Dendrobium bigibbumPart 2: Classic Breeding Lines

摘要

THIS GROUP HAS produced some of the most popular hybrid pot plants for decades. Most orchid growers likely have or have had one of these in their collection. Most carry a modest price tag and are easy to grow. The biggest challenge has been to introduce color variety into the hybrids.Part 1 in this series on the Den-drobium bigibbum complex covered the history and taxonomy of this group along with the breeding efforts to improve the horticultural value of these popular species. It was noted that, in the latest update of the taxonomy,the name Dendrobium phalaenopsis isnow considered synonymous with Den. bigibbum var. superbum. Recently, in consultation with the Orchid Hybrid Registration Advisory Group, the Royal Horticultural Society Registrar agreed to register parentage of all future hybrid registrations from thiscomplex as Den. bigibbum (naming rules do not allow parents at a level below species status) but, due to the vast number of hybrids, previous hybrids would retain the name Den. phalaenopsis in their parentage if historically registered as such. This article, therefore, discusses hybrids under both of these names as registered.