Quote Originally Posted by Kmac View Post
Orchids have two names. First the grex name...so there is a cross. All offspring of that cross are labeled as (ABC x XYZ) if the cross (or grex) is unregistered. If the breeder wishes to register it, it then gets a grex name (which refers to orchids from that cross only). A bit like the "Smith" family...all of Joe and Mary Smiths are "Smiths"

The name in single quotes denotes a certain particular orchid. Like little Jimmy Smith, Little Nancy Smith, etc. They may both be out of the same cross, but they'd be offended to be called each other's names, right? For orchids this name is sometimes referred to as a clonal name, sometimes as a cultivar epithet. Nowadays, usually I hear clonal name. But all with the same clonal name have to be exactly the same in terms of DNA...so, they must be divisions or clones, not just siblings from the grex (and yes, I find it confuing that divisions, which are not cloned, still are referred to as having clonal names...but it means an exact copy, not aq lab-produced clone, so divisions still count).

The owner of a particular plant can register a clonal name, but typically only the breeder can name the grex (unless a plant is awarded and so needs a grex name, and the breeder cannot be found or declines to registers that cross). And, the grex must be named before its individual plants receive clonal names (which is why sometimes the breeder must be tracked down to name the grex).

I hope this helps.
Thanks, Kathi. Yep, all of this I pretty much understand. I'm not confused between grex and clonal name, or who is qualified to name each. I'm confused as to whether there is a difference between 'clonal name' and 'cultivar name' as Nathaniel defined them above. He described a cultivar name as the following: 'cultivar' (cv.) refers to any type or strain developed through selective breeding or other cultural practices
.

So if the cultivar name can apply to a strain or "type," that would imply that more than one plant can be covered under the umbrella of the cultivar name. I understand the definition of "clonal name" (one plant, or a division of that plant...or any plant that is genetically identical to it through asexual reproduction of some sort...meristem, tissue culture, etc). And I understand that this name would not be able to be applied to siblings of the same batch (hence your "Don't call me my sister's name) reference. (Which was cute, by the way!)

What I'm wondering is how to tell if a name in single quotes is a clonal name or a cultivar name, and, whether a cultivar name can apply to more than one plant within the same batch that is produced by the same specific process of "selective breeding," but which are not necessarily genetically identical. And thus, if the cultivar name is shared by different plants, does that need to be indicated in any way...like by saying "strain" after the name.

For example, I recently purchased a Phalaenopsis amboinensis var flava 'Main Show' strain. Does this mean 'Main Show' is a cultivar name, and all the siblings of the plants bred in this bunch carry the 'Main Show' strain name? (I won it at auction and have seen others listed by the same seller under the same 'Main Show' strain name, so it would appear this is a cultivar name that applies to a particular "batch" of plants).

Or does it mean that one of the siblings of this bunch happened to get awarded and was then given the clonal name 'Main Show,' and the seller is merely telling me that this plant comes from a batch that produced an award-quality plant? And if I use this plant for breeding, can I use the 'Main Show' name at all in the progeny?

I'm confused as to the implications of the 'cultivar' name applying to more than one plant produced by the same "selective breeding," as Nathaniel defined it above. I hope he pops back in and elaborates.

Thanks, everybody, again, for all your feedback and explanations! My head is spinning, but I'm learning a lot! I'm definitely going to be printing out this thread once everyone's done pitching in so I can reference it later!

Okay...so who can tell me what's up with my Phalaenopsis amboinensis var flava that carries the 'Main Show' strain name? Is that what a cultivar name looks like?