Expansion of Coelogyne species
Expansion of Coelogyne to include Dendrochilum, Pholidota and 12 other genera.
Dendrochilum convallariiforme becomes Coelogyne convallariiformis
The Subtribe Coelogyninae was reviewed as part of Genera Orchidacearum and dealt with in Volume 4, published in 2005. The authors’ noted that there were some unresolved anomalies. Since then, scientists at Kew and elsewhere have amassed a lot more DNA data on species within the subtribe. The outcomes of a comprehensive review by Chase et al have been published in the science journal, Phytotaxa. An abstract can be viewed at https://www.biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/view/phytotaxa.510.2.1.
It was found that the DNA of many genera and species within the subtribe were mixed up, polyphyletic, to use the scientific term. Without any proper basis for keeping them separate, it was decided that the following genera should be transferred into the genus Coelogyne: Bracisepalum, Bulleyia, Chelonistele, Dendrochilum, Dickasonia, Entomophobia, Geesinkorchis, Gynoglottis, Ischnogyne, Nabaluia, Neogyna, Otochilus, Panisea and Pholidota.
Dendrochilum cobbianum becomes Coelogyne cobbiana
Of these, Dendrochilum is the most widely cultivated by hobby growers and we occasionally see Pholidota tabled at meetings and shows. In addition to the genus name change, some species of Dendrochilum will require a spelling change because the gender of Dendrochilum is masculine (in Latin) and Coelogyne feminine. Hence, any species ending in ‘um’ will change to ‘a’. For example, Ddc. cobbianum becomes Coel. cobbiana. Likewise, endings with ‘ense’ will change to ‘ensis’; ‘are’ to ‘aris’; ‘me‘ to ‘mis’ and ‘ile’ to’ilis’’. About 12 of the transferred species will have the same names as existing Coelogyne species. In each instance, the name first described will be preserved and the other name replaced.
Dendrochilum wenzelii becombes Coelogyne wenzelii
The accepted names have been updated in the International Plant names Index (IPNI). RBG Kew has not yet completed the update to WCVP (or WCSP) but that will happen in due course.
References:-
1. Expansion of the orchid genus Coelogyne (Arethuseae; Epidendroideae) to include Bracisepalum, Bulleyia, Chelonistele, Dendrochilum, Dickasonia, Entomophobia, Geesinkorchis, Gynoglottis, Ischnogyne, Nabaluia, Neogyna, Otochilus, Panisea and Pholidota; MARK W. CHASE, BARBARA GRAVENDEEL, BOBBY P. SULISTYO4, RICHA KUSUMA WATI & ANDRÉ SCHUITEMAN, Phytotaxa 510 (2): 094–134, 2021
2. Genera Orchidacearum, Volume 4; ALEC PRIDGEON, MARK CHASE, PHILIP CRIBB & FINN RASMUSSEN, Oxford University Press, 2005.
Author & Photographer: Charlie M