Learn to say (or type) it right!

[Ray]

This may seem picky, but if we're going to keep our communication precise, we need to pay attention to detail and state things correctly.

I've noticed a lot of improper expression of orchid names lately (here and elsewhere) - species names capitalized, hybrid names not, etc., and those are "basics" we should all do correctly.

Another area that needs some "tuning" is the use of "variety" when "cultivated variety" or "cultivar" is actually appropriate.

I'm not picking on anyone in particular, so I hope the author understands this is just for an educational purposes for the correct use of terminology: In another thread, a plant was referred-to as "Zygonisia Cynosure var blue water sailing".

The proper way to document that name is Zygonisia Cynosure 'Blue Water Sailing'. Zygonisia capitalized because we are citing the name of a particular plant, not the hybrid genus in general, Cynosure capitalized, since it is a hybrid, not a species, and the Blue Water Sailing capitalized and surrounded by single quotes to indicate the particular cultivar.

Note that it is a cultivar, not a variety.

"Varieties" are very often true to type. That is, seedlings raised from that plant will generally carry on the notable characteristics - and "alba" variety, for example, when "selfed", will have mostly alba seedlings.

"Cultivars", on the other hand, are often not true to type, but are selected and singled-out by us due to some unique characteristic that might be considered a sport or mutation. Seed-propagated versions of those are unlikely to carry on the traits, and that's why they have to be asexually reproduced (cloned).

OK. Off the soapbox now.