packets didn't come with names, and my feeling would be that you should baptise them with names. I'm a strong believer that a bean without a name (or a name like JHG899FHX) either won't last in the public domain, and if it does it's because some grower down the line will eventually give it a name. That's just what people do.

I don't know Mr. Simcox of course (but I'd love to meet him!) but this is a quote from one of his instagram posts, I don't think he's much of a stickler!

In a world of so much monotony, a world so standardized and organized for efficiency it comes as a great relief that some don't see those as "qualities" here is to my " inefficient" friends who marvel in diversity and "disorder" they get it done too , and I think even a lot better!

 

[Blue-Jay]

More Joe beans
No Name #7 Germ 42%....................................................Cauca, Columbia Germ 100%


Nagorni Kharaback 2015 Germ 10%...............................Botosoni Cyclobs 2015 Germ 40%


Owl's Head Germ 90%.................................................Tschermaks Fadenlose Wachs 2013 PI 324673 Germ 100%


Zita Gurchian Ester Village Svenati 2014 Germ 100%..Zita Guchian Ester Village Svenati 2014 Germ100%



Ping Zebra 2014 Germ 66%..........................................Graines De Cafe 2014 Germ 83%

I like the way this has darkened to almost maroon in
9 years. My Ping Zebra's are very pink or light red.

 

[Blue-Jay]

More Joe Beans #'s 52 to 61
Kutasi Princess Georgia 2014 Germ 100%.....................Nyayzemba, Malawi 2015 Germ 100%


Ijevan Purple King #2 Germ 100%..........................Ijevan Purple King #3 Germ 50%


Ijevan Purple King #1 Germ 100%...............................Georgia, Batumi 2015 Germ 100%


Wiedland Landsort 2013 Germ 57%...............................Ijevan Purple King #4 Germ 100%


Ijevan Purple King #2 Germ 100%.....................................Ijevan Purple King #2 Germ 100%

 

[Blue-Jay]

Joe Beans #'s 62 to #67.

Got an answer from Karen Golden this afternoon 4/24/2023. I'm going to email her photos of these beans paired up with photos of the original packet labels that Joe wrote in his hand writting then she will forward them to Joe and he will see if he can identify the beans. Even if he just names them himself that will be a load off my mind.

No Name #8 Germ 100%.....................................................No Name #9 Germ 100%


Nagorni Kharaback 2015 Germ 25%...............................Maxidor 2013 France Germ 80%


Flynn #4 2014 Germ 75%............................................Fagiolo Del Angelo Impero 2015 Germ 60%

 

[flowerbug]

...
I don't know Mr. Simcox of course (but I'd love to meet him!) but this is a quote from one of his instagram posts, I don't think he's much of a stickler!

In a world of so much monotony, a world so standardized and organized for efficiency it comes as a great relief that some don't see those as "qualities" here is to my " inefficient" friends who marvel in diversity and "disorder" they get it done too , and I think even a lot better!

one thing that will help in the future (but not for now) is a relatively inexpensive way to genetically sequence a bean plant. that way you will be able to classify and eliminate duplicates. i'm sure there are hundreds to thousands of beans that have names which are the same as others genetically.

once there is a family tree available then naming can go from there.

 

[flowerbug]

@Bluejay77 what size are "PI 346325
Spain 2014 Germination 30%..........................................Germination 86 % " ?