Naming an orchid...

[frostychic]

Hi... although I've been posting on this site for better than a year now, I still feel like a huge Newb regarding some things with orchids.

I was wondering if anyone could help me understand the naming process that goes into officially naming an orchid?

I had done some "naming" research on day lilies last summer and was left in complete non-understanding so I haven't even tried to find the answers for my current question "on-line".

Could someone break it down for me in easy to understand terms?

If I am going to purchase an orchid that isn't named... and I research the parentage names provided (oh wow... what if I find that the parentage names aren't registered either??) then when does an orchid cross get named and who names it? Who CAN name it???

An example is one of my vandas... it isn't named but the tag came with it's parentage cross... does the fact that an orchid isn't officially named make it less valuable?

I'm considering purchasing an orchid from an on-line seller where the orchid isn't named... I asked if they would be providing the parents names and they said yes, they'd include that with the parcel when shipped. This seller reports that they are the original person that crossed these plants... should I be wary? The plant is healthy, large & the bloom photos are simpley mouth watering... the price is good and I was able to get a little better deal than the original asking price... should I be concerned with parentage and naming? I don't seriously think that I'm going to begin flasking/raising large numbers of orchids, but I do like being able to call them something other than NOID. Also, if something happens that I should decide to sell an orchid or two from my collection then wouldn't other people be in a similar situation regarding wanting to know a name or parentage?

Your thoughts???

[Ray]

Technically, hybrids may only be registered by the person who first flowered the plant, but that need not be the person who actually made the cross. If you did make the cross, great. If you did not, you must state the name and address of the originator, and get permission to name the cross from that individual, unless he has passed away or has not responded to written requests for more than three months. (If you wish to register a mature plant you acquired, use the date that it first bloomed for you.)

It is also possible to register a cross if the originator is unknown, and you'll have to explain your efforts to determine the originator. A customer of mine registered a hybrid obtained from me by getting the name of my source of that plant, and inquiring with that grower. They, unfortunately, did not know the source, and stating that "the source was unsuccessfully researched through two previous generations of ownership" was sufficient.

[LouisW]

I dont think not having a name directly affects the value of the orchid, but I have never seen an unnamed plant with an award or a cultivar. An award or a strong cultivar name would increase the value of a plant, but I think it would have to be given a hybrid name before receiving recognition such as a award.

[rcb]

Frosty - if they are providing the parents' name, then it is NOT a NOID. It is an identified unregistered hybrid. This is very common.

As for a cultivar, anyone can give a cultivar name to any plant. IMHO it would be more work than needed, but you can do it. And any vegtatively propagated, or clones of that plant would still carry the cultivar name. The plant does not have to be awarded or even awardable in order to carry a cultivar name.

As for awarded plants, I think (someone please correct me if I'm wrong), that if you have an unregistered hybrid that has been "granted" an award under the AOS awards system, then that hybrid has to be registered. At that point, you would go through the process of what Ray wrote above. And an awarded plant requires a cultivar name, which the owner gets to pick.

[frostychic]

This is great information and just what I was hoping that you all would post.

Thank you so much! You folks are wuuuuuunderful here

[fred]

this may help also

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/orc...aos-award.html

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/orc...arded-orchids/