Atlanta Orchid Society Newsletter

The
Atlanta
Orchid
Society
Bulletin
Affiliated with the American Orchid Society, the Orchid Digest Corporation and the Mid-America Orchid Congress
2001 Recipient of the American Orchid Society’s Distinguished Affiliated Societies Service Award
Newsletter Editor: Danny Lentz
Volume 46: Number 5
www.atlantaorchidsociety.org
May 2005
MAY EVENTS
The Meeting:
8:00 Monday, May 9 at Atlanta Botanical Garden
Richard Hallberg will present a new slide program from Orchid Digest on “Lycastinae”. There is
a considerable variety of Lycastes, from small and interesting to larger colorful species and hybrids.
The Japanese orchid community, known for their focus on pristine beauty and artful form, are
particularly fond of this group of orchids.
Members may bring plants to sell. Please remember 10% of sales go to the society.
Our annual auction is coming up on Sunday, June 12. See page 4 for details.
Inside This Issue
Atlanta Orchid Society 2005 Officers…………………………………………..….…………… Page 2
Collector’s Item…….Dressleria eburnea (Rolfe) Dodson.…..…by Ron McHatton…..………. Page 2
Events Out and About………………Dates for your Calendar…………...……….…….……… Page 3
Minutes of the April Meeting ….…….…….…...……….………….…………..………...….… Page 3
Member Spotlight – Sandy Phillips……………………………………………...……....…….. Page 3
AtOS June Auction – Information & Directions………………………………………………. Page 4
The April Exhibition Table (with notes by Ron McHatton)…….………..………..…………... Page 5
Recent Awards from the Atlanta Judging Center……….……………………………………… Page 8
Recent Blooms at the Atlanta Botanical Garden……………………………………………….. Page 10
Dipodium, the Hyacinth Orchids……………………………………………………………….. Page 11
Growing Ophrys…by David Mellard…………………………………………………………… Page 13
All contents © Atlanta Orchid Society unless otherwise noted.
Page 2
THE ATLANTA ORCHID
SOCIETY
Officers
President
David Mellard
3409 Regalwoods Drive
Doraville, GA 30340
770-270-5758
[email protected]
Vice-President/Programs
Richard Hallberg
152 Sloan St.
Roswell, GA 30075
770-587-5827
[email protected]
Secretary
Sandy Phillips
870 Virginia Circle NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
404-874-1417
[email protected]
Treasurer
Reba Herzfeld
4798 Summerset Lane
Dunwoody, GA 30338
770-394-3731
[email protected]
Immediate Past President
Evan Dessasau III
404-241-4819
[email protected]
Directors (year term expires)
Mark Reinke (2005)
864-718-0152
[email protected]
Jeff Whitfield (2005)
770-634-6153
[email protected]
Sondra Nierenberg (2006)
[email protected]
Fred Missbach (2006)
404-237-1694
[email protected]
Mikie Emerson (2007)
404-289-3684
[email protected]
Danny Lentz (2007)
770-640-0112
[email protected]
www.atlantaorchidsociety.org
COLLECTOR’S ITEM
Dressleria eburnea (Rolfe) Dodson
dres-LER-ee-ah ee-BURN-ee-ah
Tribe: Cymbidieae
Subtribe: Catasetinae
Etymology: In honor of Robert Dressler, an active orchid
systematist
The genus Dressleria was described by Cal Dodson in 1975 to
more appropriately handle several species previously described as
members of the genus Catasetum. As previously described, the genus
Catasetum contained three groups; those producing either male or
female flowers, those with bisexual flowers and expanded lips such as
Clowesia (Catasetum) rosea and a third group characterized by
bisexual white or green flowers. This latter group is what became
Dressleria. The genus currently contains some 10 species distributed
from Central America to Peru.
