A couple of days ago I heard on the news that an attempt would be made to control Sudden Oak Death in Big Sur by removing individual "bay laurel" trees.
Two things about this news story were problematic.
1. "Bay laurel" is not the name of the Umbellularia californica tree. It is California bay. Or laurel. But not both. Using both is merges two separate common names, and is like merging "mountain lion" and "cougar". You wouldn't say "I saw a mountain lion cougar."
