What is the origin of the name "lowii" in the genera Dendrobium, Phal. and Paph.?
 

I just ordered a Paphiopedilum lowii and noticed that there are at least two othe "lowii" orchids: one a Phalaenopsis and one a Dendrobium. All have a natural range that at least includes the island of Borneo. How did they get the same name? Was it after an explorer, or who?
Just curious.:scratchhead:

IOSPE, Dendrobium lowii Lindl. 1861
"Common Name Low's Dendrobium [English Orchid Grower and Collector 1800's]"

IOSPE, Paphiopedilum lowii, originally Lindley, Cypripedium lowii 1847, Pfitzer 1895
"Common Name Low's Paphiopedilum [English Orchid Enthusiast 1800's]"

IOSPE, Phalaenopsis lowii Rchb.f 1862
"Common Name Low's Phalaenopsis [English Orchid Gardener and collector 1800's]"

Often nurserymen in England would save special new things for their best customers. Then, when the plant flowered, they would talk prominent botanists into naming the plant after the customer. I didn't do any more reading than the above, but I suspect Mr. Low was a very good customer, since he was an orchid enthusiast, and we're all crazy. Note these three plants were named after him in 1847, 1861 and 1862.

You can read all about Sir Hugh Low and his adventures in the Malay peninsula on Wikipedia, just search for Hugh Low.

I looked him up. I thought he must have been in that area as the orchids' ranges overlap in Borneo.:thanx:

And you can add Cymbidium lowianum to the list.

As well as Dimorphorchis lowii, Plocoglottis lowii and Malaxis lowii. There may be others. In fact, we have a thread on the Plocoglottis for readers who don't know what a Plocoglottis is. I sure didn't :rofl:! http://www.orchidboard.com/community...tis-lowii.html

Not to mention nepenthes lowii, though not an orchid, but a tropical pitcher plant. Very impressive one at that.