The plants are characterized by fleshy pseudobulbs with thick,
heavily veined, deciduous leaves similar to many species of
Catasetum. The inflorescences are produced from the lowermost
nodes of the pseudobulbs as in Catasetum and Clowesia (they are
produced from nodes near the middle of the pseudobulbs in Mormodes
and Cycnoches). These species are epiphytes found in very wet forest
at elevations from 500 to 1300 meters. They respond well under
intermediate conditions. Unlike catasetums, Dressleria species
SHOULD NOT be allowed to dry out
Dressleria eburnea (synonym: Dressleria sauvis) occurs on both
sides of the Andes of South America. This species produces relatively
large flowers for the genus (up to 5cm in diameter) and the flowers are
produced evenly spaced on the inflorescence rather than crowded on
the outermost portion of the inflorescence. The green or white flowers
are extremely fragrant and, interestingly, the leaves of this species
smell like dirty socks when crushed.
© 2005 Danny Lentz
Other Volunteers
Newsletter Editor/Greengrowers
Danny Lentz
Webmaster
Tom Kaschak
[email protected]
Librarians
Mikie Emerson and
Karen Chandler
May 2005
Plant grown by the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Page 3
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Events Out and About
May
May 2005
MINUTES OF THE APRIL MEETING
The meeting was called to order by President David Mellard. The
February minutes were approved as written.
5/9 (Monday) Atlanta Orchid Society
Monthly Meeting. Slide presentation on
Lycastinae.
5/13 – 5/15 Redland International Orchid
Festival, Homestead, FL.
www.redlandorchidfestival.org
5/14 (Saturday) American Orchid Society
monthly judging, Atlanta Center, 2 pm, ABG
basement workshop. If entering plants, please
arrive before 1:30 pm to allow time for
research and paperwork.
June
Saturday, 6/11. American Orchid Society
monthly judging, Atlanta Center, 2 pm, ABG
basement workshop. If entering plants, please
arrive before 1:30 pm to allow time for
research and paperwork.
Sunday, 6/12. Atlanta Orchid Society
annual auction. American Legion Post 140
near Chastain Park. See page 4 for more
information.
Monday, 6/13. Atlanta Orchid Society
monthly meeting, ABG, Day Hall, 8 p.m.
Speaker: TBD
Member Spotlight
Sandy Phillips
The meeting was called to order by President David Mellard. The
minutes were approved as written.
A vote was taken and passed to allow a by-law change from a
minimum of four board meetings to three board meetings per year.
A draft of the 2005 roster was available for everyone to check their
information.
The Smoky Mountain Orchid Show is the weekend of April 16; the
Nashville Orchid Show, April 30; Greengrowers, April 16, at the
home of Gary Collier and Mark Reinke.
AOS judging takes place the second Saturday of each month at 2
p.m. If you are entering a plant, plan to be at the Atlanta Botanical
Gardens at 1:30 p.m. This is also a great opportunity to learn more
about the criteria used by the judges.
Fred Missbach let us know beetles are coming in from China on
wood/bamboo. Shipments are now being inspected for beetles, but
you may find bamboo (shipped prior to the inspections) at gardening
centers which may contain the beetles.
Welcome new members: Ramona and Larry Clemente, Mary Helen
and Don Reinhard, and Geni Smith.
Thanks to all who donated plants to the raffle table: Roy Harrow,
Fred Missbach, and others. Thanks to those who brought
refreshments: Cathy Caine, Barbara Dampog, Tamara George, Reba
Herzfeld, Sandy Phillips, David Tillis, Helen Weil and others.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandy Phillips
Sandy joined the Society in January 2003. Linda Miller
introduced her to the Society at the 2002 Fall Atlanta
Orchid Show. Her collection has grown from only a few
plants to a hundred plants. She began her orchid
collections with plants rescued from estate sales. She has
since been convinced it is much easier and less time
consuming to buy (or win from the raffle) healthy orchids.
Although she has only been a member for a short time,
she volunteered to be Secretary in September 2004, and
was elected Secretary beginning in January 2005.
Sandy grows her orchids in natural light in an enclosed sun
porch with eastern, western and northern exposures. Over
the past two years, Sandy has experimented with different
fertilizers and potting mixtures, with varying success. She
appreciates the cultural information she has learned, not
only from speakers, but also from the generosity of
members.
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Atlanta Orchid Society Auction
Sunday June 12
If you haven’t been to our auction before, this
event is always a lot of fun. Lunch (pot luck,
bring a dish to pass) is at 11:30 and the bidding
begins at 1PM. There are always good bargains
on great plants.
