Hybrids Question...

[Piper]

LOL - that would be callosum^5 x lawrenceanum^4!

Thanks for the clarifications. Such precision is involved in orchid nomenclature, we can't even sum up without correcting ourselves upteen times!

I think it's worth mentioning that the tag can tell you two things. Sometimes it will only tell you one of the two. It can tell who the parents were, and they would retain their cultivar name and any awards; and it can tell you the specific name of the plant in your hands, and that would not retain the parents' cultivar names and awards.

I think that's where the confusion came in.

Julie

[cneos]

Originally Posted by Oscarman

Great information from everyone.
I agree there is much information about an orchid cross that should be included on the tag; sadly, it is often missing or incorrect. Often this can be attributed to poor penmanship or negligence of proper spelling or record keeping.

You're right, there is a LOT of information about a species or hybrid that should be on a tag, but tags fade, break and get lost. When you acquire a new plant that has a tag, record its name in whatever type inventory you use and make a new label right away. If the original label is broken or illegible, most orchid databases, including RHS (free), have a string search feature that can help fill in the missing info.

[matucana]

Hi Julie

Originally Posted by Piper

LOL - that would be callosum^5 x lawrenceanum^4!

but that is only the beginning! If you write the ancestors of a hybrid, say Dendobium Berry, like this:

Den. Berry = Den. kingianum X
Den. Mini Pearl = Den. canaliculatum X
Den. bigibbum

it is still easy. Anyway, modern Phal hybs are a BIT more difficult. I tried it for my Phal. I-Hsin Black Panther on a spread sheet... the list is 1758 entries long and goes into the 16th hybrid generation.

[cneos]

Good to know the family tree but the label only needs to show the plant name (species or registered name if a hybrid), clonal epithet, and AOS or other award. If plant is a hybrid, its nice to see the parent names, especially if it's a new or otherwise unfamiliar hybrid.

[littlefrog]

I'd change that a little bit. Even if it is a named cross, I like to know the parents. Certain parents are better than others, and if for some reason I wanted to replicate the cross, or just buy more, I need to know the exact parents.

So, delenatii x rothschildianum isn't that useful (I'd just write that Delrosi and be done with it), since no clonal information on the parents. But delenatii 'Pink Puff' x roth 'Rex' is different than delenatii 'Pink Puff' x roth 'Sam's Best', and I'd keep that information on the tag along with the name of the hybrid. Lord knows I won't remember which is which otherwise, 15 years from now when those might bloom.

[cneos]

I too like to know the names of a plant's parents in as much detail as possible and use the AOS' Judging Entry Form as a guide for info that should be included on a tag: name of plant, clonal name, parentage and award. A database traces back to grandparents, etc. but this info is not on the tag. A regular check of RHS, e-aosawards or other resources keeps me current with the most up-to-date name/registration/award info.

[Phantasm]

I usually will create a tag with the original parents, then add a tag when the grex is named. If you need to know the background go to Sander's or programs like Orchidwiz, Wildcatt or the AOS award program. They can be quite useful for breeding or just to satisfy your curiosity. In my opinion Orchidwiz is the best one to buy, with a lot of useful information, awards, culture, pictures, etc. Wildcatt is an earlier version that has been quite useful for genealogy and award information. The AOS e-award program is a bit difficult to navigate, but has the actual award photos for many plants (several thousand), so it is useful also.

[cb977]

I know a number of people who've purchased Orchidwiz and they all rave about it.