All species of the earth's flora and fauna have two Latin names, following Linnaeus's
binomial system of nomenclature. The first name listed, always capitalized and italicized
or underscored, is the name of the genus, e.g. Cattleya. A genus is simply a group of
related species. The second name, also italicized, is the species name itself, e.g.
skinneri. Names of either may commemorate a person, describe some particularly diagnostic
aspect of the plant, or refer to the place of its discovery. For example, Guarianthe
skinneri honors George Ure Skinner, a famous explorer and orchid collector in Guatemala,
who discovered the species. Cattleya amethystoglossa was named for its amethyst-colored
labellum. Paphiopedilum philippinense is native to the Philippines. Through the centuries, botanists have tried to express relationships among orchids by ranking them in hierarchies according to similarities and differences in floral and/or vegetative features. Orchids left no fossil record, as far as we know, so our ideas about the evolutionary history of the family have been largely speculative, based on general trends in flowering plants and on the most parsimonious explanations. As new data become available from the field and laboratory, often as the result of applying new technology, orchid systematists are compelled to reassess relationships, whether at the species level or higher. Since the names of plants reflect those relationships, the names may change Also but only in accordance with rules established by the International Code of botanical Nomenclature. Among other rules and recommendations, this Code specifies the various levels of the hierarchy of classification. Closely related genera are grouped into subtribes, names which end in -inae. Following our example of Guarianthe skinneri above, Guarianthe is in subtribe Laeliinae along with its relatives such as Laelia and Encyclia Related subtribes are grouped into larger taxonomic units called tribes; names of tribes end in eae Subtribe Laeliinae is in tribe Epidendreae. Finally, related tribes are grouped into a subfamily, the names of which always end in -oideae. Tribe Epidendreae is in subfamily Epidendroideae. According to Dressler, whose 1981 classification is followed in this volume, there are six subfamilies in the orchid family Apostasioideae, Cypripedioideae, Spiranthoideae Orchidoideae, Epedendroideae, and Vandoideae. Since that 1981 classification was published, Dressler ~ 1986 1990a, 1990b) has amended the framework more than once at many levels. However, most orchid growers are familiar only with the 1981 scheme, hence its adoption here:
For purposes of hybridization or awards specific plants may be given clonal or cultivar
names, following the species name and enclosed in single quotes, such as Cattleya skinneri
'Many'. Any awards that clone might receive then follow the clonal name, e.g. Cattleya
skinneri 'Many', CCM/ AOS There are several national orchid societies that grant awards
for flower quality or cultural excellence: the American Orchid Society (AOS) the Royal
Horticultural Society (RHS) Deutsche Orchideen- (DOG), as well as regional and local
societies, about 40 in all. The highest award that the American Orchid Society and Royal
Horticultural Society give for flower quality is the First Class Certificate (FCC). The
next highest is the Award of Merit (AM). In addition, the American Orchid Society grants a
third quality award, the Highly Commended Certificate (HCQ). Other societies such as the
Deutsche Orchideen-Gesellschaft award Gold (GM), Silver (SM) and Bronze Medals (BM)
to flowers. Awards such as the Certificate of Cultural Merit (CCM/AOS) and
Certificate of Cultural Commendation (CCC/RHS) recognize superior cultivation of
specimen plants.