When naming an orchid in honor of a person or persons there are two kinds of
commemorative
epithets: substantival and adjectival.

A substantival commemorative epithet is a name in the genitive (possessive)
case. When translated into a common name the substantival commemorative
epithet Phrag. lindenii looks like this: Linden's Phrag.

The ending of the epithet varies according to the sex and number of the
person(s) being commemorated.

Personal names that end in a consonant (except "y" which is really a vowel)
can be converted to substantival epithets by the interpolation of -i plus
the genitive ending appropriate to the sex and number of the person(s) being
commemorated.
-i for a man,
-ae for a woman,
-arum for two or more women,
-orum for two or more men or persons with both sexes represented.

Personal names that end in -er are a curious exception among those ending in
a consonant because they drop the interpolated -i. This means it is the
*first* -i that is missing; not the final -i in masculine commemoratives.
:-)

Personal names that end in -e, -i, -o, -u, or -y can be converted to
substantival commemorative epithets by the addition of the appropriate
genitive inflection without interpolating an -i.

The quiz Part A: (2.75 points)
You have just discovered a new Phrag species and you want to name it. Use
the Substantival form to create Latin binomials out of the last names of
the following:

1. A gentleman friend whose last name is Fischer.
2. After yourself, if your last name happens to be Kovach.
3. After your wife, if your last name happens to be Kovach.
4. After your mother and father, if your last name happens to be Kovach.
5. The two deceased Klingon sisters, Lursa and Baytor Wilson. (who knew?)
6. Counselor Deanna Troy's mother Loroxanna Troy.
7. Your wife whose name is Besse

An adjectival commemorative epithet
is a name converted to an adjective by the addition of the suffix "-an"
which must be inflected in accordance with the gender of the generic name
(-anus, -ana, -anum). An adjectival commemorative epithet is not affected
by the gender or sex of the person or persons being named. When translated
into a common name the adjectival commemorative epithet Phrag. lindenianum
looks like this: Lindenian Phrag. although it is usually translated just
like the substantival epithet Linden's Phrag.

(I could find no rule that told me when to use the substantival or
adjectival case.)

names ending in a consonant, even those that end in -er, require an
interpolated -i preceding the suffix.

names ending in -e, -i, -o, -u, and -y take the suffix without the
interpolated -i.

names that end in -a are special: like other vowels they do not take the
interpolated i, but the suffix is reduced to -nus, -na, or -num.

The quiz Part B: (this part is only worth 1/4 point.)
You have just discovered some new Orchid species and you want to name them
after people from whom you want something... like cash to help offset the
expense of traveling deep into the jungle and lawyer fees to defend against
the smuggling charge. Use the adjectival form to create Latin binomials for

1. A Phragmipedium named in honor of somebody with the last name of
Klotzsche
2. A Phragmipedium named after Mrs. Lueddemann, without whose generosity you
would not be able to afford your daily dose of quinine.
3. A Phalaenopsis named for Mr Lueddemann, so he doesn't get suspicious.
4. An Ancistrochilus after Mr Rothschild, a former friend and confidant who
told Mr Lueddemann the truth about his wife and you thereby causing Mr.
Lueddemann to cancel your ticket out of Africa...and sadly, leaving you
without your quinine. ;-)

pedantic beyond all tolerance,
Al

P.S. you only need to get Part B number 4 to pass.