Botanical Taxonomy and Classification:
Botanical taxonomy and classification is the study and grouping of similar plants into categories. At a high level, similar plants are grouped into families (e.g. Orchidaceae). Families are divided into genus, and genus divided into species. A species is a kind of plant that freely interbreeds within its native geographic range to produce identical and true offspring. Scientific names typically display a genus name followed by a species epithet. Both words are italicized, the first letter of the genus is capitalized (e.g. Miltonia clowesii, Oncidium forbesii, etc).
Locally distinguishable plant populations, hybrids, horticultural plants, and genetic strains are further divided into varieties. Variety name follows genus and species.
Nomenclature Conventions for Orchids:
Nomenclature conventions for orchids further distinguish plants based upon true species, naturally occuring hybrids, artificially created hybrids, and meristem culture. These classifications can be defined as follows:
- True Species - A species is a kind of plant that freely interbreeds within its native geographic range to produce identical and true offspring. Contraverse begins with defining its "native geographic range". With most plants, this range is simply not known. Perhaps its range has been increasing or decreasing over the past century. The change in its range may be attributed to natural changes in climate, or it could be a reaction to human intervention.
- Naturally Occuring Hybrids - Two species that interbreed within the overlapping section of their native geographic range. Typically, the hybrid will not produce identical and true offspring. If it did, would it be new species? The new species would have to successfully compete against its parent species and gain a durable ecological nitch (definably different than either of the two parent species). The new species would have to sustain its own native geographic range and produce identical and true offspring. It would likely take a century of careful documentation to convience the scientific community to recognize the plant population as a new species.
While a naturally occuring hybrid might someday get recognized as a new species, most will not. Most naturally occuring hybrids do not produce identical and true offspring, they do not successfully compete against its parent species, and they do not gain a definably different ecological nitch. Most naturally occuring hybrids are a fluke, a mistake, or a rarity that is not mass produced.
- Artificially Created Hybrids - Two species, or hybrids, are interbred through horticultural and artificial technique. The pollen of one plant is introduced to the style of another plant and artificial fertization occurs. The successful cross can be named by the breeder and registered with the Royal Horticultal Society.
In a special case, if the parent species have been previously documented to produce a naturally occuring hybrid, then the product of the cross is still notated as a naturally occuring hybrid (even though in this instance it may have been artificially produced in a laboratory).
- Meristem Culture - Plants that have been asexually cloned from meristem tissue of the parent plant. The offspring are identical to the parent in both form and genetics. Horticultural awards given to the parent are shared with the offspring.
Nomenclature conventions for orchids are as follows:
For true species:
Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana 'Arlington', HCC/AOS
- Phalaenopsis = Genus name
- lueddemanniana = Species name
- 'Arlington' = Clonal name
- HCC/AOS = Horticultural award names
Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana is a native orchid species from the Philippines. 'Arlington' is an especially nice specimen. The 'Arlington' specimen was entered in a contest of the American Orchid Society (AOS). It was judged to be superior to the other specimens of this same species. Consequently, it was awarded a certificate. Meristems of the 'Arlington' specimen were laboratory cultured to produce more plants - identical plants. Each plant from this meristem culture (or by division) carries the name 'Arlington' and each is recognized for its AOS award.
Note: Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana 'Arlington', HCC/AOS x self, is a seedling
progeny and not an awarded plant.
For naturally occuring hybrids:
Phalaenopsis x valentinii
- Phalaenopsis = Genus name
- Parents = Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi x Phalaenopsis violacea
- x = indicates a naturally occuring hybrid
- valentinii = Hybrid name
Phalaenopsis x valentinii is a naturally occuring hybrid of the orchid species Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi crossed with Phalaenopsis violacea.
For artificially created hybrids:
Paphiopedilum Gowerianum
- Paphiopedilum = Genus name
- Parents = Paphiopedilum curtisii x Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum
- Registered with RHS 1893
- Gowerianum = Hybrid grex name
Paphiopedilum Gowerianum is an artificially created hybrid of the orchid species Paphiopedilum curtisii crossed with Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum. The cross was registered by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in 1893.
For meristem culture:
Doritaenopsis Talitha Klehm 'Magenta Passion', AM/AOS
- Doritaenopsis = Genus name
- Talitha Klehm = Hybrid grex name
- 'Magenta Passion' = Clonal name
- comma inserted after clonal name and before award granted
- AM/AOS = Award of Merit granted by the American Orchid Society
More Orchid Nomenclature:
- Form
A form is an individual mutation found within the general population of a species. Forms occur randomly and infrequently. One white flowering specimen within a population that is typically dark pink flowering is a demonstration of a "form". An example is, Doritis pulcherrima form alba.
- Variety
A variety is a group found within the general population of a species. Varieties occur routinely.
- Subspecies
A subspecies is a group found within a specific geographic range. Subspecies is a race. In theory, after successive generations, it may be judged as a different species.
Still More Orchid Nomenclature:
Typical Albinos
- Form albidum
Uniform white flower with red pigment lacking. Paphiopedilum delenatii.
- Form album
Uniform yellow flower with red pigment lacking. Paphiopedilum hangianum.
- Form album
Uniform white flower with spots lacking. Paphiopedilum bellatulum.
- Form album
Uniform white flower with red pigment lacking. Paphiopedilum concolor.
- Form album
Pure white flower. Paphiopedilum niveum.
- Form albo-flavum
White & yellow flower. Paphiopedilum micranthum.
- Form alboviride
Green & white flower. Paphiopedilum tonsum.
- Form aureum
Pure yellow flower. Paphiopedilum barbigerum.
- Form aureum
Yellow green flower. Paphiopedilum villosum.
- Form aureum
Yellow green flower. Paphiopedilum sukhakulii.
- Form bohlmannianum
Yellow green flower. Paphiopedilum fairrieanum.
- Form immaculatum
Pure white flower with red pigment lacking. Paphiopedilum spiceranum.
- Form immaculatum
Pure green flower with red pigment lacking. Paphiopedilum appletonianum.
- Form leucochilum
Flower with purple markings and immaculate white labellum. Paphiopedilum godefroyae.
- Form markii
Pure yellow flower with reddish pattern and dots lacking. Paphiopedilum armeniacum.
- Form measuresianum
Green & yellow flower with red pigment lacking. Paphiopedilum venustrum.
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