Fredclarkeara After Dark 'sunset valley'

[Kasiopea]

Gorgeous!! Well done!

[smweaver]

Very pretty. A truly ghastly name for an orchid (and something of a lesson in shameless self promotion), but the blooms are lovely. Any fragrance to them?

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by smweaver

Very pretty. A truly ghastly name for an orchid (and something of a lesson in shameless self promotion), but the blooms are lovely. Any fragrance to them?

The blooms were strongly scented in the mornings, sweet and pleasant.
This is a completely new intergeneric and I am not sure if it was named by the RHS or if Fred gave any input. In either event, its deserved as this intergeneric advanced breeding by opening up other hybridisation possibilities. If species can be named after individuals, then imho I don't see any problem with intergenerics being named similarly.

[AvantGardner]

If I spent 20+ years developing an intergenic hybrid (time, patience, failures, frustrations, etc...) I'd want it named after me as well.

Beautiful pics!

[smweaver]

I'm fairly sure that Fred had a lot to do with the name. According to his website, he also attempted to name another new genus after his wife:

"I wanted to name this hybrid genus Marthaclarkeara so I could introduce it in my talks by saying 'I am pleased to present, Fredclarkeara and Marthaclarkeara.' However somebody beat me to registering it, and this genus is now named Georgecarrara."

I won't deny that he's done a lot of interesting work in hybridizing, and many of his creations (including the one you have) are lovely, but this sort of name is, in my opinion (and I'm not claiming that it's anything more than that, one individual's opinion), unhelpful. With most intergeneric names, the vast majority of growers can figure out what's in a plant's background: Brassolaeliocattleya, Vandopsis, Aeridovanda, etc. The only thing that Fredclarkeara (or the equally cringe-worthy Georgecarrara and Marthaclarkeara, "cute" though the latter was demonstrably intended) tells me is that someone's ego (while perhaps arguably deserved in the case of Mr. Clarke) overcame many decades of established tradition regarding the naming of orchids (along with a modicum of good taste and modesty).

[Bulbofett]

Originally Posted by smweaver

I'm fairly sure that Fred had a lot to do with the name. According to his website, he also attempted to name another new genus after his wife:

"I wanted to name this hybrid genus Marthaclarkeara so I could introduce it in my talks by saying 'I am pleased to present, Fredclarkeara and Marthaclarkeara.' However somebody beat me to registering it, and this genus is now named Georgecarrara."

I won't deny that he's done a lot of interesting work in hybridizing, and many of his creations (including the one you have) are lovely, but this sort of name is, in my opinion (and I'm not claiming that it's anything more than that, one individual's opinion), unhelpful. With most intergeneric names, the vast majority of growers can figure out what's in a plant's background: Brassolaeliocattleya, Vandopsis, Aeridovanda, etc. The only thing that Fredclarkeara (or the equally cringe-worthy Georgecarrara and Marthaclarkeara, "cute" though the latter was demonstrably intended) tells me is that someone's ego (while perhaps arguably deserved in the case of Mr. Clarke) overcame many decades of established tradition regarding the naming of orchids (along with a modicum of good taste and modesty).

That's the case with most (if not all) orchids though. Brassia was named the botanist William Brass. Cattleya was named after William Cattley. The list goes on. I think Fred has earned his rights to the name for sure. I guess all those guys were egotistical as well hahah

[smweaver]

Good point.