Dear Prem,
The name that I attached to my photographs is the one that I've
been told by several sources
what sources?
is a proposed revision to Habenaria
rhodocheila by Dr. Christenson.
proposed ... where ... when?
Up until now, H. rhodocheila has been described as existing as three distinct color forms - pink, orange (more rarely), and yellow (very, very rarely).
Unlike you, Dr. Braem, those of us who raise orchids as a
hobby would still like to know WHAT IT IS that we're growing.
Well if you really do that, then reread my earlier posting!
We
try to keep up with the current "in vogue" names that taxonomists
with over-blown egos constantly shuffle and reshuffle in the
hopes that they might stake some lasting claim to fame.
The one that has the ego is the one that keeps hitting at the taxonomist in order to hide his/her own stupidity
And withSo what ... read it up ... how many changes were made by true taxonomists and how many by smart-alecs like you
regard to the issue of confusing people, taxonomists do this all
of their own without any help. How many times has Epidendrum cochleatum been reassigned to different genera now...and all within the span of one lifetime?
By my count, it's five now: Epidendrum cochleatum -> Encyclia cochleata -> Anacheilium cochleatum -> Prosthechea cochleata -> Anacheilium cochleatum (in Withner's latest work). I don't know about you, but I find this confusing as hell without any help from the "non-taxonomists".So go back to the original literature and don't weep your eyes out ... and especially, do the work yourself!! Don't ask other people to do the work for you
But it should be duly noted: botany is not necessarily just for the botanists. Having minored in botany for my B.S. degree, this is certainly an avid interest of mine..
That is great ... and thus you should know what needs to be done
.because of this interest, I have been the first to record the ocurrence of three species of orchid in my county in Florida, Platanthera ciliaris, Platanthera flava, and Zeuxine strateumatica...these were reported to the biologist/field botanist at the local university who keeps the herbarium, and he now has specimens of all three of these plants in his collection, along with a specimen of an inflorescence of Tipularia discolor, which has been recorded in this county before, but he only had the hibernal vegetation in the collection.
Fine ... but that is not the point !!! You keep asking about the rhodocheila. I have told you clearly, if it is the type, you can't take it out and you can't change the name ... Can't you read English. If you are in Florida, there are plenty of universities about. Go to the library and get the literature ... or is that too difficult for you?
Despite your strong hopes and wishes to the contrary, science will be advanced not only by scientists
What the hell do you idiot know about my hopes and wishes?
but by the "unwashed"
Well, they unwashed better get "washed"
who can be in more places than any body of scientists could ever be. The simple fact is that you need us...the hobbyists andYou are not a "meddler" ... you are simply a smart alec who thinks he can do taxonomy and hasn't even got the slightest clue
dabblers ("meddlers" though we be).
So take your fricking computer, go to "Google" ... type in "Habenaria rhodocheila Hance 1856" You get 60 hits (that is what I got today) and the reference is right there in the first hit!!!! ... Its in English ... read from left to right .... and then you will see that it has been published in a French language Journal. Still you can get it and then, if the text is really in French, you can ask someone to help you ...The only references I could find to the original description of H. rhodocheila is this:
Habenaria rhodocheila Hance 1856
Why should I do that? You say that taxonomist are stupid, that I am sitting on a throne and that I have an oversized ego ... and then you ask for my help ... Hey, are you really that stupid or do you practice for Hollywood?and synonyms:
Habenaria militaris Rchb.f 1886; Habenaria pusila Rchb.f 1878; Habenaria xanthocheila Ridley 1896
Perhaps instead of pontificating from your lofty exalted throne, you
could assist this "meddler"
in pointing him in the direction where
to even begin a search for this information. My understanding is that
the name H. erichmichalii was published by Christenson only very
recently.
Ask him ... he is on this list
Or if this is too much effort for you, perhaps someoneYes, maybe he is more human than I am ... but I doubt it and I don't think he reacts well on insults either .... So why don't you blow your nose, change your diapers, get the basic literature, and after that, you have read the original literature and still have questions, you could ask politely and someone might answer them.
else of taxonomic inclination who hasn't forgotten the human trait of helping a fellow person could step in here.
Regards Dr. Guido J. Braem infamous, egoistic, inhumane taxonomist _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids
