NOMENCLATURE OF MULTIGENBRIC ORCHID HYBRIDS. 405 



NOMENCLATUEE OF MULTIGENEBIO OBCHID HYBBIDS. 



The question of the nomenclature of horticultural varieties and of hybrids 

 of garden plants has been a vexed one for many years, and perhaps par- 

 ticularly so in relation to orchids. In view of the fact that the raising 

 of hybrid orchids connecting many genera is now probable (one hybrid 

 connecting four genera is already in existence, and there is no apparent 

 reason why others should not be raised combining all the genera in 

 the respective groups — see list appended), the Orchid Committee of the 

 Koyal Horticultural Society considered that the time had arrived when 

 some definite system of nomenclature, which should be at once simple, 

 euphonious, and distinctive, should be adopted, internationally if 

 possible. 



To this end the Council appointed a Committee *' to consider the 

 question of the nomenclature of multigeneric orchid hybrids, to collect 

 evidence upon the same, and, if possible, to make recommendations 

 concerning it." 



The Committee consisted of the following gentlemen : Mr. J. 

 Gurney Fowler (Chairman), Messrs. N. C. Cookson, de Barri Craw- 

 shay, J. O'Brien, V.M.H., and H. J. Veitch, F.L.S., V.M.H. (members 

 of the Orchid Committee), with Dr. A. B. Eendle, M.A., F.E.S., 

 F.L.S., Messrs. E. A. Bowles, M.A., F.L.S., F.E.S., W. Fawcett, 

 B.Sc, F.L.S., C. C. Hurst, F.L.S., A. Eolfe, A.L.S., and F. J. 

 Chittenden, F.L.S. (Secretary), (members of the Scientific Committee). 



Several meetings were held, and the chief difficulty was found to 

 surround the question of the generic name. On this point the following 

 suggestions were made [the sentences in square brackets following the 

 respective suggestions represent the opinion of the Committee upon 

 each] : — • 



1. That the name consist of parts of the names of the genera 

 which enter into the composition of the hybrid — the system at 

 present in use (see list appended). 



[This method will lead to the formation of such unwieldy 

 names as Dialaeliocattphronitis and Brassolaeliocattley- 

 sophroschomboepidialeptotes . ] 



2. That a consonant be cho^n to represent each of the genera 

 used in producing the hybrid as B for Laelia, C for Cattleya. 

 D for Sophronitis, and that these be followed by the vowel 

 " a " when the genus is used once, " e " when it is used 

 twice, and so on, as Dabaca for Sophronitis x Laeliocattleya, 

 and Dabeca for Sophrolaelia x Laeliocattleya. 



[It is thought that the names thus formed would not be 

 euphonious or sufficiently distinct.] 