We hold our Auction at Post 140 of the
American Legion. This meeting hall is on the
immediate southern edge of Chastain Memorial
Park at 3905 Powers Ferry Road. You can get
a map of the Chastain Park area at:
http://www.chastainconservancy.com/Default.a
spx?tabid=737 (marked building 13). You can
also go to www.mapquest.com for directions.
See you ALL there!!
May 2005
Directions to the Auction:
From GA 400 South:
South to the Buckhead loop. Take the loop to
Piedmont Rd and go north. Turn right on Roswell
Rd. The first left will be Powers Ferry Rd. Turn left.
Watch on your right just as you get to the park. The
driveway is difficult to spot.
From I75:
Take I75 to I285 to Roswell Rd. Go south (inside
the Perimeter) to Powers Ferry Rd. Turn right.
Watch for the driveway on your right at the south
end of Chastain Park.
From I85, take Piedmont Rd north to Roswell Rd.
Turn right on Roswell Rd. The first left will be
Powers Ferry Rd. Turn left and take Powers Ferry
toward Chastain Park. Look for the American
Legion driveway on your right just as you see the
park.
A couple of nice plants we’ve purchased at previous Atlanta Orchid Society auctions.
On the left, Epc. Rene Marques ‘Flamethrower’. On the right, Iwan. Apple Blossom ‘Golden Elf’.
Join the Atlanta Orchid Society
Membership in the Atlanta Orchid Society is $30 for
individuals or $45 for couples. Yearly membership
runs January 1-December 31. If you join after
September your membership will include the following
year. You can join at one of our monthly meetings, or
contact the society’s Treasurer (see page 2) for a
membership application.
For directions to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, please
visit their web site at www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org
or contact one of our society’s officers listed on page
2.
Newsletter Submissions
To submit material for the newsletter, or to sign up for the
email version of the newsletter, please contact Danny Lentz.
The deadline for submissions is the 20th of the previous month.
MAIL TO:
EMAIL:
Danny Lentz
1045 Wordsworth Dr.
Roswell, GA 30075
[email protected]
Advertising
Advertising is now being accepted for our newsletter. The size
and number of ads may be limited at the discretion of the
editor. Advertising Rates per issue are: ¼ page $10, ½ page
$20, full page $40.
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May 2005
APRIL 2005 EXHIBITION TABLE AWARDS
with notes by Ron McHatton
CLASS 1: CATTLEYA ALLIANCE
Blue
(This plant also received the J.C. Mobley Cultural Award)
Missbach
Cattleya skinneri ‘Casa Luna’ AM/AOS
Blue
Slc. Mahalo Jack
Lentz/Morgan
Red
(Schom. undulata x Lc. Rojo)
Collier/Reinke
‘Marble Branch’ AM/AOS
Red
Cattleya R. Prowe
Lentz/Morgan
White Cattleya intermedia fma. orlata
Collier/Reinke
White Slc. Dream Catcher
Collier/Reinke
Cattleya skinneri ‘Casa Luna’
(Blue-species) Cattleya skinneri : For mass of spring color you simply can’t beat
C. skinneri. This species is the National Flower of Costa Rica and is called Guaria
Morada, the Purple Guaria. This local name is the basis for the proposed name
Guarianthe for this species as well as the other Central American species such as C.
bowringiana having more or less spindle shaped pseudobulbs and 2-4 leaves per
pseudobulb. Whether this name (or an apparently older name for this group) sticks
or not remains to be seen. Cattleya skinneri is of easy culture although a definite
cool, relatively dry rest over the winter months produces the best flower
performance. These plants can be extremely floriferous and when this clone
received its AM in 1993 it carried 18 flowers on a single inflorescence!
(Blue-hybrid) Slc. Mahalo Jack : Slc. Mahalo Jack is C. walkerana x Sl. Orpetii.
The purple pigments introduced from C. walkerana are dominant when combined
with orange or red Sophronitis hybrids. Clones of this hybrid range in color from
deep iridescent magenta tones to bright purple and a few lighter shades but none of
them ever express red or orange.
