Brassavola or Rhynchovola?

[tdwin1453]

I just got used to Rhyncholaelia digbyana! The first orchid to ever bloom for me. . . . some 20+ years ago.

Now, as I am undertaking more research into various orchids in and out of my collection, something new is occurring to me. Every now and then, I am running into the taxonomical synonyms Brassavola for the occasional listing as Rhynchovola for species like Brassavola (Rhynchovola) cucullata, nodosa, etc....

What is the story here? Is Rhynchovola a new name for Brassavola? An old synonym? Or what is going on? In any case, it is something new to me.... Tim

[ang709]

Rhyncholaelia digbyana used to be called Brassavola dygbyana. Also Rhyncholaelia glauca use to be labeled as Brassavola as well. So far I haven't seen cucullata or nodosa listed as Rhyncholaelia, but I'm not up on all the name changes.

Some names have changed so many times. There must be a site with all the current info, but unfortunately, I don't know it.

[catttan]

As far as I know there are now only 2 Rhyncholaelia ie digbyana and glauca. The rest numbering a dozen or so still remain under Brassavola. Rhyncovola would be a hybrid of the two. It's also giving me a lot of headache since most of my Blc are now Rlc!

[tdwin1453]

Thanks for the reply! I appreciate your effort to recognize proper, albeit ever-changing taxonomy for orchids much like myself. I would love to get hold of the "most" correct, meaning most current, link for correct orchid taxonomy.

Does anyone know of such a site or, even, a book or article?

----

Rhyncholaelia is a name that I have become familiar a short while after I had a 11" X 13" photograph of my first orchid to bloom, some 20+ years ago, framed and inscribed by a calligrapher. Actually a friend took the photograph for me and gave it to me as a gift. In calligraphy, it was entitled Brassavola digbyana! Then shortly after paying, then, what was a good sum of money to a much younger me to have this picture framed; I learned that the correct taxonomy, or "name," for this special orchid was Rhyncholaelia digbyana! Also I learned, then, about Rhyncholaelia glauca, seeing that I wanted to grow it as well.

What strikes me now is, however, that I am seeing in my research, not "Rhyncholaelia", per se, but another apparent related synonym for Brassavola called "Rhynchovola" in some listings for this once easy recognized orchid genus. Ergo! I am seeing the species, i.e., Brassavola cacullata being signified as, or at least, as a synonym, for Rhynchovola cacullata! As well, I have seen Rhynchovola nodosa in looking for the parentage for what seems more commonly known as Brassavola nodosa Little Stars

To add to this complexity more! I researched the commonly known cross that composes the familiar Brassavola David Sander. Well, this search really gets one really confused! (Or at least me!) After all, Brassavola David Sander is a cross between the accepted Rhyncholaelia digbyana and Brassavola or Rhynchovola cucullata, right? ....So, then, how does one go about listing this cross?

OK! So if the common known Brassavola David Sander is a cross of the the two genera now, perhaps, seemingly known as respectively Rhyncholaelia and Rhynchovola, then what do we do here?

Namely!

(1) Do we come up with a new synonym like Rhyncho-laeli(o)-vola (a purely fictional name on my part!) for listing Brassavola David Sander?

OR

(2) Does either Rhyncholaelia or Rhynchovola take precedence over one another over our common hybrid, Brassavola David Sander, which is a mix of both genera's parentage?

Now I am totally confused! And, having been completely indulgent in posting this reply, I probably deserve to be! (lol) Please be patient with me, however, because I am truly curious how taxonomist solve this problem when, or if, they have changed a commonly know orchid like good ole' Brassavola cucullata or B. nodosa Little Stars or B. David Sander... into Rhyncho-something!

----

I will leave off my question about another two genera's synonymy: Oncidium and Psychopsis for now! (lol....)

Does any one else share a fascination with taxonomy?

Tim

[tdwin1453]

What a headache indeed, as I have not seen Blc. as now Rlc. . . . ! Perhaps I have gotten way too confused, as evident in my second reply...but I like the notion that Rhync(h?)ovola is the hybrid for Brassavola and Rhyncholaelia. It solves the instance I raised and discovered today about the more commonly known Brassavola David Sander, which would be, after reading your reply, Rhync(h?)ovola David Sander. I will list that name as my "identifier" in my annotated inventory of my orchid collection!

Do you have any knowledge on Oncidium for Psychopsis? Or is that another post for another day?

Tim

[catttan]

Tim,my headache is getting worse. I just found out that my Blc are now actually Ryc and Rlc are actually my Bc ! Whooa , I better stop here I feel a migraine coming on.

[ang709]

Oops, when I read your first post I only saw Rhyncolaelia, not Rhynchovola. No, I had not heard of Rhynchovola before.

I'd really like to find out about a link too. I have a Laelia purpurata which I believe first changed to Sophronitis and now is Cattleya?? I think, but I'm not 100% sure. I'd like to find a link to look it up.

Do you have any knowledge on Oncidium for Psychopsis?

Psychopsis used to be classified under Oncidium for some reason, but Psychopsis is now separate. I've noticed some vendors still list it as Onc, though, which adds to the confusion. I must say, however, that that's one change I do agree with.

[walingwaling]

wow, what a perfect mess!
i've got a l. purpurata var carnea x b. cucullata,
hmmm, so what is it now? lol

[sake of silence]

I think most people know that if youve got some crazy sort of fringe on your Blc whatever, that its got digbyana in it. The need to reconfigure your artificial genus is really superficial, who knows if theyre going to reverse their decision the next year?

What I think it boils down to: Is the synonym still readily used and accepted? Use it.