Orchid Names: The Basics

David Mellard, Ph.D., [email protected], October 2013

Overview

Introduction When you are new to the orchid hobby, orchid names can be quite daunting to
learn. Nevertheless, learning these names is often a rewarding challenge and
after a short time the names of many orchids become second nature.

Orchid names can be divided into two broad groups: species and hybrids.
Orchid species occur naturally in the wild and names consist of the genus
name and the specific epithet or species name (e.g., Cattleya mossiae).
Except for naturally occurring hybrids, orchid hybrids are man-made and
consist of the genus name and the hybrid name, usually chosen by the
hybridizer (e.g., Cattleya Circle of Life).

While this report is aimed at the beginner, intermediate and even experienced
orchid growers will find useful information about the proper use of both
species and hybrid orchid names. Let’s begin that journey.

Contents This report contains the following topics:

Topic See Page
Overview 1
Genus species names 2
Natural hybrid names 2
Including the person’s name that described the species 3
Synonyms 3
Website for species names 4
Hybrid names 5
Cultivar names 5
Website for hybrid names 6
Orchid trade names and abbreviations 6
American Orchid Society awards 8

Cattleya mossiae Cattleya Circle of Life

(species) (hybrid)
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Orchid Names: The Basics

Genus species Orchid species names follow the traditional binomial nomenclature developed
names by Carl Linnaeus in the 1700s. The idea is that plants with similar
characteristics (and hence similar evolutionary relationships) should be
grouped together. Thus, the concept of the genus and species (the binomial)
was born to designate a specific group of very similar plants (species) within
a larger group with many shared characteristics (genus). The first letter of the
genus name is always capitalized and the species name is always lower case,
and both names are always in italics. Examples include Cattleya trianae and
Paphiopedilum bellatulum.

Cattleya trianae Paphiopedilum bellatulum

Natural hybrid Natural hybrids between two species are sometimes found in the wild. Once
names identified and named, the name of these plants include an ‘x’ between the
genus and species names (e.g., Cattleya x hardyana). The ‘x’ is not italicized.
The entire name, except the ‘x’, appears in italics. Cattleya x hardyana is a
natural hybrid of Cattleya dowiana var. aurea and Cattleya warscewiczii and
is found in Colombia. It is important to note that this name is used only for
those plants that are wild-collected.

Another way to write a hybrid name is Cattleya (dowiana var. aurea x

warscewiczii). Dendrobium x superbiens is another natural hybrid of two
species (Dendrobium bigibbum x Dendrobium discolor). This natural hybrid
is found in Australia, and was described in 1876 by Heinrich Gustav
Reichenbach, a German orchidologist.

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Orchid Names: The Basics, Continued

Natural hybrid
names
(continued)

Cattleya x hardyana Dendrobium x superbiens

Including the In some orchid articles, the person’s name who described the genus or species
person’s name will also be included as part of the orchid’s name. For example, Phalaenopsis
that described venosa Shim & Fowlie indicates that Phyau Soon Shim and Jack Fowlie
the species described this well-known species.

Phalaenopsis venosa Shim & Fowlie

Identifying the person or persons that described a species helps to avoid
confusion when the same name was used to describe different species. For
example, Cattleya crispa Lindl. is the accepted name for this species from
southeastern Brazil, while Cattleya crispa Beer is a synonym for Laelia
marginata L.O. Williams from northern Brazil. So, what’s a synonym?

Synonyms An orchid species can sometimes have more than one name, which happens
when botanists describe a species that was described previously. Usually, the
accepted name for an orchid is the name that was published first.

A good example involves the genera Lycaste, Ida, and Sudamerlycaste.

Lycaste was described originally by John Lindley in 1843 and included many
species ranging from Mexico to South America. In 2003, Ann Ryan and
Henry Oakley reclassified a section of Lycaste predominantly from South
America with cream, green, or tan flowers and created the genus Ida. This
name was widely accepted and in use for many years. However, Morales
Archila, described this section as the genus Sudamerlycaste a few weeks
before the Ryan and Oakley publication, thus making Ida a synonym of the
genus Sudamerlycaste.

