Orchids - The Orchid Society of Great Britain

Transcription

Orchid
Journal
VOLUME 60 No 1 February - March - April 2011
Society of Great Britain
60
years
1951
2011
The Orchid Society of Great Britain
Registered Charity No. 261273
Officers of the Society
#President: Dr Henry Oakeley
77 Copers Cope Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 1NR
Tel: 020 8658 0358
e-mail: [email protected]
Vice Presidents: Mrs B Arnold, Mrs J Kelleher, Mr T
Lewis, Dr E Watson
#*Chairman: Mr Roy White
30 Acorn Grove, Ruislip Gardens, Middlesex, HA4 6LP
Tel: 01895 632689. Mob: 07980 630235
#Secretary: Mrs Val Micklewright
103 North Road, Three Bridges, Crawley,
West Sussex, RH10 1SQ
Tel: 01293 528615
#Treasurer: Mrs Sally Mill
82 Hazelwick Road, Three Bridges,
West Sussex, RH10 1NH
Tel: 01293 547896
#Membership Secretary: Mr Walter Lefley
39 Hainault Road, Romford, Essex, RM5 3AA
Tel: 01708 788389
Programme Secretary: Mrs Iona Macphie
5 Wilbury Avenue, Cheam, Surrey, SM2 7DU
Tel: 020 8661 0787
#Displays Manager: Miss Valerie Pugh
4 Reynard Close, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4GX
Tel: 01403 251176
Librarian: Mr Derek Belcher
7 Derby Road, Cheam, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2BL
Tel: 020 8715 3635
Chair Judging: Mrs Dusha Hayes
62 Link Lane, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 9DZ
Tel: 020 8647 8496
Sponsorship Secretary: Miss Mary-Jane Hawkins
Mob: 07905 527089
2 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Editor’s notes
Contents
www.orchid-society-gb.org.uk
Committee Members
*Mrs Betty Barber
8 Dean Close, Deeds Grove,
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP12 3NS
Tel: 01494 529604
Editor: Lady Samantha Hurley
17 Veronica Road, London, SW17 8QL
Tel: 020 8673 7751
Mr Francis J Quesada-Pallares
50 Fir Tree Gardens, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 8JQ
Tel: 020 8777 2904
Mr André Roux
58B Shooters Hill Road, Blackheath, London, SE3 7BG
Advertising Secretary: Mrs Kim Solomon
31 Burghley House, Somerset Road, Wimbledon,
London, SW19 5JB
Tel: 020 8946 4410 Mob: 07717 222403
#Trustees of the Society
*Representatives to British Orchid Council.
The Journal (ISSN 0306-2996)
Editor: Lady Samantha Hurley
17 Veronica Road, London, SW17 8QL
Tel: 020 8673 7751 e-mail: [email protected]
Layout & typesetting: Smallfish Designs Ltd
Printed by: Impress Print Services Ltd
The Journal is printed on paper
with a certified Chain of Custody
for wood fibre. At least 70% of the
fibre originates from certified
sustainably managed forests.
Happy Birthday,
OSGB, 60 years old
this year!
I am delighted to
follow in the
footsteps of Eileen
Watson as your new
Editor and am
grateful for her help
Your new Journal Editor,
and encouragement.
Sam Hurley
Under her calm
leadership the Journal has continued to
develop into the varied, interesting and
elegant publication that we enjoy today. I
look forward to maintaining her high
standards and serving the OSGB in this new
role.
Officers of the Society ......................................................... 2
Editor’s Notes .......................................................................... 3
Letter from the President, Henry Oakeley .................... 4
Letter from the Editor, Sam Hurley ............................... 15
Orchids beginning with M by Henry Oakeley .......... 16
Membership in the OSGB’s sixtieth year
by Walter Lefley ................................................................... 32
Growing up with orchids in Malaya
by Martin Everard ............................................................... 33
Polyploidy, an Introduction by Henry Oakeley ........ 36
Cymbidium Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’
by Andy Easton ................................................................... 37
Obituary – Brian Rittershausen ..................................... 44
Obituary – Michael Potter ............................................... 46
Book review:
Orchids – One Family’s Passion
by Wilma Rittershausen .................................................... 47
Note from the Treasurer ................................................... 47
We are pleased to welcome three new VicePresidents, Mrs Betty Arnold, Mr Tim Lewis
and Dr Eileen Watson, and thank them for
all their work for the Society over the years.
Spotlight on Species – Habenaria and Pecteilis
by Iona Macphie ................................................................. 48
We also welcome the Bournemouth Orchid
Society, the Cambridge Orchid Society, the
Devon Orchid Society, and the Orchid Study
Group – Wales which have become
affiliated to the OSGB. We look forward to
working with them.
OSGB Spring Show 2011 .................................................. 58
A complete list of all the books, articles and
magazines in the OSGB library can now be
found on the Society’s website. Happy
browsing and please contact your Librarian,
Derek Belcher, with any requests.
We shall be celebrating our anniversary
throughout the year with various displays
and hope that members old and new will
join in. Please see the full list of dates in the
Show Diary and consider getting involved,
perhaps with creating the displays or
lending your beautiful plants.
The deadline for the next issue is 10 March
2011
How to cultivate a happy Display Team ..................... 53
OSGB Autumn Show 2010 report by Sally Mill ........ 54
The RHS Slipper Orchid Symposium ........................... 59
Orchid Show at Durham University ............................. 60
20th World Orchid Conference, Singapore ................. 60
Napier Hall Meeting report by André Roux .............. 62
Photographic and Art Competition report
by Iona Macphie ................................................................. 67
The RHS Orchid Committee Report ............................. 71
Advertisements ................................................................... 74
Services to Members:
Meetings, Cultural Advice, Website, Library,
Travel Club, Displays ................................................. 82
Show Diary ............................................................................ 83
Photos by Henry Oakeley unless otherwise stated
Front Cover: Colin Carter’s Phragmipedium
schlimii
Back Cover: Bulbophyllum cinnabarinum
Both orchids exhibited at OSGB Autumn Show,
November 2010
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 3
Letter from the President
Henry Oakeley
Joyce Stewart
Joyce died on 7 January after a short illness.
