Orchid name changes

[Leisurely]

When using RHS website, I keep coming up with new genus names that I do not recognize. I have not been able to find any source of information on the changes. What I was hoping to find is something like a list of the old names and the change to the new name. Any assistance anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

[Frdemetr]

Jerry,

RHS is a mess! They accepted the name "Sophronitis" for ALL brazilian Laelias (what is obviously wrong); so, if you are searching for a hybrid with brazilian Laelia as ancestry, like a former "Laeliocattleya", you must search for "Sophrocattleya"; as brzl Laelia group is heterogenous, RHS accepted also more correct names: for exemple, Laelia sincorana can be found as "Sophronitis sincorana" and as "Hadrolaelia sincorana", but never as "Laelia".
To add a "little more" complication, some Brassavolas have "new names" too... Brassavola dygbiana, the more used is hybridation, due its lip, now is "Rhyncholaelia"....so, if you are searching for a former (as everybody calls) "Brassolaeliocattleya - Blc", who has brzl Laelia and B. dygbiana as ancestries, you must search for a "Rhynchosophrolaelia"; but if the laelia was mexican, it is a "Rhyncholaeliocattleya" (since the brassavola was dygbiana!).
Of course, the former Potinaras (Brassosophrolaeliocattleyas), with brzl Laelias, are no longer Potinaras, but only Rhynchosophrocattleyas (as brzl Laelias are sophronitis now...)
But don't worry, naming brzl Laelia as "Sophronitis" is so obviously completely wrong (a demented idea, in fact), this "genius" idea based on a single scientific work, with a half-dozen genes in common, that RHS will soon need to change its names again....

[Dorothy]

Could you repeat that .. slowly ..

[Grandma M]

Originally Posted by Frdemetr

Jerry,

RHS is a mess!...... RHS will soon need to change its names again....

I agree. A complete explaination of a total mess.

[GreggC]

a curveball. In addition to being an orchid lover, I was at one time a Master Gardener. When I was in that program, they would always come up with new designations for all kinds of different plants. They would think that there was suddenly a reason to reclassify them. Somtimes, they would end up changing their minds after that.

[goodgollymissmolly]

Jerry, the current level of Orchid Wiz has all the new names. Additionally it gives all previous synonyms. That might be a more expensive solution than you anticipated, but in the long run you will love OW for all the things it does. Hey...it's Christmas time...tell Santa!!

[GreggC]

it would make a lovely Christmas gift. Just remember that for any friends or family that is doing some last minute shopping. It's a great program!

[Leisurely]

GreggC and Goodgollymissmolly:
I will have Orchid Wiz on my computer in a few days. I should have bought it a long time ago because RHS is so unreliable. Thanks for the suggestion.

[GreggC]

I know that you will enjoy it, I certainly do.

[Undergrounder]

Not much help but there's a Genus abbreviation list here.

Actually i probably got that link from someone else on this board

Its not very up to date though. Thelychiton has ??? all through it. My favourite genera and they don't even know what it is. Geesh.