Vuylstekeara - Miltonidium

[jdavis]

Has Vuylstekeara been reclassified as Miltonidium?

Are all Miltonidiums Vuylstekearas?

I am assuming that a Vuylstekeara is a Miltonidium, but not all Miltonidiums are Vuylstekearas?

Am I correct in any of this?

I am a total newbie, but I really like Vuyls.

If you know of a source for Vuyls, please let me know.

Thanks.

[Roberta]

Vuylstekeara is a human-made genus composed of Miltoniopsis, Odontoglossum, and Cochlioda. However, there have been a lot of reclassifications within the Oncidium tribe based upon DNA analysis, so the Miltoniopsis may be originally been considered a Miltonia, many (if not all) Odontoglossums are now considered Oncidium, same for Cochlioda. In many cases you have to go down to the species level to determine the currently accepted genus for a given species. So... if you are confused, you have LOTS of company.

For instance, the old and wonderful hybrid Vuylstekeara Cambria 'Plush' is now Oncidionopsis (Oncidium x Miltoniopsis) My advice? Find a plant that you like (in bloom) buy it, take it home, and enjoy it. All of the Oncidium-tribe intergeneric (multiple-genus) hybrids have pretty much the same needs for care.

[JScott]

Because some of the plants formerly called Miltonia are now classified in a separate genus, Miltoniopsis, plants formerly called Vuylstekeara will now be either Oncidopsis or Miltonidium, depending on whether the Miltonia species in its background is one of the ones now considered Miltoniopsis or not.

If it has both Miltonia and Miltoniopsis in its background, it would be called something else, but I'm not sure what that name is.

[Roberta]

jdavis -
JScott is correct, Vuylstekeara is actually Miltonia x Odontoglossom x Cochlioda. But where the "Miltonia" ancestor is now a Mitoniopsis and both Odontoglossum and Cochlioda are now Oncidium, you end up with the same plant being now called Oncidionopsis. So if you look on the web for Vuylstekeara, you may find some (everybody doesn't follow the current nomenclature) , but you may also be missing some plants with the parents and ancestors that give the "look" you're seeking. So don't get hung up on the genus names... at this early stage in your "orchid career" these details of taxonomy are not helpful. Select the plant that you like, know that it's genus name today may not be what it was last year, the science is interesting but don't let it get in the way of your enjoyment of the plants as you learn to grow them.