Chance to name a new orchid species

[JungleWriter]

I work with a conservation organization that is exploring areas of high biodiversity to target for protection.

We are looking at ways to support our efforts, which involve buying land on behalf of local NGOs who can best protect conservation areas.

It's likely we'll have several new orchid species being described from our study area. We hope that one way to raise funds would be to auction off naming of new orchid species. We'd comply with taxonomic convention of course, and limit names to non-commercial entities. (e.g., no walmartii, etc.).

What do you think? Is this a good way to raise funds for orchid conservation? Should we look at other approaches?

[MAli]

I think it's a great idea !! I would love to name an orchid after my so Kareem. I'm sure I couldn't afford it but I am curious how much something like that would average for.

What areas are you working in and buying land ?

[ronaldhanko]

I'm not sure this can be done. Before it can be named the orchid has to be described by a competent botanist and it's my understanding that whoever does the describing is also the one who assigns the name. Sometimes the new species is named after the discoverer or someone important in the region for their work with orchids or botany, but I've never heard of the right to name a plant being auctioned.

[JungleWriter]

Great comments, thank you!

At present we have projects in Brazil, Madagascar and Colombia. Our new species come from surveys we are conducting in our Colombia project areas.

We already have a frog, described by an expert taxonomist, that will be named after a generous supporter. This person donated $5,000 to name the frog after their daughter. We are still waiting official verification, but the transaction is underway. We have nine new frog species in total.

Ron, as we are connected with the academic community (our President is one of the world's top conservation biologists), we work with taxonomists to acquire the naming rights. In effect, the taxonomist donates the naming rights to us, and we then auction that right to the highest bidder, who works with the taxonomist to ensure that the new species name conforms to taxonomic naming rules. This has been done for several animals, although I'm not sure if it's been done for orchids. But the process is essentially the same.

Here's more information from the United Nations Environmental Programme.

[JungleWriter]

FYI Here is a link to Neotropical Conservation, a website run by the amphibian taxonomist we are working with. So yes, we are legit! As you can see, he mentions "Six species in the genera Elleanthus, Telipogon, Stelis and Pleurothallis appear to be new to science. Descriptions of these species are underway." We are working to acquire the naming rights for these new species.

[BruceP]

I would think this would be particularly desirable if you included some seedling tubes with the naming rights.

[JungleWriter]

BruceP, that is a brilliant idea. I'm not sure what permits would be required since these are new orchid species and likely very rare, with narrow distributions. But it's a good question to raise with our team.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If you'd like some suggestions on what to look for in Madagascar as far as orchids are concerned, try looking for Cymbidiella, Oeceoclades, possibly some Eulophia, Cynorchis, possibly some Brachycorythis, maybe a few Nervilia, and in general, some Polystachya and Angraecoids. Could also be some Satyrium and/or Disa spp. as well, idk.

There may be others, idk. The ones I mentioned are the ones that I'm most familiar with.

[JungleWriter]

Great suggestions! Thank you Philip.

[JungleWriter]

Our frog deal is most likely going through (details confidential until official press release, sorry). So that bodes well for our plans to auction off orchid names. I would love for someone on Orchid Board to win that auction!