Slc. Mahalo Jack
(White-hybrid) C. R. Prowe : I couldn’t help but note this plant. This
Cattleya hybrid, intermedia x Suzanne Hye, dates from 1914! The cross was
made by Sanders and these plants are in all likelihood pieces of the original
seedlings or a very old remake. It’s nice to see pieces of history still around.
CLASS 2: CYMBIDIUM
Blue
Cymbidium aloifolium
Harrow
(Blue) Cymbidium aloifolium : This species is the type species for
Cymbidium subgenus Cymbidium. In addition to
this species, this group includes C. bicolor, C.
rectum, C. finlaysonianum, C. atropurpureum,
and C. borneense. The species are distinguished
by their thick, often rigid leaves with obtuse
Cymbidium aloifolium
bilobed tips and usually pendulous
inflorescences. Cymbidium aloifolium is found
from Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands, India, Sikkim, Nepal, Bangladesh, South China, Hong
Kong, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and south to West Malaysia and Java.
The species is strictly epiphytic, found in the forks and hollows of large branches and tree
trunks growing in open forest with only partial shade. They are commonly lowland plants and
have adapted to hot, dry exposed conditions. Grow this one hot and with very bright light.
CLASS 3: DENDROBIUM
Blue Dendrobium thyrsiflorum
Missbach
Red
Dendrobium ( Janya x smillieae )
Dampog
White Dendrobium thrysiflorum fma. alboluteum Brinton/Park
thyrsiflorum
(Blue) Dendrobium thyrsiflorum : This plant was entered as Dendrobium densiflorum but must be D.Den.
thyrsiflorum.
While
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May 2005
very closely related, there are obvious differences. The most notably is the color of the flowers. Dendrobium densiflorum is a
uniform, bright butter yellow while D. thyrsiflorum has bright white sepals and petals and a solid bright yellow lip. Other
closely related species are D. farmeri and D. palpebrae. Both species have basically white and yellow flowers however those
of D. farmeri are typically tinged violet.
CLASS 4: EPIDENDRUM
Blue
Epidendrum Mabel Kanda
Red
Eplc. Charlie Brown ‘Red Baron’
White
Epidendrum Crystal Valley ‘Pinky’
Epidendrum Mabel Kanda
Collier/Reinke
Collier/Reinke
Harrow
(Blue) Epidendrum Mabel Kanda : This cross was made in 1959 and would today be
considered an intergeneric cross. The parents are Psychilis atropurpurea (syn.
Epidendrum atropurpureum) and Epidendrum floribundum. The Epi parent dominates
for flower color and the dark chocolate pigments from the Psychilis parent have been
essentially suppressed. This is a rather common phenomenon in breeding with green
flowered Epidendrum species. The genus Psychilis circumscribes those former
Epidendrum species hailing from the islands of the Caribbean. These plants are
characterized by thickened, often somewhat spindle shaped pseudobulbs with several
thick, leathery leaves; a sharp contrast from the reed like canes of most true Epis.
CLASS 5: ONCIDIUM ALLIANCE
Blue
(This plant also received the J.C. Mobley Cultural Award)
Milt. Bert Field ‘Crimson Glow’
Missbach
Red
Oncidium alliance hybrid
Harrow
White Oncidium ampliatum
Collier/Reinke
(Red) Miltoniopsis Bert Field ‘Crimson Glow’ : Congratulations! Miltoniopsis
aren’t the easiest plants to grow and flower well in warm climates. Here in Florida
it’s almost a total waste of space. They simply do not tolerate hot humid nights. If
you try these plants, keep in mind that they are NOT cool growers and do best under
intermediate conditions. The tricky part is giving them enough light without keeping
them too warm. The worst possible thing is to shade them heavily. It’s guaranteed
to give you all sorts of leaf spotting and pseudobulb rotting problems. This cross was
made in 1965 and is still a great red – excellent shape, full form and great
floriferousness!
Milt. Bert Field ‘Crimson Glow’
CLASS 6: CYPRIPEDIUM ALLIANCE
Blue Paph. callosum ‘A.O.C.’
