Orchid Nomenclature

[kmarch]

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

[Anton]

Excellent Kevin ! :

Another one to be printed and added to the Folder of Orchid Knowledge.

[brookn]

Okay think I get it!

Phalaenopsis bellina x self is my new plant. Phalaenopsis is the genus, bellina is the species, and it is a self crossing so is it a natural hybrid? Or is it something else (a clone?)?

Okay one more Lc Laeliocattleya genus Mem. Robert Strait grex which was registered/chosen by the person who made the new hybrid. JC/AOS not sure what JC is, but the AOS is American Orchid Society and it is awarded. Feel free to give me some correction here, but I finally think I understand. Ooh and my other seedlings are Ctna cattleytonias yes?

Thanks kmarch! Fourth time was the charm.

[kmarch]

brookn,

I'm glad you found the atricle helpful.

Your Phal bellina x self is what we call a "selfing." It is still a Phal bellina. It means that someone had a Phal bellina they thought was really nice so they pollinated it with itself. Why would smeone do this? Well, there are a number of reasons. It could be simply that the breeder didn't have anything else in bloom to cross it with. Or it could be what we call "line breeding." Line breeding is when a breeder tries to improve some characteristic of an orchid species, usually the flower quality.

A natural hybrid is a cross between 2 different species that occurs naturally in the wild. Since your Phal contains only one species and did not occur in the wild, it's not a natural hybrid.

It is not a mericlone (clone) either because it was grown from seed. Mericlones are propigated in the lab using meristem tissue, not seed.

When any plant (species or hybrid) is crossed with another of the same (e.g. 2 different plants of Cattleya walkeriana) or with itself (C. walkeriana x self) the offspring always cary the same name as the parent (in this example all offspring would be called C. walkeriana).

Regarding your Lc Memoria Robert Strait, you are correct, someone made a cross and registered it with the grex "Memoria Robert Strait". A "JC/AOS" means the plant was awarded a Judges Commendation form the American Orchid Society. Judges Commendations are special awards that judges can give for most any reason, unique colour beng one I see fairly often. As I recall from your other thread, your Lc Mem Robert Strait did come with the clonal name (cultivar ephitet) of 'Blue Hawaii.' In 1998 an Lc Mem Robert Strait was given a JC for its blue colour. Your plant is probably a mericlone of that original plant.

Finally, yup, Ctna = Cattleyatonia. Cattleyatonias are hybrids between Cattleyas and Broughtonias. Probably the most famous one is Ctna. Why Not. Great little clusters of fire engine red flowers with bright yellow centers.

[brookn]

Okay,

I think I am starting to get it even more. I understand line breeding as it applies to my danes. Now, with them there are 'optimal' ways to do the line breeding like mother to son and grandfather to granddaughter. My harlequin was line bred, and it did not work out, perfect markings, but he has neurotic tendencies (I know it is not the same, but helps me work it out in my head). I would assume that orchids then when line bred should be chosen carefully. I also assume the risks are not the same when breeding them? I think this is prob. for another thread but you have my interest on the subject

I know that my phal. bellina is also a species, and I think I also have some questions about that. But I will get my mental notes together and ask elsewhere. Yes my Robert Strait is "Blue Hawaii", I was considering one that was a miniature (also named blue hawaii), and pale blue/lavender then I saw the Robert Strait. One look and I was a goner, love it, and I am really not much on white orchids at all. I did see a fabulous white catt. online that they wanted an exorbitant amount for (I almost died when I saw the price), it had Jamaica in the name I believe. I was hoping it meant I had pretty good taste-lol!

Thanks for all the patience, and thanks for helping out us newbies, it is much appreciated.

[Vivienne]

Kevin - can you please clarify my understanding on the differences with...

Hybrid
Natural Hybrid - occurs in the wild
Primary Hybrid - cross between two same genera? (Paph x Paph)
Secondary Hybrid - is this like an intergeneric? (Miltonia x Brassia)

What would, for example, my Paph Tomas Garcia (Divisadero x Inca) be?

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Vivienne

Kevin - can you please clarify my understanding on the differences with...

