Onc. Charlesworthii name

[wuness]

I just did a bit of research on this plant. Seeing that the name ends in -ii, I assumed this was a species. It is, however, a hybrid between Onc. noezlianum and Onc. incurvum. Does this violate some rule of taxonomy that attempts to distinguish between specific epithets and grex names. I don't think I've seen anything like this before. (By the way, this same name applies to another Oncidium hybrid with different parents to further add to the confusion.)

wuness

[MrHappyRotter]

It's just a very old hybrid, registered at a time when Latinized hybrid names were still allowed and en vogue. There are many numerous hybrids with this kind of naming convention. I don't recall if it's just frowned upon now or outright banned from registrations, however I am 99% sure I've heard/read that they are no longer allowed.

[estación seca]

Yes, Latin-appearing hybrid names are prohibited by the code. We are stuck with the old ones.

The current rule is always to capitalize hybrid names. This now is the only way to distinguish between a species name and a Latinized hybrid name. Sometimes people think we're being petty when correcting how people write names, but it makes a big difference in meaning, and is important when deciding how to cultivate a plant.

[wuness]

Thanks for your help.

wuness

[Ray]

Yep, and there are some "norms" that can confuse folks - such as natural hybrids, in which an "x" is added to the front of the hybrid name.

If they exist in nature where two species populations overlap, they are written as Genus Xnaturalhybrid, and if the same cross is done by man, it is Genus XNaturalhybrid, with the hybrid name capitalized.

I think there is another shortcoming in the naming of hybrids: A x B and B x A are considered to be the same, but as there are some (mitochondrial) DNA that is passed on only by the seed parent, maybe it shouldn't be that way.

[wuness]

An interesting side note. This Onc. was registered in 1910 by Charlesworth Ltd. I also have a Bc. Hippodamia in bud now and I looked it up in Orchidwiz today to see what the flower is going to look like. The name was also registered by Charlesworth Ltd. On Orchidwiz I see there are quite a few hybrids they named after themselves, and there must be many more with other names, just like Hippodamia. They must have been quite an operation over a century ago.

wuness