Peter Croezen wrote: "Two parties were sentenced for being in possession of Phragmipedium kovachii, brought illegally into the USA and later returned to Peru, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc.and Dr. Wesley E. Higgins, head of the orchid identificationcenter at Selby."
Wasn't the sentence for illegal EXPORT of the material? The type material was exported back to a herbarium in Peru, lest it should be confiscated and destroyed by US authorities - which might have invalidated the name! Finn Rasmussen, Copenhagen PS: The real loser in this story is Mr. Eric Hansen, who published his "Orchid Fever" too early to include it. It will go down in history as one of the best tales of Orchid hysteria ever, thus contributing greatly to the status of this plant family as something truly special! _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids

