Hello all! There have been questions about orchid nomenclature in a few different threads recently and I’ve been asked to post a short tutorial on orchid names. So finally I've managed to get one done and here it is. Feel free to post questions if you have any.
Orchid Nomenclature
Nomenclature can appear to be complex and confusing but is actually quite logical and straightforward once you see how it works. In this article I’ll be looking at the naming of :
A. species orchids
B. natural hybrids
C. artificial hybrids
D. cultivar ephitets and awards
A. Species Orchids
The name of an orchid species primarily consists of 2 Latinized names: the
genus (or generic name) and the
specific epithet (or specific name). The
generic name is the first of the two names and indicates which genus a plant belongs to. Generally speaking, it is a group of species exhibiting similar or related characteristics. Examples of commonly grown genera include: Oncidium, Dendrobium, Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, etc., etc.
Generic names are always capitalized.
The
specific ephitet is the second name and is often descriptive (in the name Encyclia dichroma, the name dichroma literally means “two coloured” and refers to the flower being composed of 2 colours, pink and purple). Sometimes the specific ephitet is a Latinized form of a persons name as in Paphiopedilum rothschildinum (named after Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild). Specific ephitets always use lower case.
They are never capitalized.
Some species have more than one recognized variety. They are distinguished by the addition of a third name, the
infraspecific epithet. There are 5 ranks of infraspecific ephitets. In descending order they are subspecies (subsp.), variety (var.), subvariety (subvar.), forma (f.), and subforma (subf.). Variety and forma are the most frequently used. Infraspecific epithets are typically descriptive as in Phragmipedium besseae
f. flavum in which the infraspecific epithet “flavum” (meaning yellow) distinguishes the yellow variety of besseae from the typical red variety. Some species are very diverse. Laelia purpurata, or example, comes in 11 different forms. Growers sometimes attach unrecognised varietal names to species plants when they have many of the same species but wish to distinguish them from one another. This use of unrecognized names leads to confusion and should be avoided.
Infraspecific ephitets always use lower case.
B. Natural Hybrids
Hybrids are produced when two orchid species are crossed. Occasionally, in nature, two different species will cross without human intervention to produce what we call a
natural hybrid. Cattleya x guatemalensis (aurantiaca x skinneri) is a very commonly found natural hybrid. Natural hybrid names consist of two parts: the genus (see above) and the
collective epithet. Frequently the collective epithet of a natural hybrid is expressed with an “x” preceeding as in Cattleya x guatemalensis. The ICBN indicates that the “x” may be omitted so Cattleya guatemalensis is permissible (and most commonly seen). If you look in the RHS database, both Cattleya guatemalensis and Cattleya Guatemalensis appear, the record of the latter indicating it was registered in 1950. Many feel using the “x” and expressing the collective epithet in lower case (Cattleya x guatemalensis) is the best way to express a natural hybrid as using one of the other expressions could cause one to confuse the plant with a species or an artificial hybrid. I am inclined to agree.
C. Artificial Hybrids
Artificial hybrids, which probably make up 99% or more of the hybrids found in your average collection, consists of 2 names as well, the genus and the
grex. With hybrids a genus can take 2 different forms infrageneric or intergeneric. With an infrageneric hybrid, both parents are of the same genus and so the genus remains unchanged. In an intergeneric hybrid, plants of two different genera are crossed. In these instances the nmes of the two genera are combined. For example, if you take a Cattleya and cross it with a Laelia, the result is a Laeliocattleya (Lc). In complex hybrids more than 2 genera can be used. A Laeliocattleya can be crossed with a Sophrinites with the result being a Sophrolaeliocattleya (Slc). It does not matter which order or combination the 3 genera are bred in, the compound genus is always expressed the same:
Laeliocattleya (Lc) + Sophrinites = Sophrolaeliocattleya (Slc)
Sophrolaelia + Cattleya = Sophrolaeliocattleya (Slc)
Sophrocattleya Sc) + Laelia = Sophrolaeliocattleya (Slc)
In complex intergeneric hybrids these compound names can become cumbersome and unpronounceable. When this happens, the long name is scrapped and replaced with a artificial generic name. Potinara is one such example. Potinara contains the genera Brassavola, Cattleya, Laelia, and Sophronitis. Another quite popular one is Vuylstekeara (Cochlioda, Miltonia, and Odontoglossum).
The second part of a hybrid name is the
grex. The grex, early on, was a Latinized name, but no longer is, making it easier to distinguished from species and natural hybrids. Unlike specific epithets, which are given by taxonomists, anyone who makes a new hybrid can register it with the Royal Horticultural Society and make up their own grex. Once registered, all future crosses using those same parents carry the registered grex. For example, in 1996, Jerry Fischer of Orchids Ltd, registered Phrag. Jason Fischer (Memoria Dick Clements x besseae). Now all remkes of that cross, regardless of who makes it and when, will be known as Phrag. Jason Fischer.
The grex is always capitalized like a title: Oncidium Twinkle.
Infraspecific names like variety (var.) or forma (f.) are not used with hybrds.
D. Cultivar Epithets and Awards
Sometimes it is desirable to differentiate a single plant of a species or grex from other like plants. This is done using a
cultivar epithet (sometimes called a clonal name). Sometimes it is a grower who wants to remember that one plant among his/her many Dendrobium kingianum plants is especially desirable for breeding. Sometimes it is an orchid judging body who has awarded a species or hybrid and wants to distinguish it from other plants of the same species or grex.
Cultivar epithets, like grexes, are modern language and always appear in single quotes after the grex like this: Ascda. Jannie Lee Brandt ‘Quick’. They may contain up to 3 words, all of which are capitalized.
If a plant is mericloned or divided, all mericloned offspring and divisions must carry the full name of the original plant including the cultivar epithet and any award indications (see below).
As mentioned above, sometimes the reason for giving a cultivar epithet is because the plant has won an award form an orchid judging body like the American Orchid Society (AOS), the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), or the Australian Orchid Council (AOC). Any plant that has been awarded should carry with its name the set of abbreviations identifying the award like this: Phal. Maritea ‘Lesa’s Galaxy’ HCC/AOS. This abbreviation indicates this plant was awarded a High Class Certificate for flower quality from the American Orchid Society. If a plant has been awarded, it is very important to include the award abbreviation to distinguish it as an award winning plant. Winning an award often increases the desirability of the plant to breeders and collectors, and therefore makes it more valuable.
One should exercise great care in the use of cultivar epithets, especially for plants which have not been awarded. Because awarded plants carry cultivar epithets, people may think a plant bearing a cultivar epithet has been awarded or may be of a high quality when that is not the case.
The naming of orchids is governed by 2 international bodies: the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN), and the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP). The complete ICBN may be found online at:
http://www.bgbm.fu-berlin.de/iapt/no...e/Contents.htm