As the Organiser of the 1993 World Orchid
Conference, President of the BOC, Sainsbury
Orchid Fellow at Kew, Member of the RHS
Orchid Committee and a Trustee of the
World Orchid Conference Trust, and more,
she will be remembered. A full obituary will
be in the next Journal.
Shows
We should all go to shows to look and learn.
Here are some things I noticed (besides the
flowers) at our Autumn show.
Leaves 1. Paphiopedilum
Joyce Stewart at the London Orchid Show 2003
The mottled leaves of some Paphiopedilum
species and hybrids are always attractive,
usually said to indicate that they need
warmer growing conditions than the thin
plain green leaves of plants such as
Paphiopedilum insigne. The old (registered in
1927) Paph. Maudiae hybrid, Paph. Clair de
Lune, is one of the best of these mottled
leaved paphs. Paphiopedilum charlesworthii
on first glance has plain green leaves, but
look at the reverse to see dark red bars, and
constellations of spots that look like Chinese
or Arabic. The hybrid between the two leaf
forms, Val Micklewright’s Paph.
(charlesworthii x Maudiae), has a slightly
mottled top surface and a uniform dark red
sheen to the underside.
Dark red bars, and constellations of spots on underside
of leaves of Paphiopedilum charlesworthii
The leaves of Paph. (charlesworthii x Maudiae) have a
slightly mottled top surface and a uniform dark red
sheen to the underside
Leaves 2. Jewel orchids
Mottled leaves of Paphiopedilum Clair de Lune
4 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
We saw David Martin’s Macodes petola, with
its beautiful ‘jewel orchid’ pale green leaves
with fine dark reticulations, at the October
OSGB meeting at Napier Hall. Once again, it
was not judged as it was ‘not in flower’. The
Macodes petola is grown for its leaf markings. It needs warm, humid, shady conditions
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 5
OSGB annual supplement notes that we
judge using British Orchid Council rules – and
75% of the points in this system go to the
flowers. It is time we had a class for orchids
grown for foliage – in the Japanese shows
there are separate classes for leaf variegation
in the different genera. More pictures of
orchids with variegated leaves may be seen in
the OSGBJ (2007) 56(1): 23.
Plants with unregistered names
David Trendell’s article in the last Journal on
un-named plants is being looked at again by
the OSGB Judging Sub-Committee. I think
they will confirm that ‘Phalaenopsis hybrid’
will be a sufficiently good name to allow a
plant to be judged in our table shows (as it
was for Sam Hurley’s white ‘Phalaenopsis
hybrid’ which gained first prize in its class).
The British Orchid Council (and OSGB)
system judges the quality of the plant and is
not the same as the AM and FCC judging of
the AOS and the RHS where the quality of
the flower is assessed against the
knowledge of the parentage and breeding
line.
The names of new orchid hybrids can be
registered with the Orchid Registrar at the
Royal Horticultural Society, but many
commercial growers no longer bother and
register their plant names as a trademark or
just give them names in their catalogues
whereupon they have a certain copyright
uniqueness. Several of the plants that gained
prizes at the Autumn Show, including
Phalaenopsis Black Butterfly, Phal. Black
Diamond, and Odontioda Samurai are
nowhere to be found on the RHS Orchid
Hybrid registration database. They may not
even be valid names according to the
International Code of Nomenclature of
Cultivated Plants, because they may have
6 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
been ‘published’ only in private trade
catalogues, but they are in widespread use –
being more abundant than RHS registered
hybrids – so we include them for judging.
However, there is a Bakerara Samurai in the
Register; Bakerara is Brassia x Miltonia x
Odontoglossum x Oncidium (Odontioda is
only Odontoglossum x Cochlioda), but when
Odontoglossum stops being a valid genus
name and the plants currently in it become
part of Oncidium, then Bakerara becomes
Aliceara (Brassia x Miltonia x Oncidium) and
Odontioda becomes Oncidioda. We can look
forward to Xxxx Samurai appearing with
four different names. Does anyone out there
agree that it is a bag of worms...? It is all for
the good if we get stable naming in the end.
The Advisory Sub-Committee on Orchid
Hybrid Registration at the RHS has agreed to
defer accepting/rejecting the merger of
Odontoglossum into Oncidium until May
2011, so further discussion can take place.
Nonsense names, such as Doritaenopsis
Dresslera seen at the show, are one step too
far as Dresslera is the name of a hybrid genus
(Ascoglossum x Renanthera x Phalaenopsis)
and cannot be used for the grex (hybrid)
name. This plant was originally entered as
‘Phalaenopsis hybrid’ and the judges
corrected the genus name, but Dresslerara
was apparently added later. Only cultivar
names should be in inverted commas, so
Paphiopedilum ‘Jersey Freckles’ (also at the
Show) needed to lose them as it is a grex
(hybrid) name, whereas Bulbophyllum
Elizabeth Ann ‘Bucklebury’ (in the October
table show) uses the ‘Bucklebury’ in inverted
commas to indicate that it is a special,
unique clone/cultivar of the hybrid B.
Elizabeth Ann. This hybrid was raised by Lady
Sainsbury at Bucklebury, and named after
her daughter.
2
1
3
Three orchids at the Autumn Show with ‘unregistered’ names 1) Odontioda Samurai, 2) Phalaenopsis Black Butterfly,
3) Phalaenopsis Black Diamond
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 7
Doritaenopsis Dresslerara – an invalid name
Paphiopedilum Jersey Freckles has no inverted commas
as it is a hybrid (or grex) name
Val Micklewright’s Phragmipedium besseae at the Autumn Show - correctly named, beautifully grown
Bulbophyllum Elizabeth Ann ‘Bucklebury’ – the inverted
commas indicate the cultivar name
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 9
Growth habits – the rhizome –
look and learn
The long rhizomes of Coelogyne fimbriata let a plant grow around a pan
There were several plants of Coelogyne
fimbriata and its close relatives at the
Autumn Show. These have a long rhizome
connecting the pseudobulbs, and in the wild
they grow up tree trunks and along tree
branches. As such they can be
accommodated in pans with the rhizomes
trained to grow round and round on the
surface. A few orchids have rhizomes that
grow vertically, as the plants, in nature, are
found on cliff faces and have not adapted
their rhizomes to horizontal living. A good
example of this was Val Micklewright’s
beautiful Phragmipedium besseae, which had
a staked new growth showing how it just
grows straight upwards out of the pot.
