Canadian Botanists: $20 Bill Has Wrong Leaf

They say Bank of Canada used a specimen from Norway
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 18, 2013 2:00 PM CST
Canadian Botanists Say Currency Has Wrong Leaf
A portion of the new $20 bill, featuring the controversial leaf, at right.   (YouTube)

Canada has spiffy new $20 bills made of polymer instead of paper, but botanists are more focused on a design element: They say the Bank of Canada adorned the bill with a maple leaf from Norway instead of Canada, reports the CBC. "It's a species that's invasive in Eastern Canada and is displacing some of our native species, and it's probably not an appropriate species to be putting on our native currency," says one.

The bank is trying hard to deny, saying the leaf in question is a "stylized blend" of Canadian species. Um, no, says a University of Ottawa professor. "This could not be confused with a native species of Canada." The CBC provides side-by-side images of Norway and Canadian leaves, and it's tough to disagree with the botanists, "stylized blend" or not. (More Canada stories.)

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