J.E. Shields wrote: > Jim McK., <snip> > > 2. Species are human conceptual constructs too, by and large. Those > obvious species, easily perceived, are not the problems of course. <snip -2> > population" which confuses the devil out of things where plants are > concerned. The orchids present an obvious case in point, with myriads > of complex, multiply (adverb of "multiple") intergeneric hybrids made in > cultivation. Remember: where species are concerned, cultivation does > not count! I like the approach that starts with a species as an +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Last time I checked, orchid breeders had got the number of natural genera contained in one hybrid up to eight. That was 4-5 years ago, so it might be 9 or 10 by now... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > Jim Shields (a.k.a. Jim S; i.e., not Jim W and not Jim McK) > in central Indiana (USA) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -jrf ( or Jim F)... -- Jim Fisher Vienna, Virginia USA 38.9 N 77.2 W USDA Zone 7 Max. 105 F [40 C], Min. 5 F [-15 C]