Severing the rhizome and replanting it
seems the only way to keep this ‘under
control’ in cultivation. They enjoy very wet
conditions so growing it on a vertical bark
mount, while possible, would require very
frequent watering.
Barbara Everard Trust and old
hybrids
Phragmipedium besseae in cultivation grows vertically
on long rhizomes
10 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Phragmipedium besseae growing on wet cliff face in
Ecuador
David Thurtle’s Paph. King Arthur, at the
Autumn Show, was a well-grown plant,
originally raised and registered in 1915 by the
Reverend J Crombleholme of Clayton-leMoors, Lancashire. That it has survived
several owners and changes of greenhouse
in the past century is a testimony to its
hardiness as a greenhouse plant. The Barbara
Everard Trust for Orchid Conservation
(BETOC) has funds, primarily to encourage
the conservation of old hybrids. If you know
of any relevant projects that could benefit
from financial help from BETOC, contact Val
Micklewright, our Secretary. It is the
David Thurtle with Paphiopedilum King Arthur,
registered as a new hybrid in 1915
centenary of Barbara Everard’s birth and
there will be an exhibition of her flower
paintings in the Botanical Art Show held in
conjunction with the RHS London Orchid
Show in March 2011 and produced by her son,
Martin.
The Wisley Orchid Event,
26 March – 3 May
Every year I write about the Wisley Orchid
Event – a month or more of orchid displays
in the new Glasshouse at Wisley. It is always
full of colour and interesting ideas, eg the
‘Oncidium trees’, with both commercially
grown plants from Holland as well as some
of the giant specimens that Wisley has been
famous for. This year, I am writing about it in
advance!
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 11
OSGB Spring Show 30 April
Our Spring Show is in the Wisley Glasshouse
Gallery on Saturday 30 April so we can enjoy
both events. There will be the usual
competitive classes and displays by
members and Affiliated Societies. There will
be unusual orchid species for sale from Janet
Plested, and cultural advice for all. We have
booked our Affiliated Society annual free
RHS garden visit to coincide with this. This
means that as well as OSGB members who
also have RHS membership, 55 OSGB
members who neither have RHS
membership nor are visiting as an RHS
member’s guest will have free entry to
Wisley on this day. Front-of-house staff at
Wisley will be aware of this booking so
please mention it on entry.
Photographic tips
Paphiopedilum spicerianaum with ties and stake
Your Editor is always looking for
photographers and photographs for the
Journal. Digital photography is one of the
reasons we can now afford unlimited colour
pictures at no extra cost and Photoshop and
other picture editing software means that
the pictures can be ‘improved’ to remove
unwanted sticks, string, leaves etc. See the
two pictures here, one un-improved and the
other one with the stake, ties and leaves
removed electronically. It is not difficult.
Some plants have very important
characteristics that make them distinct, so
try to photograph flowers to show these. The
staminode – a disk-like protrusion in the
centre – of a Paphiopedilum flower is
important in identifying species and their
hybrids. The curious yellow projection on the
staminode of Paph. charlesworthii is worth
capturing.
Paphiopedilum spicerianaum with ties and stake
removed with photo editing software
12 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Curious yellow projection on the staminode of
Paphiopedilum charlesworthii
Getting the exposure and the colour right is
not always easy and it may be necessary to
take several shots with different exposures.
With very dark flowers and a black
background one may lose sight of some of
the flower: with a white background,
Letter from the Editor
especially when using flash, light may be
reflected through from the back of the
flower so it appears too pale. Underexposing in these circumstances so the
white background appears grey may get the
flower colour closer to what it should be.
Sam Hurley
It is easy to take excellence for granted and
the OSGB Journal is excellent. I have admired
it since I joined the Society and would like to
congratulate Eileen Watson on her success in
continually improving the Journal during her
ten years as Editor and thank her for the
legacy she leaves us.
I am a relatively new member of the Society,
not yet the owner of a greenhouse (although
our President tells me that if I ever get one it
will almost immediately be too small) and so
I happily grow orchids on my windowsills.
When asked to become Editor of the Journal I
paused to consider what I might be able to
offer.
1
2
3
Paphiopedilum (charlesworthii x Maudiae): 1) with black background, 2) with white background, 3) white background
and underexposed to achieve correct colour to flower.
Chris Bailes
Chris Bailes, sometime curator of the Eric
Young Orchid Foundation, a botanist with
an interest in orchids and immense
expertise in horticulture, has been
appointed Curator of the Chelsea Physic
Garden, and to membership of the RHS
Orchid Committee. He was Curator of RHS
Rosemoor in Devon for many years,
creating a magnificent garden there. He
wrote about the native orchids at
Rosemoor in OSGBJ (2007) 56(2): 91. We
wish him well and hope that he will
become involved with the OSGB now he is
in London.
Chris Bailes, the newly appointed
curator of the Chelsea Physic Garden
14 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
I have just read a delightful book, Luigi
Berliocchi’s The Orchid in Lore and Legend
(with a predictably enthusiastic foreword by
our President). The author describes one of
the Victorian orchid hunters as having a
‘neophyte’s passion’ – the zeal of a new
convert. That is what I hope to add to our
Journal. My knowledge of all things
orchidaceous is growing by the day and I am
fascinated by the different directions in
which this interest is taking me. My library is
growing, photographic skills improving and
fingers getting greener. I am grateful to my
daughters Charlotte, Constance and Cora for
their patient tuition on my computer and to
my husband Guy who hears more about
orchids than he ever planned to. I look
forward to working with all our contributors
and thank them in advance for their help and
guidance.
Looking back through 60 years of our Journal,
I notice that the eternal chorus from the
Editor has been ‘Send me your articles’. Let
me take up the refrain; send me your articles.
There are only two considerations: is it about
Our outgoing Editor, Dr Eileen Watson, winner of the
Coach Trophy (for the best species) at our Autumn Show
in October 2000
orchids and is it interesting? I can accept
articles by post or email and could offer help
with editing. Do not worry about layout and
please do not insert photographs into your
text. Why not contact me by telephone or
email if you would like to discuss an article, or
talk to me at one of our monthly meetings?
