Quote Originally Posted by PaphMadMan View Post
I may be the only one who actually enjoys keeping up with name changes, but even with 42 years growing orchids and a botany background it can be a challenge. Most of what the taxonomists do makes sense when I take the time to examine it, but they've been doing a lot in of it in the last 20 years, and the way RHS twists it into hybrid registration has been a farce for at least 100 years.

Specifically on the alliance thing. They are horticultural conventions that don't always align with the science, and can be very narrow or very broadly defined, and not always universally agreed or applied. It can definitely be Cattleya alliance without having any Cattleya in it (by any definition), and the same for most alliances. That article is a good starting point, and you will learn. Just give yourself some time, and we're always here to help make some sense of it when you have a question.
Cool, that makes me feel better (and worse, hahah). It sounds like I'd better get to reading!