台灣相思的學名是Acacia confusa．留意它的種加詞用上了confusa，即是混淆．命名者遇到這棵樹也有被考起的感概．台灣相思的幼苗會出現2種葉片：羽狀真葉和由葉柄演化而成的假葉片． 再長多數天的幼苗，便只餘下假葉片，成長的樹木一直便以假葉片的狀態出現．

另一種植物同樣讓命名者疑惑的還有Lonicera confusa，山銀花．花色有白色，又有黃色，究竟是白色還是黃色，真的讓人混淆．

The botanical name of Acacia is Acacia confusa. You will notice that 「confusa」 is added as the variety name.  「Confusa」 actually is a Latin word meaning 「confused」 or 「perplexed」.   Maybe that reflects how the nomenclator felt when he came across this tree.  Two kinds of leaves appear in Acacia seedlings:  (1) Bipinnate true leaves and (2) Phyllodes, the expanded petioles resembling and having the function of leaf, but not true blades.  After a few more days, only phyllodes are left and accompany the growth of the trees.

Another plant which also perplexes the nomenclator is Wild honeysuckle (Lonicera confuse).  Its flowers can be either white or yellow.   Then, which is its true color?  Question marks all hanging above our heads!!!

*translated by Mary Chung