Neofinetia was a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae, that is now regarded as a synonym of Vanda. It contained three species and was distributed in China, Korea, and Japan.
Taxonomy The type species was introduced to the West from Japan by Carl Peter Thunberg in 1784, and placed in the genus Orchis. In 1925 H. H. Hu created Neofinetia as a monotypic genus. Neofinetia is named in honor of Achille Eugène Finet, a French botanist and author of Contributions a la Flore de L'Asie Orientale. The Greek prefix neo, (new) was added to distinguish it from another plant genus named earlier to honor Finet.
Species Neofinetia falcata (Thunberg) Hu = Vanda falcata The type species of the former genus, it is known as 风兰 (feng lan) in China, where it is found in (N Fujian, S Gansu, SW Hubei, W Jiangxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang); 풍란 (pungnan) in Korea; and 風蘭 (fũran) in Japan, where it is found in (Honshu from the Kantō region westwards, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Ryukyu Islands.) Neofinetia richardsiana Christenson = Vanda richardsiana Resembling V. falcata but with short nectar spurs, it is known as 短距风兰 (duan ju feng lan) in China, where it is found in (Chongqing). Neofinetia xichangensis Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen = Vanda xichangensis Known as 西昌风兰 (xi chang feng lan) in China, it is found in (SW Sichuan). (There is some controversy on whether V. xichangensis is a true species, or just a large form of V. richardsiana.)
Intergeneric hybrids In horticulture, Neofinetia was abbreviated as Neof. In the last part of the 20th century, it gained a great deal of attention in hybrid programs with other vandaceous orchids, thanks to its relative hardiness, scent, compact size, and above all, ease of culture. The names below are all obsolete, since Neofinetia is now synonymous with Vanda. For example, × Aeridofinetia is now × Aeridovanda.
Neofinetia × Aerides = Aeridofinetia Neofinetia × Angraecum = Neograecum Neofinetia × Ascocentrum = Ascofinetia Neofinetia × Ascoglossum = Neoglossum Neofinetia × Cleisocentron = Cleisofinetia Neofinetia × Doritis = Dorifinetia Neofinetia × Luisia = Luinetia Neofinetia × Phalaenopsis = Phalanetia Neofinetia × Renanthera = Renanetia Neofinetia × Rhynchostylis = Neostylis (e.g. 'Lou Sneary') Neofinetia × Robiquetia = Robifinetia Neofinetia × Vanda = Vandofinetia Neofinetia × Aerides × Arachnis = Hanesara Neofinetia × Aerides × Ascocentrum = Aerasconetia Neofinetia × Aerides × Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis = Moonara Neofinetia × Aerides × Ascocentrum × Vanda = Micholitzara Neofinetia × Aerides × Rhynchostylis × Vanda = Sanjumeara Neofinetia × Aerides × Vanda = Vandofinides Neofinetia × Ascocentrum × Cleisocentron = Ascocleinetia Neofinetia × Ascocentrum × Luisia = Luascotia Neofinetia × Ascocentrum × Luisia × Rhynchostylis = Dominyara Neofinetia × Ascocentrum × Renanthera = Rosakirschara Neofinetia × Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Rhynchostylis × Vanda = Knudsonara Neofinetia × Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis = Rumrillara Neofinetia × Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis × Vanda = Darwinara Neofinetia × Ascocentrum × Vanda = Nakamotoara Neofinetia × Ascocentrum × Vanda = Nakamotoara (e.g. 'Newberry Apricot') Neofinetia × Luisia × Vanda = Luivanetia Neofinetia × Renanthera × Rhynchostylis = Hueylihara Neofinetia × Renanthera × Vanda = Renafinanda Neofinetia × Rhynchostylis × Vanda = Yonezawaara (e.g. 'Blue Star')
References
Flora of China 25: 483–484. 2009.