Find Meaning Behind Orchid Names

The website Species Specific.com contends that “Success with orchids, in fact with any group of plants, requires the grower to get to know their plants. Armed with basic information on orchid care, whether gleaned from books or websites, you can begin the wondrous adventure into orchid growing. The first important step you need to take is getting to know them, not as a group, but as individuals.”

So they have given some background information as to the meaning of the Latin names for several orchids, some are descriptive, some are named after individuals, but it all gives a bit of insight into the plant. Here is a small sampling.

Ceratochilus biglandulosa : Having two types of glands

Dendrobium amethystoglossum : Amethyst tongue
Dendrobium arcuatum : Bow-shaped or arched. Possibly referring to the shape of the canes.
Dendrobium draconis : Dragon
Dendrobium heterocarpum : Different Fruit
Dendrobium laevifolium : Smooth leaves
Dendrobium linguiforme : Elongated
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum : Flowers arranged in a thyrse. (A flower cluster with a central spike).
Dendrobium tortile : Twisted. Refers to the twist in the sepals and petals.
Dendrobium victoria-reginae : named for Queen Victoria.
Dendrochilum convallariiforme : Like Lilly of the valley.

Encyclia cochleatum : From the Greek, meaning to twist or spiral. Commonly known as the cockle shell orchid.

Laelia tenebrosa : The shade-growing Laelia.
Lemboglossum cordatum : Heart Shaped

Maxillaria picta : The painted Maxillaria.
Maxillaria tenuifolia : Slender leaved Maxillaria.

Neofinetia falcata : Sickle-shaped. It is also known in Japan as “The Wind Orchid”.

Odontoglossum crocidipterum : From Croc meaning Saffron yellow, and dipterum meaning two- winged
Oncidium flexuosum : Winding. Referring to the winding, arching inflorescence.
Oncidium ornithorynchum : Bird's beak.

Phalaenopsis aphrodite : Aphrodite's Phalaenopsis
Pleurothallis hemirhoda : From the Greek, hemi meaning half, and rhoda meaning rose-colored.

Vanda coerulea : Blue coloured Vanda.