AM/AOS (provisional)
Whitfield
Blue Paph. St. Swithin
Collier/Reinke
Red
Paph. bellatulum
Mellard/Marino
White Paph. philippinense Brinton/Park
(Blue) Paphiopedilum callosum ‘A.O.C.’,
AM/AOS (provisional) : If this is Paph.
callosum it is one of the best I’ve seen. The
flower is magnificently full with exceptional
balance. What a difference line breeding can
make. My understanding is that this is a line
bred Paph. callosum var. sublaeve. The flower
has some features consistent with that
Paph. callosum ‘A.O.C.’
designation but petal spotting and carriage that
may be more influenced by other varietal forms
of the species. It will be interesting to see what a taxonomist has to say about this one.
Congratulations to the grower!
Paph. St. Swithin
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May 2005
CLASS 7: PHALAENOPSIS ALLIANCE
Blue Phal. Schillo-Snow
Red
Phal. Sogo Grape
White Dtps. ( Orglade’s Puff x Lillian Eileen Pita )
Lentz/Morgan
Dampog
Jacobson
(Blue)
Phalaenopsis Schillo-Snow : Pretty! The cross, Phal. schilleriana x
Hilo Lip, was registered by Breckenridge in 1990. The most notable influence from
Hilo Lip is the wonderful full, open lip. Unfortunately, the sharp contrast between
the white lip and pink sepals and petals of Hilo Lip has been somewhat diluted by
infusion of pink into the lip of this hybrid. But, nonetheless, this is a pretty hybrid.
Phal. Schillo-Snow
CLASS 8: VANDACEOUS ALLIANCE
Blue
Jumellea arachnantha
Red
Renanthera Tom Thumb
White Oeoniella polystachys
White Ascda. Suksamran Sunlight ‘Gold’
Missbach
Collier/Reinke
Mellard/Marino
Dampog
(Blue) Jumellea arachnantha : The genus Jumellea contains about 58 species
distributed from Kenya into South Africa and eastward to Madagascar and adjacent
islands. In their native habitats, these plants are either epiphytes or lithophytes and are
easily maintained in cultivation. They respond well either mounted or potted in baskets
or pots with excellent drainage. Plants should be given ample water during the growing
season and some species benefit from a short dry rest after flowering. While
monopodial, the plants freely produce basal keikis and will, over time, develop
substantial specimens. Flowers are produced singly but many inflorescences will be
produced simultaneously making for a very showy specimen.
Jumellea arachnantha
CLASS 9: MISCELLANEOUS OTHER GENERA
Blue
Bifrenaria harrisoniae ‘Ruth’ AM/AOS Missbach
Red
Pleurothallis marthae
Mellard/Marino
White
Masd. bicornis (syn. Portilla popowiana)
Hartong
(Blue) Bifrenaria harrisoniae ‘Ruth’, AM/AOS : This is another one of
those things you just don’t see much of anymore. This clone was awarded
with three flowers in 1971 at a show in Pennsylvania. Typically one or two
flowers are produced per inflorescence. The species is a native of southern
Brazil and grows well under intermediate conditions. The plants benefit
from uniform watering throughout the year. The key to flowering this
species well appears to be providing abundant light, especially during the
dull winter months.
Bifrenaria harrisoniae ‘Ruth’
JOIN THE ORCHID DIGEST CORPORATION
Please visit our web site at
http://www.atlantaorchidsociety.org
The Atlanta Orchid Society web site contains
recent newsletters and articles, cultural
information for growing orchids in Atlanta, as
well as a calendar of events and information
about our annual shows.
Don’t let the name fool you, the Orchid Digest is a non-profit
membership-based organization dedicated to orchids.
Designed to appeal to the mid-range to advanced grower
nothing beats the Orchid Digest. For just $32/year you get 4
issues of full-color, in-depth articles about orchids. The
magazine is large format and the fourth issue of the year is
always an extra-special issue devoted to a single genus.
For membership application forms contact Fred Missbach
(404-237-1694)
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May 2005
© 2005 Danny Lentz
The following awards were granted at the March session of
the AOS Atlanta Judging Center. They are provisional
awards pending official publication in the Awards
Quarterly. Certificates of Horticultural Merit and
Certificates of Botanical Recognition are also provisional
pending identification by an AOS certified taxonomist
prior to publication of the award.
