| Jimeny Crickets! I drop out of the orchid world for a few years, and damned if they haven't been having a field day with genetics-based taxonomy. I must admit, however, that it is hard to argue with genetic analysis. Better than "well, this one has this bit of fleshy protrubence here, so it obviously belongs in this genus".... Oh well, you people think the Laeliinae are f'ed up, you should have a look at the Pleurothallidiinae! It's gonna be hard getting used to the FIFTY new genera that have come out of Masdevallia, since I was last into orchids, but it looks like good, solid taxonomy. Masdevallia has been a catch-all for far too long. Besides, even on a morphological level, you have to agree that L. (S.) purpurata and L. speciosa have some very distinct differences...
Then again, i used to want to BE a taxonomist. At least I'm not being sworn at... LOL
-Cj |