The OSGB celebrates its 60th anniversary this
year, having been founded in 1951 as the
Amateur Orchid Growers’ Society. This is a
good year for us all to consider how and when
our interest in orchids began and in what way
we can contribute and support our Society.
Since joining, I have been delighted by the
friendly welcome, the encouragement and
support shown to new members and the
advice so willingly shared by the more expert
among us. Small wonder the Society has made
it to 60, it is young at heart and thriving.
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 15
Orchids beginning with M
– A Picture Gallery
Orchids beginning with M – A Picture Gallery
Henry Oakeley
While it may be useful to have articles on a
single genus, sometimes one needs to see
some diversity – after all one Cattleya looks
very much like another – so this is a Picture
Gallery of orchids from genera beginning
with ‘M’, although as I wrote it many of them
disappeared into other genera which did not
begin with ‘M’. Such is life, so please regard
this also as an education about name
changes. We already have Macodes petola
elsewhere in this issue, so we will start with
another Macodes. The object of this article is
to show the variety of orchids that are ‘out
there’ which you can grow. For most you
need a greenhouse or an indoor glassfronted orchid cabinet, but some are suitable
as house plants.
Macodes sanderiana
A Macodes species in flower
16 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Macodes sanderiana
The beautiful variegated leaves give rise to
the name ‘jewel orchids’. Macodes is a genus
of ten species, found from the Ryukyu Islands
(the archipelago south of Japan) and from
Vietnam through Malaysia to Vanuatu with
most being found in New Guinea. They are
rain forest terrestrials, mostly from sea level
in the tropics, so need warm growing
conditions, high humidity and shade. Other
jewel orchids are the popular Ludisia (L.
discolor is available from supermarkets as a
house plant) and Anoectochilus. A heated,
glass-fronted orchid cabinet would be a
perfect place to grow them indoors as they
occupy little space. Named for Henry Sander
(1847–1920), founder of Sander’s Orchid
Nursery; Macodes may come from ma(k)ros
meaning ‘long’, referring to the long lip.
Macradenia multiflora
Malaxis andicola on forest floor
Macradenia multiflora
There are 11 species, found from southern
Florida and the Caribbean through to Brazil.
They have pendent scapes of flowers from
long cylindrical pseudobulbs capped by a
single leaf. Their normal habitat is epiphytic
in wet forest from 200–800 metres above
sea level, so should be grown warm to
intermediate, with high humidity and shade.
These highly coloured, floriferous plants
need a lot of water in the growing season.
Because of the hanging flowers they are
often grown on bark mounts, but can be
grown in pots. Macradenia was first
described in 1822 by Robert Brown, the
Scottish botanist, who is famous for having
discovered the cell nucleus and for his role as
botanist on Sir Joseph Banks’s 1801–1805
voyage to Australia where he collected 3,400
plant species, 2,000 of which were new to
science.
Malaxis andicola close-up of flowers
Malaxis andicola
A terrestrial species found from Peru to
Venezuela, growing in light shade in cool,
damp woodland at 2,000 metres. It belongs
to a huge genus of some 300 species,
although many have been reallocated to
other genera in recent years. For example,
Malaxis latifolia, which we saw at the
Peterborough Show this year, is now a
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 17
Stichorkis and Malaxis acuminata is now in
the genus Crepidium. The majority are found
in southeast Asia in warm, damp, shady
woodland and can be grown in intermediate
conditions (min 15°C).
Most are dull, but on close up examination of
the flowers they are quite weird. I found this
plant in a very cold, wet forest margin, on a
dreadful day in the Andes of Peru where the
locals had told us that entry to the forest
was prohibited, so we spent the day in
drizzling rain, up to our ankles in mud,
changing direction whenever we heard their
dogs. This and a solitary Dracula was all we
had to show for our efforts. You can grow
this one very cool.
Andaman Islands (epicentre of the
earthquake which caused the great tsunami
in 2004) through southern China, down to
Sumatra and New Guinea. It is an epiphyte
from lowland forests, so needs plenty of
water in the growing season, shade and
warm growing conditions. The plant in the
picture has leaves rather like a Phalaenopsis
and was being grown on a piece of cork bark
with some Sphagnum moss, in the
greenhouses at Kew. The name comes from
the Latin for a ‘little hammer’, referring to the
hammer-shaped protrusion on the lip. Rare
in cultivation.
genus with over 700 species, to be found
throughout tropical Latin America. It has an
equally wide range of habitats, from cold
cloud forests at 3,000 metres to open
grasslands as high as 3,500 metres. Some
may be found down to 2,000 metres, and
while often epiphytic they can be terrestrial
and lithophytic. This species is growing in an
area of cold misty cloud forest, which is
permanently wet; growing some of these
species which dislike high temperatures can
be a challenge in the UK where, believe it or
not (as I write this it is -7°C outside), the
temperature is often over 20°C, too warm for
many species.
grassland and on rocks up to 3,500 metres.
The largest clone in cultivation is ‘Prince des
Galles’ but there are even larger forms in the
wild as this photo shows. Just try stretching
your index and thumb as far apart as you
can, and add a bit if you are less than six feet
tall, to see the actual size of the one
illustrated. The battered geriatric fingers
belong to the author. The genus is named
after Dr José Masdeval, a physician in the
court of Carlos III of Spain at the end of the
18th century. The species honours Sir Harry
Veitch (1840–1924), a great orchidist.
Masdevallia eumeliae in cloud forest, Peru
Malleola dentifera
Malleola dentifera
Found from southern Yunnan, through
Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia to Borneo
and Sumatra. There are 32 species in the
genus which is distributed from the
18 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Masdevallia eumeliae
Named after the wife of Don Manuel Arias,
owner of the orchid nursery Orquideas
Peruana and mother of Manolo Arias who
regularly comes to the London Orchid Show
with his nursery Peruflora. Masdevallias need
no introduction, as we see many beautifully
grown plants from our members. It is a huge
A giant Masdevallia veitchiana
Masdevallia veitchiana
Well known in cultivation, and – as readers of
the Journal will remember – it is found in
profusion around Machu Picchu in Peru in
Maxillaria praestans ‘Garfield’
Maxillaria praestans
Relocated to Camaridium but I am not going
to take any notice (except to let you know) as
it may well change back again by the time
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 19
this issue comes through the letter box. This
is the clone ‘Garfield’ for which I gained a
CCC/RHS in June 1986 with a plant which
took two men to lift (it was in a clay pot). I
sold it to Brian Rittershausen and divisions
are still in cultivation, including this one from
Chris Bulpitt at the last Peterborough Show.
