on 8/12/04 6:15 AM, Des wrote:
> From: "G. D. Pike" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [OGD] Orchid citation > While writing a brief article on Caularthron bicornutum recently for our > Orchid Society Bulletin I noticed that there is disagreement among the > authorities on the appropriate citation for this species. Some quote it as C. > bicornutum (Hook) Rafinesque, while others use C. bicornutum (Hook) R.E. > Schultes. As Rafinesque is credited with establishing the Caularthron genus > and moving Epidendrum bicornutum as described by Sir William Hooker into the > new genus, I was wondering what subsequent taxonomic revisions were made by > Richard Schultes that justified the amended citation. My limited reference > sources do not mention any such change. Can anyone spread some light on this > matter? > > > > Des Pike > > Darwin, Northern Territory Hello Des, This isn't a taxonomic explanation, but when checking out different material last year of native north american orchids, I found an article that suggested that there were many plants described by Rafinesque that were found 'unacceptable' or not accepted at the time to some degree by other taxonomic authorities because, the main reason stated being that he was flamboyant or eccentric, and since he wasn't liked they didn't want to recognize many of his descriptions. I had read also that other people who had described certain orchids at different times were not liked by the orchid elite of the time, so at times the orchid authority did not acknowledge their additions or changes. This doesn't dispute that there were probably many who had inaccurate descriptions or the like. I didn't make a reference at the time of this article, but a search under rafinesque might turn it up. This is just for interesting historical info, may not have anything to do with the disagreement mentioned. regards, charles -- Charles Ufford Calen the Border Collie CGC - now in Heaven Oriskany, NY USA IPA, Central NY and Southern Tier Orchid Societies [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.paphiopedilum.net Http://www.geocities.com/charlesufford
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