Hybrid between species of two different genera.
A hybrid involving species of two or more different genera, whether first generation or any subsequent generations or backcrosses. They are uncommon in the plant world generally, due to the greater genetic distance between genera than between species of the same genus, but are quite numerous among orchid hybrids—for example, the various hybrid combinations of the genera Cattleya, Laelia, Sophronitis and Rhyncholaelia. Bigeneric hybrid names are formed from parts of the names of the parent genera, with a multiplication sign placed before the name, thus X Sophrocattleya for hybrids between Sophronitis and Cattleya. Where 3 or more genera are involved the convention is now to attach the ending -ara to a personal name, thus X Wilsonara for hybrids involving Odontoglossum, Oncidium and Cochlioda.