J&L orchids?

[rba]

I'm looking for a little feedback with this vendor. I actually found something that I was interested in. But I stopped short of pressing the submit button when I read the terms of sale. At the bottom of the page concerning liability. It's the first one that I'm wondering about ( identification ). Is it me or does this seem odd?

J&L Orchids - Domestic Terms of Sale

[ronaldhanko]

J & L sells lots of species and cannot always guarantee that they are actually given the right name due to name changes, the possibility of new or unidentified species, etc. I've never had a problem dealing the ladies at J&L and would recommend them highly. If you have a problem with what they sell, I'm sure they'll replace it.

[boytjie]

J&L rocks. Even better if you have the chance to visit in person sometime. The ladies who run it are knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging, and their stock is top-shelf. I don't think you need to worry about ordering from them.

[SpeciesNut]

I love them!They are super nice and their plants,a tiny bit small in one instance,but VERY healthy,have done beautifully for me.They def. have superior quality!Order away!

[Becky Jo]

I have also enjoyed J&L They have alot of minitures and plant quality is very good. The only problem is sometimes I kill them. Becky Jo

[rba]

Looks like everyone so far has had a positive experience with this vendor. Heck I might give them a try.

J & L sells lots of species and cannot always guarantee that they are actually given the right name due to name changes, the possibility of new or unidentified species, etc.

I can understand the last part of the quote as far as new or the unidentified. But a name changes for the species. I thought that the species names ( which 99% of them I can't pronounce ) were more or less set in stone..

[Beverly]

I go to J&L a few times a year, they are less then an hour from me. I love them.
Beverly

[PaphMadMan]

Originally Posted by rba

I can understand the last part of the quote as far as new or the unidentified. But a name changes for the species. I thought that the species names ( which 99% of them I can't pronounce ) were more or less set in stone..

Species names might change for many reasons, and few if any are really 'set in stone'. There is always more to learn. It might be discovered that a species has been named more than once, in which case the earliest name must be used even if it was widely known under a different name. A species might get split into 2 or more species, or 2 or more could be lumped together into just one. A species could be reassigned to another genus if it becomes clear it is more closely related to that group of species, or genera can be lumped or split too. If a species name was already used in its new genus then that could change too. And on and on...

[ronaldhanko]

I'd like to add that sometimes it is difficult to identify a species accurately (I cannot tell the difference between the two varieties of the Yellow Lady's Slipper, for example when I see them in field) or between some of the Sophronitis species. It sometimes takes a botanist and microscope to tell the difference. That's why you'll sometimes see on a list of species the abbreviation aff.- that means its closely related to the species named without necessarily being that particular species. As another example, I have a plant, pictures of which I posted recently, that I bought as a miniature Brassavola nodosa. Those who saw the pictures were of four different opinions as to what it was, nodosa, one of two other species, or a hybrid of nodosa and something else.

[Connie Star]

I will add kudos for J&L. They are great. They were at our orchid show and spoke at one of our meetings. I've probably bought more orchids from them than any other mail order vendor, and I've never had a problem.