My Diovallia Tinker Belles 7/5/08

[patticake]

Tinker is doing O.K., but we had a scare. She dropped her 2 new growths the other day. I think she dried a little too much. It was still damp, but just barely. I was afraid of over-watering her. (the little pot is in a napkin ring for stability) Everything seems to be O.K. with the old growth. The new growth on my Masdie, Roofus is doing well, however.

[kmarch]

For those who might be scratching their heads and saying, "Diovallia!?!?! What the heck is that? I thought Tinker Belles was a Masdevallia."

Well the proposed changes to the group of orchids usually known as Masdevallia has been adopted by the RHS and is now reflected in the RHS database.

Here is a list of the new genera, all of which used to be Masdevallia:
Acinopetala
Alaticaulia
Buccella
Byrsella
Diodonopsis (one of the Tinker Belle parents)
Fissia
Luzama
Masdevallia
Megema
Petalodon
Portillia
Pteroon
Regalia
Reichantha
Rodrigoa
Spectaculum
Spilotantha
Streptoura
Triotosiphon
Zahleria

You can find out which species now go in which genus here: About the Genera

You can find a comprehensive list of the species and which genera they now belong in here: Masdevallia

[patticake]

Kevin, All I can say is, I get VERY confused with all of the name changes. I'm not exactly a dummy, either! I love knowing where Tinkers' "roots" are from. (pun intended!)

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by patticake

...I get VERY confused with all of the name changes. I'm not exactly a dummy, either! ...

Well you've managed this one rather well so one step at a time eh?

I have to tell ya that I'm going to have a hard time getting my head around the changes inthe Pleurothalid Alliance. It's not just Masevallias that have changed, the genus Pleurothalis has also been split, and into a lot more genera than the masies. It's going to be some time before I get them all learned.

But....

Can I recommend a few things to make it easier to all those out there who are reaching for the aspirin?

1) Take small bites. - Don't feel obligated to sit down tomorrow and start memorizing. I don't know any orchid person, no matter how brilliant, who does this. They all learn through accumulation, gradually adding knowledge as they go.

2) Start with what you know. - If you have a collection of maybe 20-30 orchids, you will probably only have a few orchids affected by name changes, probably a couple of Cattleya Alliance plants, maybe one of the Colmanaras that changed ot Odontocidium, maybe a Masdevallia....rather a former Massie. For the time being just check to see if any of your plants have been affected by name changes and maybe just learn those names to start.

3) If in doubt, look it up. - Go to the RHS orchid registration database (Royal Horticultural Society - Plants: Registration of Orchids). If you know the grex, then click on "Grex Name Search" and type the first word of your orchid's grex in the grex field. Leave the genus field blank. The database is very sensitive. Your spelling must be correct and if the grex contains any punctuation like an apostrophe leave it and everything that comes after it off. When you click "Search" you'll get a list of orchids of all genera whos grex contains that which you typed in the field. Ckick on an orchid name for more information. Using these tips will make the database easier for you to use.

4) If all else fails, post somethign on the forum. Someone will probably be able to assist you.

[patticake]

Thanks, Kevin! I have been enjoying checking out some of my plants now! I couldn't find my Neo. falcata 'Issuhime'- Is that because it's just a different spin on Neo. falcata?

[kmarch]

That's right patticake, your neo won't show up in the RHS database because the database contains only registered hybrids. Line bred species like your neo, or like any other line bred species, won't be listed there.

[patticake]

That would explain it, then! Thanks again.

[kmarch]

you're learning and making a lot of progress patticake!

[patticake]

Kevin, you're the best!
I've been on the RHS site and I figured that I would check out the parentage of my hybrid cross.- (probably should have done this AHEAD of time) I have the lineage for Love Call -I think- They have Rhynchosophrocattleya Love Call. Is that the same as Pot. Love Call?-
They don't have anything for Slc. Mem. Alvin Beggman Poem. Does this mean that I won't be able to register my hybrid?

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by patticake

They have Rhynchosophrocattleya Love Call. Is that the same as Pot. Love Call?-

If you entered "Love Call" in the grex field you would have found no listing for Potinara Love Call so this is one that has been affected by some of the changes in the cattleya alliance. It's the same plant.

Originally Posted by patticake

They don't have anything for Slc. Mem. Alvin Beggman Poem. Does this mean that I won't be able to register my hybrid?

You didn't find your plant because you had some spelling problems. Remember I said the database is super particular? If you included the "Mem." that wold have been a problem because of the period - I mentioned above not ot use punctuation - and the database spells out "Memoria."
Also, if you included the last word "Poem" that would have been a problem because that is a cultivar name, not part fo the grex. Also, Begeman is misspelled. I found the listing in the database by starting with "Alvin Beggman" then broadening it to simply "Alvin" when the full name didn't produce.

Sophrocattleya Memoria Alvin Begeman 'Poem' is the full, correct name.

You will be able to register your hybrid when the time comes.

[patticake]

Kevin, How can I ever thank you? I know that this thread is way off topic, but it's my thread so....oh, well!

Kevin, thanks for clearing up my questions! With Love Call, There were a few choices but Rhynchosophrocattleya was the only one in the Catt alliance. I was hoping that it had just been re-named.

As far as my seed parent... I had typed in the name several ways. With and without Memoria. My problem was the spelling on my tag. It wasn't a hand written tag. It was printed quite clearly. (and incorrect!) Begeman was spelled Beggman and the word Poem was not in apostrophes. I did pay attention to you saying not to use quotation marks. The problem is I didn't have any, so I thought Poem was part of the grex. I'm a little miffed at the grower that I bought this from! I wish I knew who they were! (I bought it at an orchid show with many vendors)

I'm so glad that we have a "Kevin" to help us out! !!!!