Why is this plant an Lc.?

[silken]

Originally Posted by glengary54

Not to confuse the issue or to throw fuel on the fire,but, in this case the Lc label is correct. Once a plant is awarded it is correct and proper to retain the original genus name even if they have been reclassified.

The taxonomists are scientists and not botanists and couldn't give a rats behind about the confusion and inconvenience all of their reclassifications cause. The real confusion comes when different genera are condensed into one and there are hybrids of the same name from multiple genera, which is against the rules of RHS orchid nomenclature.

I for one like the old names, especially in the hybrids of the Cattleya alliance plants, when one says Cattleya, Laelia or Sophronitis one can picture the basic shape of the flower being talked about. When they are combined into one genus it's any ones guess what the flower may look like without knowing the whole genealogy.

I agree totally. I too have an idea what a Laelia etc. look like but I can't even pronounce, never mind remember some of the new names and they sound awful for the most part.

[orchidsamore]

purpurata is Cattleya purpurata not a Laelia. All the non-Mexican Laelia were renamed to Cattleya. So Blue Boy would be a Cattleya. except one of the parents of Ariel ,i.e., bowringiana was reclassified as a Guarianthe.

It has been know for 50 years that the classification of purpurata was wrong but no one wanted to offend the memory of the scientist who did it.

Be careful with these changes. The is also a C. Aeriel and 2 RLC Ariel which are not the parents of your plant. Ctt. Ariel is a totally different plant.

To get the most recent classifications use this link The International Orchid Register / RHS Gardening
Click on Grex Name Search and enter the name of your plant "Blue Boy" The RHS site will list every plant with Blue Boy in its name. It finds ten plants.

Ariel finds 26 plants 4 of which are Cattleya alliance (C. Ctt. and 2 Rlc) and two of the Rlc. are distinguished by their registration date
Rlc. Ariel(1914) and Rlc. Ariel(1949).