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Originally Posted by bwaynef
Just to reiterate
Real question: could someone compare and contrast (welcome to english class again) Austrian black and Japanese black pines? What differs in their care. How does each react differently?
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Well I'm not sure how much I'm gonna help but I have a few of each but haven't had any long enough to tell with any certainty what the differences are, but I shall try to re-iterate what others have said to me.
The first question on Thunbergii vs. Thunbergiana is really that of preference. The name comes from Carl Peter Thunberg, here is a little about the man who first documented and classified the JBP for the Western World.
Carl Peter Thunberg (November 11, 1743 - August 8, 182
was a Swedish naturalist. He has been called "the father of South African botany" and the "Japanese Linnaeus".And he was the author of the book Flora Japonica, this is why we have Berberis Thunbergii, it's named for him too, a fascinating fellow.
As for what suffix to put at the end, according to Wikipedia -giana is considered obsolete although people still use it, and I'm not sure why?The botanical name in this case is derived from "Latinzing" a name, i.e. making a name that is otherwise not Latin sounding, sound like Latin so it fits in things like Densiflora, and Pendula, more descriptive latin terms.
As for how NIGRA compares with JBP for Bonsai purposes, Vance W informed me previously that Nigra is not nearly as receptive to having the roots messed with and It is also more sensitive about heavy pruning, and doesn't really like being in a container.
I would bet that since Bonsai enthusiasts have been selecting JBP for centuries with the qualities that are essential for successful Bonsai cultivation, JBP that we get for Bonsai is in fact tuned to be worked on with traditional techniques. They have been bread to be Bonsai essentially.
Nigra on the other hand has had little pedigree when it comes to selecting plants that respond well to heavy pruning, repotting and being in a container. So all I think Nigra could be worked with if you take it slow and make sure that you aren't as cavelier about how much work you do at one time...
Like I said I don't know how much help that is, but this is the approach I am using right now until I discover otherwise.