The following Rules of Nomenclature, designed for use by lay orchidists, are a practical adaptation for the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature formulated by the International Botanical Congresses in respect to natural hybrids, species and botanical variants found in the wilds, and the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants formulated by the International Horticultural Congresses.  In establishing this set of Rules of Nomenclature for Orchids, certain practices traditional among orchid growers have been retained, even though they may be in some degree at variance with certain technicalities of the International Codes. 

1. Hybrids are designated by a formula, the name of the parent bearing the pod preceding that of the pollen parent.



2. In selecting names for a cross or a variety, the following points should be emphasized: distinctiveness, simplicity, euphony, ease of pronunciation and spelling, and indication of origin or parents.



3. All crosses between two plants of the same species regardless of variety remain within that same species.  For example, Paphiopedilum insigne var. Harefield Hall x Paph. insigne var. Sanderae is Paphiopedilum insigne.

All crosses having the same parentage, including reciprocal crosses, bear the same name regardless of variety. 


4. Names likely to be confused with one another should be avoided.  For instance, the use of the name Alexander should preclude the use of Alexandra, Alexandria, Alexandrina and so forth, as names or varietal names within the same genus or allied hybrid genera.



5. Where personal names are used, the prefix Mr., Mrs., Miss., or their equivalent or initials are not permitted.  For example, Mrs. Louise Murray should be Louise Murray.



6. The name of a living person should not be applied to an orchid hybrid without that person's consent.



7. The articles, “A” and  “The” and their equivalents are not permitted.  For instance, The Captain, The Premier, etc. (For exceptions, see Rule 15)



8. Plants or their varieties imported form other countries shall retain their names in the original language without translation.  For example, Cattleya Coeur de Lion should not be translated Cattleya Lion Hearted.



9. The name of a culivar form should be placed after that of the species or hybrid to which it belongs.  In the case of a botanical variety, the varietal name is preceded by the word cultivar, usually contracted to cv.  In the case of a horticultural cultivar, the cultivar name is set off in single quotes without the use of the term cultivar.  For example Cymbidium Alexanderi ' Westonbirt '.



10. So far as possible, names of hybrids or cultivars should consist of a single word; three words is the maximum permitted.



11. No hybrid name or horticultural varietal name may be of Latin form.  This is reserved for names of species or names of botanical varieties.



12. A species, or a hybrid clone that is different from existing forms of the same name may be given a cultivar name indicating its orgin.



13. A cultivar name must be given to a horticultural variety when it received an award.



14. A cultivar name may be given to a clone when it is desirable to distinguish it from its siblings.



15. To avoid confusion, existing names in common use given to plants before the International Codes were adopted are accepted unless they have been changed in conformity to provisions of these Codes.

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Last Modified: April 9, 2008