Maxillaria praestans is a really good
beginner’s orchid, growing easily in cool to
intermediate conditions with only light
shade. Its habitat is as an epiphyte in cloud
forests in Central America. The only pest
which afflicted my plant was a house mouse
which made a nest in the compost and never
objected to a regular watering.
mat of greenery, peppered with red-orange,
bell-shaped flowers. It belongs to a genus
with 17 species, from the mountains of
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the
islands of the Western Pacific. This one
comes from PNG where it grows
epiphytically at high altitudes, in cool, shady
conditions. Most Mediocalcar can be grown
‘cool’ and only a few are intermediate, being
found around 1,000 metres. It is a very
attractive plant when well-flowered, and
many of us will have admired Sheila
Bicknell’s giant plant in August 2009 at the
monthly meeting. Easy to grow, but hard to
gain a ‘cultural’ certificate as there are
enormous plants in cultivation and they
seem to go on just getting bigger.
Mediocalcar decoratum
Mediocalcar decoratum
A tiny orchid whose creeping rhizomes, small
pseudobulbs and evergreen leaves make a
20 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Megaclinium platyrachis (now Bulbophyllum maximum)
Close up of the flowers of Megaclinium platyrachis (now
Bulbophyllum maximum)
Megaclinium platyrachis
In my filing system under ‘M’, but will be
moved as I am a great believer in having as
few genera as possible. If we could reduce
the whole of the family Orchidaceae to only
a handful of genera it would make paying for
CITES permits much less expensive. John
Lindley called it Megaclinium in 1830, and it
had some 60 species until they were
swallowed up by the gigantic genus
Bulbophyllum which has 1,800 species. H G
Reichenbach, the great German
orchidologist, had described it separately in
1861, calling it Bulbophyllum maximum
which is now its accepted name. So, to ‘B’ it
goes, 150 years later. Platyrachis means a
‘wide, little bed’ referring to the wide, flat
stem (in this case, also spiral) from which the
curious small purple flowers arise.
Bulbophyllums are found all around the
world and this is one from tropical Africa.
Grow it warm; I guess it is an epiphyte from
forest areas, so give it shade and water well
when growing.
Meiracyllium trinasutum
Meiracyllium trinasutum
Found in southern Mexico, El Salvador and
Guatemala, it is a pretty epiphyte or lithophyte
from mountain cloud forests of oak and pine,
also in coastal scrub areas. It has a creeping
habit with long rhizomes, tiny pseudobulbs
and a thick leathery leaf. As in the picture, it is
best grown on a cork bark slab with a little
moss, shade, humidity, intermediate
temperatures (min 15°C) and frequent
watering although it will stand some drying
out when the plant has finished its annual
growth. The dry season in Mexico can be
prolonged and coincides with the end of the
growing season. There are only two species in
the genus, the other being M. gemma from
Mexico; so if you have both you would be
eligible for National Collection status with the
organisation called Plant Heritage (previously
National Council for Conservation of Plants and
Gardens). The genus name comes from the
Greek for ‘a little fellow’ referring to its lowgrowing habit. Trinasutum means
‘three-nosed’ – a prize to the first person who
writes in with the reason.
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 21
Brazilian physician and founder of Orquidea,
the Brazilian orchid journal; adding the ‘ella’
indicates a diminutive (so, ‘little Mendonça’).
Henry G. Galeotti (1814–1858), who
discovered the plant illustrated here in
Mexico in 1840, was a French botanist. The
first time I saw it was in Costa Rica 20 years
ago. There were about 70 plants in a little
copse standing in a maize field. The farmer
was planning to fell this last remnant of
forest – for conservation of species to work,
conservation of habitats is essential.
Mendoncella (now Galeottia) grandiflora
Mendoncella grandiflora
Found from southern Mexico, through Belize,
Costa Rica and Guatemala. The dozen plants
in this genus have been variously in
Batemannia, Zygopetalum and Zygosepalum
but are now all included in Galeottia, which
was the original name given to this genus of
orchids. All the other species are found in
South America from Colombia to Peru.
Botanists change names as frequently as Zsa
Zsa Gabor (nine husbands in case you do not
keep up with film actresses’ marriages). It is
epiphytic in wet forests from 500–1,200
metres, flowering at the onset of the rainy
season and should be grown at intermediate
temperatures in cultivation. Other species
may be found as high as 2,000 metres. Luyz
de Mendonça e Silva (1903–1974) was a
22 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Mensiezara How Xin Yi
Mensiezara How Xin Yi
A hybrid within the nothogenus composed
of four genera, Ascocentrum,
Paraphalaenopsis, Rhynchostylis and Vanda.
(Ed: A nothogenus denotes a new genus
formed by the hybridisation of several
genera.) It was made and registered by How
Wai Ron of Singapore and named after his
daughter. At the time, the plants we now
know as Paraphalaenopsis were called
Phalaenopsis and this nothogenus (using
Phalaenopsis to include Paraphalaenopsis)
was called Himoriara after Roy Himori who
first made the cross. When Paraphalaenopsis
was separated out, Singaporeans were very
upset as all the nothogenera named for their
breeders in Asia had to be changed and were
replaced by names of Europeans. The new
name for this nothogenus honours David
Menzies who was, at the time, the curator of
the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. The plant has
much of the habit of Paraphalaenopsis with
rather ungainly short, upright flower scapes.
They are truly tropical plants, needing heat
(min 25°C) and only the lightest shade in the
equatorial sun. In the UK, artificial light in
the winter would seem essential, and I know
of nobody in Europe who grows them. You
should see them in Singapore for the World
Orchid Conference in November – if you go.
Mesospinidium peruvianum
Belongs to a small genus of ten species found
from Central America to the northwestern
countries of South America. This one is found
in Ecuador and Peru, and while the books say
it is epiphytic I have only seen it growing in
calcareous (the underlying rocks are
limestone) grassland. It is found between
1,000 and 2,000 metres in the Andes. The
Mesospinidium peruvianum growing in grassland in full
sun
Mesospinidium peruvianum
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 23
multi-flowered, branched flower stems can
be two metres long on relatively small plants.
