It is the orchids pedigree. What parentage, genes, have gone into making the hybrid.
Let's see if I can do this in a million words or less!!!
In an orchid name, the first word, the Genus name is always capitalized. C. stands for Cattleya for example. V. stands for Vanda. in Slc., there are three genera or genuses involved. S. for Sophronitis, l. for Laelia and C. for Cattleya. so there, is or are, Cattleya in it's background as well as Laelia and Sophronitis. Thoughtful hybridizers usually have a desired outcome in mind when they make a cross or a hybrid, ie. more flowers, bigger flowers, yellow flowers, more warmth tolerant hybrids etc. They use the parents as building blocks to achieve their desired goals.
The second name in a species name is always lower case such as Cattleya intermedia. Cattleya is the genus, intermedia is the species. Think of it as a recipe. Some of this and some of that makes that!!
When you have some genera say Epidendrum and Encyclia, if you put the name in as E., which are you talking about, an Epidendrum or an Encyclia? So then in nomenclature, writing down the names of things is nomenclature, we add extra letters. Epidendrum becomes Epi. for Epidendrum. Epidendrum stamfordianum as an example. Encyclia becomes Enc. for Encyclia as in Encyclia alata. In that way, the person viewing the name knows whether there is Epidendrum or Encyclia involved.
Well that is the short version if you will. I hope that it makes sense.
Oh in writing out a hybrid name, Paphiopedilum St. Swithin, all 3 names are capitalized. The Paphiopedilum, the St. for Saint, and Swithin, begin with a capital letter. When you see Paphiopedilum St. Swithin, you should realize it immediately that this is a hybrid as everything has a capital letter. A species, Cattleya intermedia, should bring to mine immediately that this is a species because intermedia is lower case, not capitalized.
Bill!