Hybrid

Hybrid is just a general term used to mean any cross between 2 different species, a species and a hybrid, or 2 different hybrids. There are different categories of hybrids

Originally Posted by Vivienne

Natural Hybrid - occurs in the wild

Correct. There are relatively few of these.

Originally Posted by Vivienne

Primary Hybrid - cross between two same genera? (Paph x Paph)

No, a primary hybrid is a cross between 2 species. For example: Paph Saint Swithin is a primary hybrid because both of its parents are species, in this case rothschildianum and philippinense.

Originally Posted by Vivienne

Secondary Hybrid - is this like an intergeneric? (Miltonia x Brassia)

A secondary hybrid (a term I don't think we've delt with on the forum yet) is a hybrid in which one or both parents are primary hybrids. For example all 3 of these hybrids: Paph Angel Hair (St. Swithin x sanderianum), Paph Doll child (St. Swithin x Prime Child), and Paph Black Saint (St. Swithin x Blackstone) are secondary hybrids because one or both parents are primary hybrids. Angel Hair is a primary crossed with a species, Doll Child is a cross between two primary hybrids, and Black Saint is a cross between a primary and a complex.

An intergeneric hybrid refers to the presence of more than one genera anywhere in the breeding. For example, the famous Lc. Mini Purple is cross between Laelia pumila and Cattleya walkeriana. Because it is a cross between 2 differend genera, it is an intergeneric hybrid. In this case, because both parents are species, it is also a primary hybrid.

Originally Posted by Vivienne

What would, for example, my Paph Tomas Garcia (Divisadero x Inca) be?

Your Paph is a complex hybrid. Complex hybrid is a is a general term refering to any cross in which one or more parents are hybrids. Secondary, tertiary, etc., etc., hybrids are all complex hybrids. In Paphs, the term complex Paph is also used to refer to a specific line of breeding which produces the big round shiny "bulldog" Paphs also sometimes refered to as exhibition Paphs. Your Paph is both.

[Vivienne]

Thanks so much Kevin - that really helps explain things. You sure do have a knack for explaining things so the newbie can comprehend.

Off to bed I go... the big day (judging) is tomorrow!!

[Bolero]

Thanks Kevin, you have such a wonderful way of writing.

I will keep this information for future reference.

[Tess1]

Another question. I found that one of my den. orchids was looking sick and brought it in to be repotted. I then found that it was not a den. at all, but the following is on the label:

Sc. Beaufort 'Yellow Lip' HCC/AOC
X
Sl. Orpetii 'Yellow Bird'

Now my question is, what does Sc. and Sl. stand for? I have been growing this plant with my dens. , but now have put it with the sarcs in a slightly darker area of the orchidhouse. (I hope it recovers)

[fred]

Tess

Sc is Sophrocattleya = Sophronitis x Cattleya


Sl is Sophrolaelia = Sophronitis x Laelia

Orchid Nomenclature

http://retirees.uwaterloo.ca/~jerry/...s/names.html#S

[Tobi]

Thanks Kevin. Great post - good information

[Tess1]

Thanks Fred.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Tess1

Sc. Beaufort 'Yellow Lip' HCC/AOC X Sl. Orpetii 'Yellow Bird' Now my question is, what does Sc. and Sl. stand for?

Fred has explained what Sc. and Sl. mean but I have some additional info for you Tess. This cross has been registered and named. It is: Sophrocattleya Jillian Lee or Sc. Jillian Lee.

Now some members might be saying, "Wait a minute, something's wrong here. Shouldn't a Sophrocattleya (Sc.) crossed with a Sophrolaelia be a Sophrolaeliocattleya instead of a Sophrocattleya?" Well yes it is but in this case, Sl. Orpetii is one of the hybrids affected by the transfer of several Laelias into the genus Sophronitis. So Orpetii is now Sophronitis Orpetii instead of Sophrolaelia Orpetii. This makes the cross a Sophrocattleya by Sophronitis which is, of course, Sophrocattleya.

[ncorchid]

Nice article on the Nomenclature differences.

When a hybrid is made does the name change based on which plant is the pod parent?

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by ncorchid

When a hybrid is made does the name change based on which plant is the pod parent?

The name does not change depending on which is the pod or pollen parent.