It should be grown at intermediate
temperatures with as little shade as possible.
It is an attractive plant which I have never
seen in cultivation. Mesospinidium comes
from the Greek meso meaning ‘middle’ and
spinos meaning ‘chaffinch’. If you look at the
side view of the flower on the left side of the
picture, you can just about ‘see’ a small bird
with a large beak, short wings outstretched
and a long tail. The type specimen
Mesospinidium warscewiczii, from which the
genus was first named, is even less bird-like.
800–1,500 metres, so can be grown in a cool
greenhouse along with odontoglossums. It
is found only in Mexico, hence its genus
name; Auguste Ghiesbrecht (1810–1893) was
a Belgian botanist who discovered it there in
the 1840s. He is also famous for being in the
party of European botanists including
Nicolas Funck, Henry Galeotti, and Jean-Jules
Linden who made the first recorded ascent
of Mexico’s highest mountain, the El Pico de
Orizaba (5,610 metres), in 1838.
Mexipedium xerophyticum
Mexicoa (now Oncidium) ghiesbreghtiana
Mexicoa ghiesbreghtiana
The only species in this genus, or at least it
was … It always looked like an Oncidium to
me, with the same pseudobulbs and leaves,
and as it has almost been decided that
odontoglossums should now be called
oncidiums (as they cannot be told apart
either by structure or DNA), it comes as no
surprise that M. ghiesbreghtiana is now
Oncidium ghiesbreghtiana. Whichever, its
habitat is cool, humid, Mexican forests at
24 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Mexipedium xerophyticum
Discovered in the Oaxaca province of Mexico
21 years ago. Given the popularity of slipper
orchids and the large population of Oaxaca, it
is surprising that it was not discovered before.
It grows in dry scrubland with succulents and
cacti, hence the name xerophyticum (dry
plant), and on exposed limestone cliffs at
elevations of around 350 metres. It is
cultivated in warm conditions (min 25°C).
Although originally described as a
Phragmipedium, it is now designated as a
separate genus; Cypripedium, Phragmipedium
and Selenipedium are the three other Latin
American genera of slipper orchids. It is a very
pretty, small plant which readily forms
clumps.
Micropera rostrata
Micropera rostrata
Has panicles of pink flowers hanging down
from canes that are similar to those of the
reed-type epidendrums. This is the showiest
of the microperas, with the largest flowers. It
is found in the eastern Himalayas from
Assam to Bangladesh. There are 21 species
across tropical Asia to Queensland in
Australia and the western Pacific islands.
Grow as for Vanda and Aerides, in warm to
intermediate conditions with light shade
and no resting period (ie keep watering all
year). Micropera is Greek for a ‘small bag’
referring to the shape of the lip (not evident
in the picture of this species), and rostrata
meaning ‘beaked’, refers to the long column
which one can see readily in the bottom
flower of the picture.
Miltassia Olmec Singapore
Miltassia Olmec Singapore
Another nothogenus, formed by the
hybridisation of two genera, in this case
between Miltonia and Brassia. One of the
parents is Brassia rex with long spikes and
star-shaped flowers, the other Miltonia
Minas Gerais. Although it was registered in
1975 it is still a popular house plant,
presumably from meristems arising in
Holland. Bigeneric hybrids, such as this one,
have their name formed from the first part
of the genus name of one parent and the
last part of the genus name of the other. The
Olmec people flourished in Mexico around
1500– 400 BC and are famous for their giant
sculptures of heads.
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 25
Miltonia moreliana
One of the 12 species in this genus from the
east coast of South America: Brazil,
Venezuela, Paraguay and Argentina although
there are many natural hybrids. This one is
from Brazil. Their closest relatives are Brassia,
Ada and Mesospinidium. It grows in low level
forests and scrub as an epiphyte. They have
pseudobulbs, with apical leaves that persist
for several years. In cultivation it needs warm
to intermediate temperatures, light shade
and high humidity, with frequent watering
during the growing season. The genus is
named for the 4th Earl Fitzwilliam, Viscount
Milton (1786–1857) a patron of botany; the
species honours a Parisian orchidist,
Monsieur Morel. Morel also introduced
Cattleya grandis into cultivation following its
discovery by Monsieur Pinel.
Miltoniopsis Mont Felard
Miltoniopsis vexillaria, epiphytic in light woodland in Peru
Miltonia moreliana
Miltoniopsis vexillaria
A cool-growing epiphyte found in light
woodland at around 2,000 metres. There are
only five species. Miltoniopsis used to be
included in Miltonia, to which they bear a
superficial resemblance, but are only
distantly related, being found in northeast
South America (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and
Venezuela), Costa Rica and Panama – a long
way from the distribution of Miltonia. Their
nearest relatives are Otoglossum and
Cyrtochilum. The wonderful ‘waterfall’
patterns on the lips of the large flowered
hybrid Miltoniopsis, like this M. Mont Felard,
come from M. vexillaria. We still call these
hybrids ‘miltonias’, but we should stop; there
is no reason to continue to do so. Grow them
in intermediate to warm conditions, but
never hot in the summer; with shade and
humidity, watering well when growing. The
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 27
Eric Young Orchid Foundation have bred the
finest Miltoniopsis hybrids in the world, and
just comparing their hybrids with the ones in
the supermarkets, makes one wonder why so
much rubbish is available! Perhaps the EYOF
could let some of their hybrids be
meristemmed by the commercial growers
(perhaps they have, but I would like to be
able to buy them). Vexillaria means ‘flag-like’
referring to the wide, flat lip.
red/yellows. Singapore’s cut flower industry
in the 1950s was mainly with the spidery
Arachnis, but Mokara has broader flowers
with more colour. They thrive in the lowland,
equatorial climate of Singapore, with high
sun and a minimum temperature of 25°C –
impossible to grow in Britain without added
lighting and a deep purse. The first Mokara
was registered by Mr Mok Choi Yew in 1969.
very boring flowers comes out of it
somehow, but, like the jewel orchids of Asia,
that is not what one would grow it for. There
is now only one recognised species in the
genus, and it has become M. microstyloides.