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Orchid Names: The Basics, Continued

Synonyms Because Ida was accepted in the orchid world, this name is still seen on name
(continued) tags and at orchid shows; but, according to the World Checklist of Selected
Plant Families, the accepted name is now Sudamerlycaste.

Synonyms include
Lycaste cinnabarina Rolfe and
Ida cinnabarina A. Ryan & Oakeley.

Sudamerlycaste cinnabarina

Websites for The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (formerly the Kew Monocot
species names List) has a searchable database that allows you to find information about the
accepted name and synonyms for orchid species and natural hybrids.
Additional information includes the date the species or genus was described
as well as the persons who named and published the species.

http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/prepareChecklist.do?checklist=selected_families%4
0%40100090420121954649.
The naming of wild plants is governed by the International Botanical
Congress. Their rules for naming wild plants are published as the
International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN)
(formerly known as the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature).
Numerous changes were made recently in the naming of wild plants at a 2011
conference held in Melbourne, Australia, mostly to accommodate the e-world
we now live in. More information about the code is available at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Code_for_Botanical_Nomenclature

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Orchid Names: The Basics, Continued

Hybird Names Orchid hybridization has been taking place for over 150 years with the first
man-made hybrid being Calanthe Dominyii, which was registered in 1856.
This primary hybrid of two species was made by crossing Calanthe triplicata
with Calanthe sylvatica and is named after its originator, John Dominy. Note
that for hybrids, the genus name is italicized but the hybrid name is not
italicized and the first letter of each word is capitalized.

Calanthe Dominyi Paphiopedilum Small World

A hybrid made up of two species is referred to as a primary hybrid. A hybrid

made up two hybrids or a hybrid and a species is referred to as a complex
hybrid. For example, Dendrobium Red Emperor is a complex hybrid of two
hybrids: Dendrobium Benikujyaku and Dendrobium New Comet. This cross
can also be written as Dendrobium Benikujyaku x Dendrobium New Comet
or as Dendrobium (Benikujyaku x New Comet).

Cultivar Names Cultivar names are given to individual plants (either species or hybrids) that
have exceptional qualities. Species and hybrid plants that are awarded by
orchid organizations, such as, the American Orchid Society, are usually given
a cultivar name. The cultivar name appears after the species or hybrid name
and is enclosed in single quotes.

Dendrobium Red Emperor has a well-known cultivar, ‘Prince’. Another

example is Cymbidium Voodoo ‘Halloween’. Note that no comma appears
between the species or hybrid name and the cultivar name.

Dendrobium Red Emperor ‘Prince’ Cymbidium Voodoo ‘Halloween’

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Orchid Names: The Basics, Continued

Website for Over 150,000 orchid hybrid names exist. Keeping track of these names is the
hybrid names job of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the United Kingdom. The
RHS maintains a database of hybrid names along with the parents, the
hybridizer, the date of registration, and other pertinent information. This
searchable database is available at this internet address:
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/horticulturaldatabase/orchidregister/orchidregister.asp.

The naming of man-made hybrids is governed by the International Code of

Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP, Cultivated Plant Code). More
information is available at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Code_of_Nomenclature_for_Cultiv
ated_Plants.

Orchid Trade With the popularity of orchids increasing along with the ease of mass-
Names producing flowering plants, many businesses now carry a nice selection of
Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Dendrobium, and Oncidium.

While often these plants are sold without names, occasionally a tag can be
found with the orchid trade name. To protect their investment, many
companies will use a marketing name to identify the orchid and sell the orchid
using their proprietary trade designation. Their trade name is often unique to
the company and is not the official registered name of the hybrid.

