How to name a cross?

[Michael Saar]

OOh, I just saw this. When you say that preceding crosses must be named first, I'm assuming you mean they need a grex name, right? But not necessarily a clonal or cultivar name? I want to make sure I have this straight.

To REGISTER a grex name, all previous grexes in its background must be named first.

So, you're saying you can't make a cross and label it Phalaenopsis speciosa x (lobbi x violacea)because the cross of lobbii and violacea is unregistered and has no grex name, right?

It's perfectly fine to represent a grex as above. You can't REGISTER the grex name until (lobbii x violacea) have been named and REGISTERED.

But selling something as Phalaenopsis speciosa x (violacea 'Peek-a-Blue'AM/AOS x violacea 'Mademoiselle Bleu' AM/AOS) is technically okay, because that's not the plant's real name. The plant's real name would be Phalaenopsis Germaine Vincent, because that's the grex name for speciosa x violacea.

Is that right?

It's OK, but no more or less OK than (speciosa x violacea). Ethically they are equivalent. You need to distinguish between what is ethical and what is REQUIRED to comply with procedures to register a grex with the RHS International Orchid Register.