This is found from Ecuador to Nicaragua. It is
a rare terrestrial which grows on the forest
floor in extremely wet cloud forests at 150–
1,200 metres. Grow in intermediate
conditions, plenty of shade and high
humidity. From the habitat description one
might almost grow it under mist jets as it
does not sound as if it will tolerate drying
out. This plant was photographed at the
Ecuagenera nursery in the south of Ecuador.
Monophyllorchis simply means ‘orchid with
one leaf’.
Mormodes cartonii
Found from Panama to Venezuela, one of
some 70 species of this genus which is
widely distributed from Mexico to Brazil.
They grow in full sun, sometimes in the most
unpromising spots (top of a telegraph pole in
Mormodes cartonii
Monophyllorchis maculata (now M. microstyloides)
Mokara Gold Nugget
Mokara Gold Nugget
One of several hundred hybrids of this
nothogenus (Arachnis x Ascocentrum x
Vanda) that have become very important in
the global cut flower industry. They have
long-lasting, erect sprays, mostly in
28 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Monophyllorchis maculata
One of those orchids which leave one
stunned by the unexpected. It has this single
green leaf with rows of white stripes, like an
Olympic swimming pool seen through a
distorting lens. The underside of the leaf is
dark red with veining. A flower scape with
Mormodes rolfeanum growing in full sun, Ecuador
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 29
a street in Ecuador) where they get soundly
baked. It rains frequently during the growing
season, and in the dry season the plants lose
their leaves to conserve moisture. The picture
of Mormodes rolfeanum on a small roadside
tree in Ecuador shows a typical location. Best
cultivated in a warm to intermediate house,
watering frequently during the growing
season and sparingly when the pseudobulb
has been made up and dropped its leaves.
Numerous hybrids have been produced by
Jumbo Orchids of Taiwan. The flowers are
weird, asymmetric with a huge column, and
give rise to its name, Mormodes, which is
Greek for ‘resembling a frightening object’.
Carton was a gardener for the Duke of
Northumberland in the 19th century.
M. lineolata which is another name for
M. ringens. I suspect that this means that
nobody has looked at the genus recently, for
the moment the names accumulated over a
century and a half are subjected to scrutiny,
half the species names go up in smoke as
being duplicates. It is another very widely
distributed genus, being found from Mexico
to Brazil and all the countries in between. It
is an epiphyte in warm, moist woodland, and
requires warm to intermediate
temperatures, shade and to be kept watered
throughout the year. It is easy to grow,
producing a succession of flower spikes
through the year. The name is Greek for a
‘hobgoblin’, but I cannot, myself, see the
connection. Ringens is easier, referring to the
stiff, upright flower stems.
Myoxanthus affinis
Found from Panama to Peru at around
1,000–2,000 metres. The remaining 47
species in the genus are widely distributed
from Mexico to Brazil. M. affinis grows in
cloud forest as an epiphyte, but – like all
epiphytes – may be found as a terrestrial or
lithophytic plant. They look to me like
Pleurothallis with long stems arising from a
short rhizome, at the top of the stem is a
single leaf and the flowers (and occasionally
‘keikis’) come out of the base of the leaf.
Lacking pseudobulbs, they have no definite
dry season, and although there are dry
seasons, the damp conditions of the cloud
forests continue. Grow them, like
pleurothallids, in cool to intermediate
temperatures, in shade and do not allow
them to dry out. Various texts have puzzled
over the meaning of the word Myoxanthus
and postulated myo meaning ‘muscle’ and
xanthos meaning ‘yellow’, as it takes a lot of
imagination to see the fleshy flowers of the
yellow-flowered species as being like yellow
muscles. However, Myosotis (our Forget-menot) comes from Mys and otis meaning
‘mouse ears’ (according to William T Stearn),
which in this genus would make mys and
xanthos mean ‘yellow mice’. The flowers of
the type specimen, M. monophyllus, do look
like lots of pale yellow mouse tails as does
Myoxanthus affinis (affinis means ‘similar to’)
shown here.
some species grow in deep shade some like
full sun, but flowering is better if grown in a
good light. They are best cultivated on a cork
bark mount or on a log so the roots can hang
down in the air. They thrive in humid
conditions, with regular spraying, but if the
air is damp, do not suffer from periods of
drought. Jo Kelleher’s plant has been seen
regularly at the OSGB and the RHS Orchid
Committee, producing several long white
sprays of flowers. Mystacidium is Greek for
‘moustache’, referring to the hairy column;
capense refers to the Cape of Good Hope in
South Africa.
Mystacidium capense
Mormolyca ringens
Mormolyca ringens
Belongs to a genus of 23 species, which must
be unique in that the Kew Monocot list
recognises only one synonym – and that is
30 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Myoxanthus affinis in dark cloud forest in Peru
A small epiphyte from South Africa. There are
about a dozen species, to be found from here
to Tanzania, although a further 100 taxa
used to be included, or are synonyms. They
have extensive roots with small leaves and
hanging scapes of white flowers. While
Jo Kelleher with her Mystacidium capense ‘Patrick’
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 31
Membership in the OSGB’s
sixtieth year
Growing up with orchids in Malaya;
Barbara Everard and her paintings
Walter Lefley (Photo by Walter Lefley)
Martin Everard (Photos courtesy of Martin Everard)
We published a commemorative booklet for
our 50th anniversary, which showed that we
had 1,060 members. When I took over as
Membership Secretary in 2002 we had 1,065
members but this was falling, and by 2007
we only had 1,030 members. Thanks mainly
to a new recruiting initiative by Iona
Macphie, membership started to rise again
and by the start of 2011 it has risen to 1,227.
Membership numbers were reissued in 1982
which makes it is difficult to say who our
longest serving members are. I have
discovered that we still have four members
who joined in 1967; Mrs C A Ellis, Mr & Mrs J E
Shackleton, Mr J E Swainland and Mrs R H
Teiser. If you know of any longer serving
members please let me know.
In the past few years, largely thanks to our
President’s efforts on his travels, our overseas
membership more than doubled. In 2001 it
was only 49 members; we now have 120
overseas members in 31 countries. They
include 34 in Canada, 10 in the USA, 10 in
Demark, 5 in Norway, 3 in Japan and 2 in
Australia. From the comments that I receive,
they think it is well worth it for the Journal
alone. So if you are travelling abroad, please
take a few Journals with you, I have plenty of
spares of most issues.
