I posted a similar question to Heather's some time ago, perhaps on the Slipper Forum. I can't find it here. Anyway, I was asking for a written list of forbidden slippers published by any organization.....and no one could come up with one. This morning, I happen to run across the AOS Trustee Meeting minutes from 11/06 where they discussed the findings of the "Slipper Taskforce" regarding the
judging of paph and phrag species and hybrids. Interesting reading. (BTW, I didn't realize awards could be challenged and rescinded and award fees refunded! There are several taxonomy questions that were posed. Check pages beginning on page 14.)
Here is the link:
http://www.orchidweb.org/aos/about/documents/Minutes-StLouis-F2006_000.doc
Here is the text in its entirety. They give a list of species and mention kovachii and its hybrids.
The Task Force on the Judging of Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium species report follows:
JUDGING OF PAPHIOPEDILUM AND PHRAGMIPEDIUM SPECIES
TAXONOMICALLY DESCRIBED SUBSEQUENT TO LISTING OF THESE GENERA ON CITES
APPENDIX 1
In 1989 these two genera were placed on CITES Appendix 1. As a result, species described after this date should only be judged in their countries of origin unless it can be established that a particular plant in question has entered the United States legally or, in the case of hybrids, was made with legally obtained material. The list of species includes but is not limited to:
Paphiopedilum gigantifolium, Paph. hangianum, Paph. helenae, Paph. itaniae, Paph. malipoense var. jackii, Paph. ooii, Paph. rhizomatosum, Paph. sugiyamanum, Paph. tranlienianum, Paph. usitanum, Paph. vietnamense, Phragmipedium kovachii, Phrag. tetzlaffianum, Phrag. christiansenianum, and Phrag. chapadense. Phragmipedium fischeri and Phrag. richteri are probably exceptions because they were in cultivation under different names before they were validly described and there have been a fair number of Paphiopedilum species described that are actually synonyms for long-cultivated species. For example, Paph. wenshanense (described in 2000) is a synonym for Paph. bellatulum (described in 1892)
Until recently the situation regarding these plants was fairly straightforward. Since there were no legal plants in cultivation in the United States these plants were off limits for AOS judging. Just as this list can change as newly described species are added, it can also change as legal plants become available and can be deleted from it. Such is the case with at least Paphiopedilum vietnamense (and its hybrids with other species not on the list) and Phragmipedium kovachii (and its hybrids with species not on the list).
The presence of these legal plants requires a mechanism to deal with awards to such plants. While plants grow and individual clones are divided over time making it difficult to tell legal material from illegal material, there is a transition period where legal material can be traced.
• Judging Paphiopedilum vietnamense, Phragmipedium kovachii and their respective legal hybrids
Awards to these two (2) species and their respective hybrids shall be treated as provisional with the requirement that the exhibitor provide the AOS with proof of legality; either a receipt from a legal vendor or copy of an appropriate CITES document. In the case of hybrids involving one of these species in the background, the documentation must be sufficient to trace the seedlings back to a parent plant legally released into cultivation in the United States or to a legal importation of such seedlings.
If in the opinion of the judges present, the plants exhibited appear to be consistent with legal material, i.e., young plants blooming for the first or second time, they may be judged without prior receipt of this required documentation much as other species are considered without prior taxonomic verification. However, just as with other Provisional Awards, the award will not be processed without this documentation. In addition, these awards shall be subject to the 1 year time limitation imposed on other Provisional Awards.
Should additional species on the forbidden list (see above) become legally available, the same provisional treatment shall become applicable for these species and their respective legal hybrids.
• Future Changes
At some point it becomes nearly impossible to trace legal material as plants are divided and sold or traded. In addition, after a relatively short period specimen plants of legal seedlings are indistinguishable from illegally collected specimen plants. Eventually it will be necessary for the JC to decide which species and hybrids should no longer require proof of legality for the award to be valid.
Prepared by Ron McHatton, PhD (Chair, AOS Education Committee), Aileen Garrison (Chair, AOS Judging Committee), Lowell Jacks (Chair, Atlanta Judging Center)
