Pot. is a well-accepted abbreviation for the genus Potinara, a large genera of orchids. Please include this abbreviation. The American Orchid Society uses this abbreviation as well as Lc. (Laeliocattleya), C. (Cattleya), Blc. (Brassolaeliocatleya), Sl. (Sophrolailia), Slc. (Sophrolaeliocattleya), Sc. (Sophrocattleya), Plal. (Phalaenopsis, and Paph. (Paphiopedilum). You can see how much more difficult it would be to give the full name of the genera each time listing a plant. There are literally hundreds of orchid genera, and each and every one has a specific abbreviation that is used world-wide. Please include the other abbreviations listed above. Thanks. Dr. Ken Ramsey

Where would these abbreviations be included?

Genus

We don't abbreviate the genera in any other plants in the database like that. I'm not sure abbreviating them in this case is a good idea...

It doesn't sound like a good idea to me either, especially in the case of something like C. for Cattleya because C. also stands for dozens or perhaps hundreds of other genera.

OK, I give up. This is an orchid specific abbreviation, accepted by the American Orchid Society, but apparently not by ATP. When I submit Potinara as the genus, I continue to get an "error message" saying that this is not a known genera, when in fact it is. What do you want me to do?

Potinara is not a genus recognized on The Plant List either. According to Wikepedia, it's the "nothogenus comprising intergeneric hybrids of orchids."

Here's how the RHS DB handles some orchid nothogenus.
Search for "Potinara" then select "show all records": http://apps.rhs.org.uk/horticu...

Potinara is a very large genus of hybrids that are a cross of the genera Brassavola x Cattleya x Laelia x Sophronitis. This is the problem ATP has when it comes to orchid genera. There are thousands and thousands of orchid hybrids, and though ATP does not recognize Potinara (Pot.), the American Orchid Society certainly does. The AOS has the last word on orchids and no one questions their nomenclature. I simply think that we need another (completely new) list form when it comes to orchid genera and hybrids. That way the abbreviations for the various genera can be used and there won't be any confusion with other plant families. Perhaps, rather than using a term from Wikepedia, one would be better served using terminology of the AOS.

Hi Ken,
I understand your frustration and am looking into this. A few clarifications are in order I believe. First, the Royal Horticultural Society is the ICRA (International Cultivar Registration Authority) for Orchids, see http://www.ishs.org/sci/icra.h... and http://www.ishs.org/sci/taxlis... and search O for family Orchidaceae Adans (RHS-The International Orchid Register). The wikipedia reference was, I believe, simply to point out that intergeneric crosses are nothogenus.

It is wonderful to see a group of people work together to solve a plant problem. Keep up the good work to all of you.

I stand corrected. I should have known that! As a member of the AOS, I simply use that site as my reference source.