Brassavola

The species of Brassavola have been divided into four sections: B. sect. Brassavola This monotypic section, erected by H. G. Jones in 1969, contains the type of the genus: B. sect. Sessilabia This section, erected by Rolfe in 1902, is characterized by narrow labella with fimbriate margins to wider labella with entire margins. B. sect. Cuneilabia This section, erected by Rolfe in 1902, is characterized by narrowly constricted labellum bases. The sectional type is B. nodosa B. sect. Lateraliflorae This section, erected by H.G.Jones in 1975, is characterized by laterally-borne inflorescences. The sectional type is B. acaulis ==Greges and hybrid genera==

Brassavola is in the same alliance as the genera Cattleya and Laelia. They have been used extensively in hybridization and represent the "B" at the beginning of the names of such crosses. For example, Blc. is × Brassolaeliocattleya. • B. Little Stars, a primary hybrid between B. nodosa and B. subulifolia • × Rhynchovola 'David Sanders', a primary intergeneric hybrid between B. cucullata and Rhyncholaelia digbyana. Rhyncholaelia digbyana was formerly classified as a Brassavola; its hybrids have now been reclassified. • × Brassocattleya 'Yellow Bird' = × Brassocattleya 'Richard Mueller × B. nodosa • × Brassocattleya 'Richard Mueller' is a primary intergeneric hybrid between B. nodosa and C. milleri. C. milleri was formerly classified as a Laelia until it was transferred into Sophronitis which was then sunk into Cattleya to avoid confusion. ==References==