Phragmipedium kovachii

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Phragmipedium kovachii

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Cypripedioideae
Genus: Phragmipedium
Species: P. kovachii
Binomial name
Phragmipedium kovachii
Atwood, Dalström & Fernandez (2002)

Phragmipedium kovachii (heterotypic synonym Phragmipedium peruvianum) is an orchid species discovered in 2001 in the Amazon jungle of NE Peru, which is considered to be the most important orchid species to be found in the Neotropics in the last 100 years. [1]

Phragmipedium kovachii is a terrestrial orchid, growing in tufts. It has flower size (11-15 cm wide), shape and color (dark pink to royal purple) that are unusual enough to bring many changes to the area of neotropical slipper orchid hybrids.

This orchid has been categorized in the section Schluckebieria of the genus Phragmipedium . [2]

[edit] Story

In May 2002, James Michael Kovach, of Virginia, planned a travel to Peru with his friend Lee Moore, a man who has traded orchids[3]. On May 26th, 2002, he arrived in El Progresso, a town in San Martín region of Peru. Then a person offered an orchid from the Peruvian jungle, a big colorful Phragmipedium orchid. He bought 3 pots. That night Moore told him This is your chance. You've got the Holy Grail of orchids.

Kovach arrived in Miami on June 4th, 2002, with 300 orchids and at least one new Phragmipedium without classification. He took it to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota. J.T. Atwood, S. Dalstron and Fernandez published its description in Selbyana magazine on June 12th, 2002. Kovach suggested his name for the orchid: Phragmipedium kovachii.

A few days after the Selbyana publication, a description of the species as Phragmipedium peruvianum by Eric Christenson, an expert of American Orchid Society was published in the Orchids magazine (June 17th, 2002). Eric Christenson says that Kovach knows that name and the one Kovach suggests with his name was a prohibited name. The name peruvianum has been considered not to be a good choice for some experts because a similar name has been used before (Phragmipedium peruviana), but was not validly published, for a species which was later named Phragmipedium richteri.

On June 20th, 2002, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens was in problems. The Peruvian Government asked for an investigation to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Kovach was indicted for importing a protected Peruvian orchid. All species of Phragmipedium are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora. [4].

On June, 10th, 2004[5] the U.S. District Court in Tampa, Florida, declared that Kovach was guilty to violating the endangered species act[6]. Kovach receives two years' probation and a $1,000 fine for transporting the endangered flower from Peru to the United States[3].

A proposal has been put forward in the journal Taxon 55 of November 2006 to declare the name Phragmipedium kovachii invalid and to add its original ad hoc publication "Selbyana vol. 23 Supplement" to the “opera utique oppressa” (ICBN Appendix VI) (publication to be suppressed). [7] Counterarguments have been presented in Taxon 56 (August 2007) [8]

[edit] Note

  1. ^ John Beckner (Marie Selby Botanical Gardens): This is the most spectacular, the most sensational, the most incredible looking orchid in 100 years or more [1]
  2. ^ G.J. Braem (2004). "Phragmipedium kovachii, Schluckebieria – nouvelle section du genre Phragmipedium et réflexions sur les pratiques taxinomiques". Richardiana 4 (3): 89102. 
  3. ^ a b "Michael Kovach received two years' probation and a $1,000 fine for transporting the endangered flower from Peru to the United States", St. Petersburg Times, November 2, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-12-02. 
  4. ^ The Department of Justice indicted Kovach for importing a protected Peruvian orchid on Wednesday, November 19, 2003. Washington DC. [2]
  5. ^ Department of Justice. Virginia orchid dealer pleaded guilty to violating the endangered species act. Thursday, June 10, 2004. Washington DC. [3]
  6. ^ Craig Pittman: The Case of the Purloined Orchid. How one little flower wreaked heartache and havoc over Selby Gardens
  7. ^ Proposal to add Selbyana vol. 23 Supplement to the "opera utique oppressa". Proposal to suppress a work
  8. ^ Higgins, Wesley E; Benzing, David H. (August 2007). "Response to: Proposal to add Selbyana vol. 23 Supplement to the "opera utique oppressa" by Paul van Rijckevorsel". Taxon 56 (3968): 968-969. 

[edit] References

  • Christenson, Eric. "Phragmipedium peruvianum, The Most Glorious New Phragmipedium Species in Two Decades is Described", 2002, Orchids 71, no. 7 620-22
  • Selbyana 23 Supplement: 1 with the official publication
  • Damian, M. L., Williams, N. H., and Whitten, W. M. 2005. Phragmipedium kovachii: molecular systematics of a New World orchid. Orchids 74(2): 132-137.
  • Description in Orchidmania
  • PJ Cribb (2005). "Plant portraits: 511. Phragmipedium kovachii. Orchidaceae.". Curtis's Botanical Magazine 22 (1): 8-11. 


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