© 2005 Danny Lentz
RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE ATLANTA
JUDGING CENTER
Phalaenopsis Jeannette Pellman ‘Kathy Ann’
HCC 78pts. ( Paul Tatar x Massachusetts Stripe )
Natural Spread: 11.1cm H x 9.7cm V
Thirteen well-presented flowers and four buds on one
arching inflorescence, plus two flowers and six buds on a
second upright inflorescence; flowers white with
widespread purple suffusion between prominent darker
purple veins; lip lilac heavily overlaid with dark purple
veins, mimosa-yellow suffusion between veins basally,
side lobes nearly solid dark purple; prominent callus
mimosa-yellow with purple spots; column suffused purple,
anther cap white; substance fleshy; texture crystalline.
Exhibitor: Dennis Billings
JOIN THE AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY
For $46.50/year, you reap the following benefits:
• 12 issues of Orchids, the Society’s monthly full color
magazine chock full of insightful articles and tempting
ads for plants and supplies.
• 10% off on purchases from the Society’s Bookstore
and Orchid Emporium. Reduced or free admission to
participating botanical gardens.
For a limited time, if you join for two years ($84) you will
also get a $30 gift certificate (good on an order of $100 or
more) at any one of 13 commercial growers who advertise
in Orchids. JOIN TODAY. For information, contact
Evan Dessasau (404-241-4819)
© 2005 Danny Lentz
Lycaste Shoalhaven ‘Crystal White’
AM 86 pts.
Natural Spread: 16.8cm H x 11.7cm V
One exceptionally large flower and one bud welldisplayed on two inflorescences; flower concolor white;
lip side lobes and callus light yellow; substance hard;
texture sparkling.
Exhibitor: Fred Missbach
Phalaenopsis Southern Goddess ‘Snowfall’
HCC 79 pts. ( Marie’s Destiny x aprodite var. formosana )
Natural Spread: 9.0cm H x 8.9cm V
Thirty-seven round, white flowers and one bud wellpresented on three branched, arching inflorescences; lip
midlobe suffused mimosa-yellow, side lobes with purple
striations basally; prominent callus mimosa-yellow with
numerous purple spots; column white; substance fleshy;
texture matte.
Exhibitor: Stones River Orchids
www.atlantaorchidsociety.org
May 2005
© 2005 Danny Lentz
Ophrys ( fuciflora x heldreichii ) AD/AOS
Natural Spread: 2.0cm H x 2.2cm V
One striking flower and three buds on one inflorescence;
diminutive plant 6cm wide by 5.5cm tall, five whorled
leaves to 1.5cm wide by 4.5cm long; sepals light rose-pink
with distinctive lime green stripe centrally; petals darker
rose-pink; convex lip chartreuse irregularly overlaid rich
maroon, small protuberances at side lobes; column cream,
lime green apically; substance firm; texture glistening;
commended for a distinctive new direction in breeding.
Exhibitor: David Mellard
Miltonia cuneata ‘Judy’s Joy’
AM 80 pts.
Natural Spread: 6.9cm H x 7.5cm V
Thirty-seven undulated flowers and three buds on 10
inflorescences; sepals cream, heavily barred chocolate
brown; petals cream strongly blotched chocolate brown; lip
white spotted brown on two distinct keels, blushed rose
basally; column cream with ruffled, fimbriate hood
enclosing cream anther cap; substance firm; texture glossy.
Exhibitor: Judy Cook
Phragmipedium Red Baron ‘Edwin Boyett’
AM 85 pts. ( Mont Fallu x Andean Fire )
Natural Spread: 16.1cm H x 10.6cm V
Four flowers and four buds well-presented on one 89-cm
inflorescence; sepals and petals crimson, center of sepals
green basally; pouch scarlet, egg yolk yellow internally
with minute light crimson spots; substance firm; texture
sparkling.
Exhibitor: Ed & AnnaLee Boyett
© 2005 Danny Lentz
© 2005 Danny Lentz
© 2005 Danny Lentz
Page 9
Phragmipedium Les Dirouilles ‘Ramona Lee’
HCC 79 pts. ( Sorceror’s Apprentice x Grande )
One large flower and one bud on one 70-cm inflorescence;
dorsal sepal light chartreuse with white picotee on
proximal one-thrid, striped moss green centrally
transitioning to wine red peripherally; synsepal chartreuse
veined wine red with white picotee on proximal one-third;
petals citron green with wine red hairs basally, edges wine
red coalescing to solid wine red distally; pouch base color
light citron green, exterior lightly overlaid chocolate
brown, interior heavily spotted wine red, moss green
centrally; staminode light citron green with dark maroon
hairs; substance firm; texture glossy.
