How to name a cross?

[OrchidAddict]

Jenn you are over complicating it, there is no need for confusion. The name in the single quotes stands for the clone, not for the variety, so the name in quote will only apply to the meristem propagations or divisions of that plant, not its offsprings whereas the variety names will carry on to the offspring. For eg. consider The eg. of Cattleya purpurata var. carnea. The variety carnea distinguishes it from other varieties like var. rubra, var Werkhauserii etc etc. But within the variety carnea there exists variation and individual plants with distinct patterns are assigned clonal names like for eg. Cattleya purpurata var. carnea 'Maria Da Gloria'

Thank you!!

I'm pretty sure I get it now. Basically, whenever a name is in quotes, it refers to one particular plant's genetic code. All plants bearing that name must be absolutely identical genetically. Any type of seed propagation, be it selfing or crossing, invalidates that name. Only actual clones, whose genetic makeup is completely identical to the original, will carry the name in quotes.

Okay. Whew!!

Thank you everybody for all of your help! I feel like I owe everyone who has pitched in to this thread one huge hug!! Or at least one very enthusiastic round of applause!


One last question: (this should be an easy one, hopefully!). As I understand it, there are no implied patents on clones, right? (None of the clones I purchased ever came with a "propagation prohibited" notice on the tag like so many other plants do.) So if I come up with an award-winning cross, then I clone it and sell it, there's nothing stopping anyone else from buying it, cloning it themselves, and selling it under the same name, correct?

That seems a bit unfair to growers who come up with brilliant crosses...once they sell one, there's nothing stopping the world from cloning the heck out of it, eventually reducing its value.

Is there some sort of patent process that I don't know about? Are the clones I purchase patented and I just don't know it?