Naming a hybrid if you aren't the orginator
 

Hi there,

I'd like to name a plant in my mother's honor for her birthday this year. I have an un-named oncidium intergeneric (Bratonia Charles M. Fitch x Oncostele Black Beauty) that I think is a good choice. I've researched the plant to the best of my internet ability to determine that is in fact not registered with the Royal Horticultural Society but I can't figure out who is the originator of the cross. It's my understanding that without that piece of information I cannot register the name myself. Does anyone have any ideas for how I can track down the originator or how I can get around having to find them? Here's a picture of the bloom just for fun...

Thanks so much!

Harris

It is possible to register a hybrid from an unknown originator, but I'm not sure what hoops RHS requires you to jump through to do so. It looks like the application allows you to describe whatever efforts you have made, and they will decide to allow it or not.

Here's a starting point, maybe. The majority of crosses registered with either of these parents in the last 15 years were originated by J. W. McCully, and in recent years it seems most of his crosses have been registered by Muana Kea Orchids. You should be able to find a website for MKO. No guarantee, but that may be the connection you need.

You have to make a good faith effort at tracking down the originator. If you bought the plant from a nursery, start there.

If the seller can't tell you who the originator is, post a photo of the label here. Some propagating nurseries use distinctive labels, so one of the OB readers might recognize it.

Based on what this plant is, there is a good chance that it is from either Newman's Nursery or Kalapana (both in Hawaii).

If none of this pans out, you are free to submit a registration application, simply indicating that originator is unknown (outline your efforts to track the originator down).

If you find the originator, you should ask for permission. I have done this several times, sometimes you get permission, sometimes you do not.