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Orchid Names: The Basics, Continued

Orchid Trade An example is Phalaenopsis MINI DEER. The proper way to write trade
Names names is to italicize the genus name and to place the trade name in all caps
(continued) with no quotation marks. The first letter of each word in the trade name
should have a slightly larger font than the remaining capital letters. While
these plants can be judged for ribbon awards at an AOS-sanctioned show,
they cannot be judged for AOS awards because the parents cannot be
identified.
More information about Trade
Names can be found at this
website:
http://www.internationalplantnam
es.com/HTML/English/how_to_us
e_the_list.htm
Phalaenopsis MINI DEER

Orchid The genus name for orchids is often abbreviated. For example, Guarianthe
Abbreviations aurantiaca can be abbreviated as Gur. Aurantiaca. Some of the more
common abbreviations follow:

Phalaenopsis Phal. Paphiopedilum Paph.

Oncidium Onc. Vanda V.
Epidendrum Epi. Cymbidium Cym.

Only genera used in hybridizing have approved abbreviations, which are

assigned by the RHS at the time of registration. If no hybrids are registered
with a natural genus, the entire name can be spelled out the first time in a
document and then abbreviated with the first letter as is done in botanical
publications. A complete listing of genera and the appropriate abbreviation is
available at http://midamericanorchids.org/judging/

Gur. aurantiaca Onc. Palmyra ‘Golden Girl’, AM/AOS

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Orchid Names: The Basics, Continued

American The American Orchid Society (AOS) grants awards to orchids and exhibitors;
Orchid Society and, these awards should be included as part of the plant’s name. For
Awards example, a name might be written asAM/AOS, which signifies that this plant
was given an award of merit for flower quality by the AOS. Note that a
comma appears between the cultivar name and the award designation.

If a plant has awards from more than one organization, the awards are listed
alphabetically by organization. For example, if a plant has awards from the
AOS and the RHS, the AOS award is listed first.

Some of the more common AOS awards follow:

HCC (Highly Commended Certificate): Awarded to orchid species or

hybrids scoring 75 to 79 points inclusive on a 100-point scale.

AM (Award of Merit): Awarded to orchid species or hybrids scoring 80 to 89

points inclusive on a 100-point scale.

FCC (First Class Certificate): The highest flower-quality award, awarded to

orchid species or hybrids scoring 90 points or more on a 100-point scale.

JC (Judges' Commendation): Given for distinctive characteristics that the

judges unanimously feel should be recognized but cannot be scored in the
customary ways.

CBR (Certificate of Botanical Recognition): Awarded to rare and unusual

species with educational interest that has received no previous awards. The
entire plant must be exhibited. This award is granted provisionally and filed
with the judging center Chair pending taxonomic verification supplied by the
exhibitor.

CHM (Certificate of Horticultural Merit): Awarded to a well-grown and well-

flowered species or natural hybrid with characteristics that contribute to the
horticultural aspects of orchidology, such as aesthetic appeal. This award is
granted provisionally and filed with the judging center Chair pending
taxonomic verification supplied by the exhibitor.

CCM (Certificate of Cultural Merit): Awarded to the exhibitor of a well-

flowered specimen plant of robust health. The plant must score between 80
and 89 points inclusive on a 100-point scale.

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Orchid Names: The Basics, Continued

American CCE (Certificate of Cultural Excellence): Awarded to the exhibitor of a well-

Orchid Society flowered specimen plant of robust health. The plant must score more than 90
Awards points on a 100-point scale. Plants receiving this award represent the highest
(continued) level of orchid culture.

PS Often you will see an orchid name written as Cattleya warneri T.Moore ex
C. warneri R.Warner. This means that T. Moore named the plant and that R. Warner
Moore ex wrote and published the taxonomist description establishing the plant as a
Warner new species.

PS When do you not capitalize and italicize genus names? Whenever you add an
When not to ‘s’ to a genus name the name is not capitalized nor is in italics. The genus
capitalize genus name also is not capitalized or in italics when it acts as an adjective. For
example, laelias are placed in the cattleya alliance because they are closely
related to Cattleya labiata, the type species for cattleyas.

A good rule of thumb to use is if you can replace the genus name with the
genus and species name, the genus name is italicized and first letter is
capitalized. If you can’t, the genus name is not italicized and the first letter is
not capitalized.

When you learn to not capitalize correctly, you’re sending the message……
I know the rules of nomenclature.