Correctness of species' names from online vendors?

[ElliotLi]

I'm looking for some high quality species for my collection, mostly Phalaenopsis and Cymbidium. Since I'm also trying to hybrid them, I want their names to be as correct as possible. I don't have much time to run around the country and visit shows or expos so I prefer online vendors. What I don't know is how accurate those online vendors label their species? It would be great if you know some great nurseries that have a good reputation for high quality species (Phal or Cym) and good labeling? I browsed the vendor feedback forum, but seems few people talk about the correctness of the names of the orchids they got.

Thanks in advance!

[Bud]

most Ebay vendors are reputable growers and hybriders so I do not worry about their tags, they are scrutinized by buyers by a process of rating their plants and grading it....some Taiwanese and some Asian growers have a hard time spelling since they are used to characters not alphabet....
There is a Phalaenopsis vendor on line and sometimes on Ebay (Mr. Lin) who is quite reputable because he owns an Orchid forum ....
at this point in time where the names of orchids keep changing; I just rely on the tag of reputable growers and stick to it until there is a stable correct process of naming orchids or if the scientists agree on a way of universally cataloguing orchids....and once and for all stop on renaming orchids

[ElliotLi]

Thanks Bud. I found Big Leaf, it looks really nice. Besides naming, I'm also worrying that an incorrectly labeled species might later turn out to be a sterile hybrid. I prefer buying seedlings so in most cases there's really no way to tell whether I'm getting what I think I'm getting but solely rely on the seller's reputation.

[Brooke]

Elliot you will find Peter Lin is not only a good vendor but also very knowledgeable about Phal. species.

The only species you will find that might not be correctly named would be the mariae and bastianii mix up because somewhere back in time, they were interbred and might be incorrect.

The other mix-ups would be with the honghenensis and hainanensis are really wilsonii and the braceana is now taenalis. Those are not very common and probably not readily available.

Welcome to the world of Phal. species.

Brooke

[ElliotLi]

Brooke, thanks for the heads-up! I'm browsing Mr. Lin's website and will order some.

[Rowangreen]

And there's the question of whether tetraspis C1 is tetraspis, speciosa or a hybrid, and whether cornu-cervi chattalade actually exists...

I think the reality is there's always going to be wooly areas.

[ElliotLi]

Yeah. I know there are lots of open questions like you mentioned. That's exactly why I need to rely on the breeders' knowledge and experience to reduce the uncertainty in the lineage.

[Bud]

There is also a different Peter Lin (AOS judge) from California who specializes in miniature Cattleyas and is incharge of marketing some of the 'SVO'(Sunset Valley Orchids) plants on Ebay....I was able to buy from him Sophronitis coccinea(Cattleya coccinea) from a large specimen that he was growing.

[flhiker]

Andy's Orchids. without a doubt. He specializes in species

Andy's Orchids - Orchid Species - Orchids - Species Specialist - Orchids on a stick

[ElliotLi]

Originally Posted by Bud

There is also a different Peter Lin (AOS judge) from California who specializes in miniature Cattleyas and is incharge of marketing some of the 'SVO'(Sunset Valley Orchids) plants on Ebay....I was able to buy from him Sophronitis coccinea(Cattleya coccinea) from a large specimen that he was growing.

Could you please PM me his eBay user name? I found several possible users on eBay but not sure which one is the one you mentioned. Thanks.

---------- Post added at 08:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:18 PM ----------

Originally Posted by flhiker

Andy's Orchids. without a doubt. He specializes in species

Thanks! I searched Andy's website, but it seems so far he's only carrying one phal and several cyms. Hope there are more phals coming.