Exhibitor: Fred Missbach
www.atlantaorchidsociety.org
May 2005
© 2005 Danny Lentz
Page 10
© 2005 Danny Lentz
Phalaenopsis ((Spring Doris x California Glow) x
Silken Pennant) ‘Spring Silk’ AM 83 pts.
Natural Spread: 10.3cm H x 9.7cm V
Eleven flat flowers well-displayed on one arching
inflorescence; flowers white, lateral sepals spotted redpurple basally; lip white, midlobe spotted red-purple
marginally, side lobes striped red-purple internally; callus
spotted red-purple; substance firm; texture crystalline.
Exhibitor: Stones River Orchids
Paphiopedilum Irish Moss ‘Hwei & Sue’
HCC 79 pts. (Awarded 3/1 at Southeastern Flower Show)
Natural Spread: 8.3cm H x 8.0cm V
One flower on one 23-cm inflorescence; dorsal sepal white
overlaid pale chartreuse basally with heavy burgundy
veins; synsepal chartreuse with light burgundy veins;
petals chartreuse with light burgundy veins, upper margins
hirsute, heavily ruffled; pouch chartreuse with muted
burgundy veins, numerous burgundy spots internally;
staminode light chartreuse, apple green centrally; column
hirsute; substance firm; texture waxy.
Exhibitor: Hwei Hsieh
Recent Blooms at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
© 2005 Danny Lentz
© 2005 Danny Lentz
These pictures were taken on April 20, 2005.
Lueddemannia pescatorei
Catasetum cernuum
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May 2005
Dipodium is a genus of about twenty species that is
distributed from Malaysia down through the Pacific
region to Australia, where about ten species can be
found in the eastern states of the country. Robert
Brown described the genus in 1810. The name of the
genus is Greek for “two little feet” and refers to the
prominent stalks which support the pollinia.
©2005 Matthew Quinn
Dipodium, the Hyacinth Orchids
D. punctatum has a purplish-red stalk up to 1 meter tall
bearing up to 60 flowers. The flowers are almost 2 cm
across, reddish-pink with darker spots. The sepals and
petals are not reflexed. It grows at elevations of 101100 meters. Matthew Quinn reported seeing these in
January: “While on a short holiday to the village of
Berry, 2 1/2 hours south of Sydney, I saw this D.
punctatum by the side of the road. We were crossing
the hills on the Kangaroo Valley Rd (sensationally
beautiful as an aside), and once we hit around 350
metres above sea level, these beauties jumped out of
nowhere - right by the side of the road. They aren't
tiny, at about 50cm high - but I was still impressed that
I managed to spot them whilst driving by at about
60km/h. My brain subconsciously said "Orchids!" and
I hit the brakes - with luckily no cars behind me. The
2nd photo shows their proximity to the road, and the
last shows healthy looking seed pods - also found in
abundance further up into the hills”
Dipodium punctatum
(top) flowers
(middle) cluster of plants by roadside
(bottom) seed pods
©2005 Matthew Quinn
Two of the saprophytic species are D. punctatum and
D. roseum, which was recently segregated from D.
punctatum. The plants are fairly common in a region
near the coast from southern Queensland around to the
eastern part of South Australia. D. roseum can also be
found in Tasmania. They bloom from November to
March.
©2005 Matthew Quinn
Many of the Australian species of Dipodium are
saprophytic terrestrials. These leafless plants live off a
relationship with fungi in the soil rather than getting
their energy through photosynthesis. They are found
growing in proximity with Eucalyptus trees. These
plants cannot be cultivated.
