Registration problems

[Phrag-Plus]

Last weekend I visited the RHS web site to see if the new orchids registration bulletin was on line. Few minutes later I was working filled up and completing my lists of the new hybrid names, crosses, parentage, etc… In one word my references.

When I look at one of the new hybrid, I was surprised and a bit confused, Urgandiae x warscewiczii = Nadine Taylor-Wilson. I was surprise because Urgandiae x warscewiczianum was already registered by Marilyn Ledoux as Marsh Wiggle in 2002. I did write to Marilyn and she did confirm to me than she used the darker warcewiczii (aka popowii).

I did wrote to the RHS registrar to ask the question about why the registration was accepted. The answer was ;

Now warscewiczii (aka popowii) and warscewicizianum (aka wallisii) are considered as two different species. And they have to trust the registrant and they don’t ask any question.

OMG! First thing to come in my head was; Did they will register all the warscewiczii (synonym warscewiczianum in the past) hybrids with new name? What a mess in perspective!

I did explain than both names in the past has been used as synonym warcewiscizii = warscewiczianum. And before “anything goes” with hybrid name registration they should be considered this before any new registration will be accepted.

And I was please to get that new answer from the registrar;

Thank you for bringing this problem to my attention. I will annotate the records for Marsh Wiggle and Nadine Taylor-Wilson with the valuable insights provided by Marilyn. I agree with both of you that we need to stop this degenerating further. I will ask ASCOHR to consider the problem in December.

We should be careful with those two species name and keep the identification as clear as possible for our future registration.

Any suggestion or idea are welcome!
Thanks!

 

[Shiva]

Who's minding the store these days at RHS registration? Or in other words: There we go again!

 

[Chuck]

Last weekend I visited the RHS web site to see if the new orchids registration bulletin was on line. Few minutes later I was working filled up and completing my lists of the new hybrid names, crosses, parentage, etc… In one word my references.

When I look at one of the new hybrid, I was surprised and a bit confused, Urgandiae x warscewiczii = Nadine Taylor-Wilson. I was surprise because Urgandiae x warscewiczianum was already registered by Marilyn Ledoux as Marsh Wiggle in 2002. I did write to Marilyn and she did confirm to me than she used the darker warcewiczii (aka popowii).

I did wrote to the RHS registrar to ask the question about why the registration was accepted. The answer was ;

Now warscewiczii (aka popowii) and warscewicizianum (aka wallisii) are considered as two different species. And they have to trust the registrant and they don’t ask any question.

OMG! First thing to come in my head was; Did they will register all the warscewiczii (synonym warscewiczianum in the past) hybrids with new name? What a mess in perspective!

I did explain than both names in the past has been used as synonym warcewiscizii = warscewiczianum. And before “anything goes” with hybrid name registration they should be considered this before any new registration will be accepted.

And I was please to get that new answer from the registrar;

Thank you for bringing this problem to my attention. I will annotate the records for Marsh Wiggle and Nadine Taylor-Wilson with the valuable insights provided by Marilyn. I agree with both of you that we need to stop this degenerating further. I will ask ASCOHR to consider the problem in December.

We should be careful with those two species name and keep the identification as clear as possible for our future registration.

Any suggestion or idea are welcome!
Thanks!

I registered Phrag Nadine Taylor-Wilson and thought that I had done all the research that I could before I did so.It is interesting that you noticed the problem but the RHS did not.

 

[SlipperFan]

It's hard to believe people at the RHS don't know how much name confusion they are causing!

 

[Phrag-Plus]

I registered Phrag Nadine Taylor-Wilson and thought that I had done all the research that I could before I did so.It is interesting that you noticed the problem but the RHS did not.

Hi Chuck,
Usually the RHS is very touchy with the variety status and they are prompt to react to them. I think they will be more vigilant with those two species too now.
And I thought I had to bring that situation out to our community just to say be more aware of too…

 

[ORG]

Dear Jean-Pierre,
many thanks for the information about and also for your activity in contact to the orchid registrar.
All this was also the result of using the very similar names for 2 different varieties or species. - warscewiczianum and warscewiczii. It would be really better to use in future
warscewiczianum and popowii, this would be clearer.

Best greetings

Olaf

 

[goldenrose]

Who's minding the store these days at RHS registration? Or in other words: There we go again!

It's hard to believe people at the RHS don't know how much name confusion they are causing!

YEP! .... makes me wonder what planet they're living on? Where has common sense gone?

 

[NYEric]

Taxologists and registrars!


Remember how simple college registration, with standing on lines and trying to get classes to match your schedule was!?

 

[slippertalker]

This is no big surprise as taxonomists evolve the species concepts and confuse the nomenclature for common horticulturists. What they do is common for their art, but not good for long term hybrid registration. The RHS is reacting to quickly to the science rather than waiting until it settles a bit.

The plant we know now was Phrag warscewiczii, was formerly Phrag popowii, Phrag warscewiczianum, and before that was consider a variety of Phrag caudatum. It has been registered as a parent under all of these names and the unfortunate use of Phrag warscewiczianum for the dark Mesoamerican form and the light colored South American form has contributed to a huge mess.

 

[Drorchid]

Has anyone read my article I wrote for the Slipper Orchid Alliance where I talk about the history and classification of this group of long petaled Phrags, and I give my own conclusion?

Robert

 

[slippertalker]

Well yes, I did and it is a great article. The problem is that the barn door is already open and the last few years are causing a bunch of confusion especially with the registration system. I'm pretty sure that they don't know one taxon from the next while registering new names and hybrids.