Simon : Thanks for your comments on the species I am interested in. I acquired my plant of Cattleya chocoensis in 1999 : it started blooming for the first time yesterday.
Yes, I still believe that the correct name for that species is Cattleya quadricolor Bateman 1854 although I would have no objection in principle to accept the name proposed by Daniela Cristina Zappi (Kew Bulletin, 50(2) : 423), Cattleya candida (Kunth) Lehm. 1895. The problem resides in the fact that the name Cattleya candida was first mentioned by B.S. Williams in The Garderners' Chronicle and used over and over, apparently to refer to the Brazilian species known as Cattleya loddigesii Lindl. In the Gardeners' Chronicle, 1851 : 453 B.S. Williams does not provide a valid description when he writes : "Cattleya candida, flowers in November, and remains long in perfection". but, he published in the 1st edition his book, The Orchid-Grower's Manual containing a brief description of upwards of two hundred and sixty orchidaceous plants..., 1852, the following description : "Cat. candida. - A desirable free-growing species from Brazil, about a foot high ; sepals and petals are of a delicate white, slightly shaded with pink : the lip is of the same colour, with a shade of yellow in the centre. It flowers from Juyly to November, and lasts three or four weeks in good condition, if the flowers are kept free from damp. This plant makes two growths in a year, and blooms from both, producing three or four flowers on a spike." (pp. 45-46) The latter description was published in the 7 editions of The Orchid-Growers's Manual... In the fifth edition (1877), Williams after the description of Cattleya candida, also describes Cattleya chocoensis. Obviously, he considered the two species as different... ************* For his part, Bateman, while describing Cattleya quadricolor, mentions Cattleya candida : "C. Wageneri and C. candida are mere varieties of C. Mossiae and C. Harrisonii" [The Gardeners' Chronicle, 1864 : 269 (19 March 1864)] ************* The description of Cymbidium candidum published by Kunth (Nov. Gen. Sp. 1(4): 342 [1816]) does contain a description which makes the name legitimate, if I understand correctly the rules of nomenclature. When Lehmann transfered Kunth's concept (Cymbidium candidum) to the genus Cattleya [Gard. Chron., ser.3, 18: 466 (1895)] I wonder why he ignored that the name Cattleya candida has been used for (presumably) Cattleya loddigesii since 1851... ************** I do not have the article you refer to : Van den Berg and allies [et al. (et alii = and others)] Lindleyana 15[2]: 96-114 [2000]. Would you be kind enough to send me a scan of it ? ************** About the scientists working on the Monocot Checklist Project at Kew : obviously, they can make errors... For example, they give the wrong author for the mention of Cattleya candida in the Gardeners' Chronicle, 1851 : Cattleya candida F.N.Williams, Gard. Chron. 1851: 453 (1851). F.N.Williams - Frederic Newton Williams (1862-1923) was not born at the time... *************** Other scientists, including Carl Leslie Withner, accept Cattleya quadricolor Bateman as the valid name. (see, Zappi, op. cit.) *************** As Zappi pointed out, the mention of Cattleya candida by Williams in 1851 lacks a description and is not validly published. What is unclear is if the description of Cattleya candida in The Orchid-Growers's Manual is valid. If not, why ? *************** You wrote : "if Cymbidium candidum Kunth (1816) was published correctly, the species epithet 'candida' was no longer available for a Cattleya". Then, why was it available for Lehmann ? *************** You wrote : "Cattleya candida... and the plant Williams was referring to was Cattleya loddigesii." I do not have any article that states that Cattleya candida B. S. Williams is Cattleya loddigesii Lindl. Do you have one ? I hope we will eventually sort out the confusion. Thanks for you interest. Regards, Viateur
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