Hi Calvin:
Having never read the WOC or April 2009 (Houston) reports, I wasn't even aware that our plant's id was still being contested or that the name was changed, yet again, to distincta. (Thanks for sending this link.)
I've subscibed to AQ Plus since its beginning and recall finding our CHM listed as Aerangis brachycarpa at least until September or October last year. When it didn't show up in the December 2010 AQ Plus update, I didn't think anything of it. I've found that occasionally awards get dropped, photos get mixed up when the updates are made. The mistakes get reported to AOS and are usually corrected in the next update.
To make a long story short, I noticed the name change while playing with Orchids Plus, the new web-based AQ Plus. I asked Ron McHatton about this; he explained that the SITF changed the name based on information obtained from Isobyl la Croix, Joyce Stewart and Johann Herman. The CHM award stands as Aerangis distincta 'Joanna'; AOS issued new certificates with that name.
It won't happen today but eventually AOS will include a cross-reference in the Orchids Plus database when an award record changes. I hope and trust that the Species Identification Task Force (SITF) will make a strong effort to keep the exhibitor informed of its findings throughout the identification process.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if every plant that I consider bringing into my collection had a positive ID to begin with? Hear! Hear! for getting more of Grobler's seedlings to the US and Canada!
Best regards,
'Joanna'
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