Cultivar Epithets, and Orchid Names
 

I'm hoping this is the right place to ask this, but could also fall into Advanced discussion I guess, but here goes.
If you get a seedling cross, and it's unbloomed and unnamed other than the parentage, who, and how can name the eventual flower. Obviously all seedlings will be different and deserve their own cultivar name (I mean how many ridiculously awesome Joy Spring Canary's does Peter Lin have right??). Anyway, I picked up a couple of unbloomed seedling crosses, and got to wondering if I could name them, or if that privilege rests with the nursery who crossed it.

I am not sure about this, so someone with more knowledge should should chip in. With cultivar names, such as Phal. Joy Spring Canary 'Japan Peach,' names a specific plant, and will only apply to that plant and any thing that is vegatatively propagated, such as kiekies, and meristems, which are genetically identical. Now, as far as I am concerned, anyone can give a cultivar name to any 'chid so long as it does not already have one. Other than having the plant awarded by the AOS, I am not sure of any way to officialize a cultivar name, and I don't know what would happen if another persons plant of the same grex is awarded, and they just so happen to use the same cultivar name that you have for an unawarded plant.

Technically, the first person to bloom the plant has the right to name it, but if you did not make the cross, you must ask permission of the breeder, and if you cannot find the original breeder after making a real effort to do so, the registration will indicate "O/U" - originator unknown.

If the cross is a primary, that is, using two species, then a color photo of the blooming plant must be supplied.

As far as cultivar epithets are concerned, technically anyone can assign one, assuming it does not already have one. If the plant to which you have assigned a cultivar name is a clone, then all of them should share that name, but commonly, the first person getting one awarded usually get's that choice.

Instructions on how to register a new orchid hybrid are here: Orchids / RHS Gardening

Ray already noted some requirements.

Anyone can name a cultivar but it usually doesn't happen until it awarded or cloned, and sometimes not even when it is cloned. But any plant that is cloned or even just divided should get a cultivar name, otherwise somewhere down the line there could be much confusion. Feel free to give your plants cultivar names, but try to make them something unique that no one else would choose. 'Pink' is bad, 'Zyxqu Pink' is much better. There are restrictions on cultivar names too, but they are so often ignored it hardly matters.

This is as close to what I can find searching for "orchid naming". It is my understanding that in order to get awarded, an orchid needs a clonal name. Not that you will actually get awarded for the name, but one needs to be supplied when submitting....

Now, I have a species Cattleya that has no clonal name. Can I just make up my own, if none can be applied?

What if a hybrid has no clonal name as well?

Example....
We had an Encyclia tampensis fall out of the tree. Since the tree is too tall to replace, the orchid was transferred onto a mount. The property resides on Riverland Rd, so I put the clonal name of 'Riverland Queen' to it. Is that right?

Encyclia tampensis 'Riverland Queen'

I wasn't aware there were restrictions for cultivars. Do you happen to know what they are or where I can find those restrictions?

It has been my understanding that as long as there isn't a clonal (cultivar) name you could apply any name you like to it. I rarely ever did this until recently when I had to get rid of my collection. I divided up a bunch of plants I had for long time and gave them to some friends. They were not awarded but my thought was then at least if I ever ran across the cross at a show or something it would be like reminiscing with my ol' chids. I know it's cheesy, but you try and reduce your collection from 1200 to 25.