Page 12
www.atlantaorchidsociety.org
May 2005
D. roseum has up to 40 flowers on a stalk of up to 1 m
or more. The flowers are up to 2.5 cm across, rose
pink with small spots. Reiner Richter of Victoria
reported seeing many of these plants (up to 100 in a
day) while walking in the Doongalla Forest, part of
the Dandenong Ranges National Park
(http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?p
ark=49 ). He saw stalks of various heights with the
tallest stalk measuring 1.1 m. These pictures were
taken during January and December of 2004.
-Danny Lentz
References:
Native Orchids of Australia by David L. Jones, 1988
©2004 Reiner Richter
Field Guide to the Orchids of New South Wales and
Victoria (Second Edition) by Tony Bishop, 2000
Orchids of Australia by John J. Riley and David P.
Banks, 2002
Posts on the alt.binaries.pictures.orchids USENET
Newsgroup and personal communications by:
Reiner Richter ( http://orchids.rnr.id.au )
Matthew Quinn ( [email protected] )
So where can you get terrestrial orchids?
©2004 Reiner Richter
©2004 Reiner Richter
After seeing the pretty pictures of David
Mellard’s Ophrys plants and some of the
Australian species featured in the newsletter, you
may start looking for some of these plants to try in
your collection. They aren’t easy to find. Once
source David has used is Dr. Heinrich Beyrle in
Germany. This is where David got his Ophrys
tubers. The website is
http://www.myorchids.de/index.htm. The site
lists many species from both Europe and
Australia. Orders are taken during the summer,
and shipments are made in September and
October.
Some day when I get time I will look for another
source of the Australian species. If you know of
sources for the European or Australian species
please let me know.
-Danny
Dipodium roseum
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www.atlantaorchidsociety.org
May 2005
Growing Ophrys
by David Mellard
an electrical conductivity (EC)
reading of 1.6 (or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per
gallon) provides the right concentration
of fertilizer. Pots can be fertilized a
couple times a month.
© 2005 Danny Lentz
Ophrys, commonly known as bee
orchids because many are pollinated by
bees, grow in Eurasia, predominantly
around the Mediterrean Sea.
Consequently, Ophrys are adapted to a
Mediterrean climate of cool, moist
winters and hot dry summers. Ophrys
are summer dormant, coming into
growth in the fall and flowering in the
spring. Most Ophrys can tolerate a light
frost.
After flowering and as warm weather
approaches, the leaves will turn yellow
and die back. Pots should be dried off
gradually during this time to allow the
plant to form next year's tuber. Pots
are not watered or watered just barely
during the summer dormancy. This is
a critical time and the less frequent
light watering depends on the
humidity. In humid environments, the
surface of the pot can be dry but the
soil beneath the surface can maintain
enough moisture to prevent the tuber
from drying out. In this situation,
avoid water. When watering during
dormancy, use enough water to wet the
top 1/2 to 1 inch of mix; do not water
the pot completely.
Ophrys (fuciflora x heldreichii) plant (L), closeup of petals, column and lip (R)
© 2005 Danny Lentz
© 2005 Danny Lentz
© 2005 Danny Lentz
Because Atlanta's winters are too cold,
Ophrys must be grown indoors, under
lights, or in a frost free greenhouse. The
mix for Ophrys consists of the top few
inches of soil from hardwood forests
amended with perlite and limestone.
One good source of limestone is white
gravel chips used in aquarium, which
can be found at most stores that
specialize in saltwater fish. Some bone
meal can also be added along with
dolomitic limestone or oyster shell. The
important part is to create a light mix
When fall arrives, pots can be given a
that is high in calcium and magnesium
Ophrys morisii
very light watering until growth
and has a pH above 6.5. During growth
appears. As the growing point
(if you are using low alkalinity water), plants can be
emerges,
watering
can be increased and once leaves
fertilized lightly at about 100 to 200 ppm nitrogen
appear,
fertilizer
can
be added. Keep consistently
using Michigan State University (MSU) RO fertilizer
moist
during
the
fall,
winter, and spring growth
with added calcium and magnesium. Using the MSU
period
and
provide
medium
to bright light (Cattleya
RO fertilizer and Atlanta's low alkalinity water,
light levels).
Ophrys morisii lip and column
www.atlantaorchidsociety.org
May 2005
© Danny Lentz
Page 14
Maxillaria rufescens
Plant grown by Danny Lentz