Barbara Everard with Dendrobium species
I first became conscious of orchids around
1947 and they were to become a prime feature
of my life as a young boy in Malaya. My father,
Ray, returned to Malacca within months of the
end of World War II to take up a position as a
rubber planter. My mother, Barbara, and I
joined him a few weeks later.
Stamps received from members including ones from Australia, Denmark, France and Norway
32 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
While Ray concentrated on replanting the warravaged estate and driving back the
encroaching jungle, Barbara found time on her
hands. Our plantation bungalow was designed
for bachelors and featured huge expanses of
empty walls. Having spent some of her early
years in England repainting Chinese
wallpapers and fake furniture, she turned her
attention to painting watercolours of Malayan
flowers. Invariably these were designed to
cover the large spaces and featured vases of
Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, cannas and the night-
flowering keng wah, Epiphyllum oxypetalum,
all usually set against a tropical landscape. The
African Tulip Tree, Spathodea campanulata, for
example, was copied some 28 times. And of
course, orchids! The following quotation from
Barbara’s memoirs, Call Them The Happy Years,
records my first becoming aware of this
ubiquitous and magnificent species.
‘I always wanted to walk up Mount Ophir but
never did, although we went for a walk by the
reservoir on the Muar side. Martin and I were
very interested in the orchids growing on the
trees. I found Dendrobium teres (now
Dendrobium singaporense) here and I never
found it anywhere else. I collected it and several
others and these were the beginnings of my
collection of orchids. I planted it in a coconut
[shell] and it settled down, flowered and I made
a painting of it.’
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 33
Growing up with orchids in Malaya
Other estate managers and their wives were
soon clamouring for paintings for their walls
and were happy to pay for them. The Chinese,
who had a special love for orchids and owned
magnificent collections, wanted her to paint
their orchids and gave her plants to add to her
growing collection.
Searching for orchids in the jungle became a
regular activity. Trips into the jungle would
usually result in filling the car and its boot
with plants. On one occasion, a large clump
that had fallen from a tree was duly rescued
and brought back to the estate, tied to the
roof of the car. While the main purpose was to
paint the flora to earn precious dollars,
Barbara began to exhibit her paintings and
won awards in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Plants that were brought home were rehoused in special wooden containers made by
Ray. Layered slats formed an open-sided box.
Filled with charcoal and sections of coconut or
branches to which the orchids were wired, the
containers were hung underneath a pergola
which was built in a circle around a bed of
cannas and other tropical plants. Thus a neverending supply of blooms was on tap for the
artist’s burgeoning clientele.
The orchids had to be regularly purged of
unwelcome lodgers to combat the everpresent pests. Derris root was pounded up
until it was a thick, milky liquid; then water
was added and it was put in a big bucket into
which each container was plunged. (Ed: Derris
root, when crushed, releases rotenone, an
organic insecticide.) Many a happy hour was
spent watching each pot to see what was
evicted. The enormous snails and even the
little ones were the chief enemies as they ate
the new roots, but ten-centimetre long red
centipedes, spiders and brown scorpions took
up residence too.
34 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Barbara Everard under her orchid pergola
So began a career that was to last another
thirty years. On her return to England in 1954,
Barbara earned her first Grenfell Gold Medal
with an exhibition of 150 orchid paintings at
the RHS. At the age of 78 she produced a
collection of studies for the OSGB and her
Trust for Orchid Conservation. She was still
painting up until two years before her death in
1990 and during her life produced a portfolio
numbering some 2,000 works.
(Ed: The year 2010 marked the centenary of
Barbara Everard’s birth and 20 years since her
death. She set up the Barbara Everard Trust for
Orchid Conservation, its main object being the
conservation of cultivated orchids. For more
information about her life and Trust visit
www.barbara-everard.com or www.orchidsociety-gb.org.uk. See OSGBJ (2008) 57(3): 179
for a further description of BETOC activities
within the OSGB.)
Phalaenopsis amabilis painted in 1988 by Barbara
Everard from her original painting in 1954 in Malacca.
Polyploidy, an Introduction
Henry Oakeley
The trustees of the Barbara Everard Trust for
Orchid Conservation (BETOC) agreed to
encourage publication of articles on old
orchid hybrids as their conservation is one of
the aims of the Trust. Andy Easton has kindly
donated an article on how Cymbidium
Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ FCC/RHS, perhaps the
most famous of all early Cymbidium hybrids,
came to be a tetraploid cultivar. Normally
orchids are diploids, having two sets of
chromosomes, one set from each of its
parents, but occasionally triploid (three sets)
or tetraploid (four sets). As each cell of the
flower is bigger because it contains more
material (ie three or four sets of
chromosomes) then the flower becomes
larger and more likely to gain awards in
competition. Each unfertilised seed and each
pollen cell from a normal diploid parent
contains one set of chromosomes (haploid
gametes), and on pollination these fuse to
give diploid seeds and later diploid plants.
Occasionally a plant will produce a small
percentage of its unfertilised seeds or pollen
in which the gametes have not been reduced
to one so contain two sets of chromosomes –
‘unreduced gametes’. When these plants are
fertilised, 2+1=3 so the resulting plant is a
triploid (other seeds will have been 1+1=2,
diploid, as only a few unreduced gametes will
be available). Normally, to create a tetraploid
one would expect the diploid (fertilised) seed
to divide abnormally and instead of the two
gametes in the early cell dividing to produce
two pairs in two cells, they do not divide
properly and produce two pairs (=4) in one
cell, and then this cell goes on to divide
normally, producing four gametes in each cell
– a tetraploid. This latter can be induced
artificially by treating germinating diploid
36 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
seeds with colchicine. Alternatively, both
parents could produce a few unreduced
gametes and if they combine, 2+2=4, a
tetraploid. If both parents were tetraploid,
then their gametes would all be diploid and
the progeny tetraploid.
Cymbidium Alexanderi
‘Westonbirt’ FCC/RHS
Andy Easton
For those who may think all that can be said
about this seminal hybrid has been said,
maybe this article will stimulate renewed
discussion.
The hybrid Cymbidium Alexanderi was
registered by Sir George Holford in 1911. Its
parentage is recorded as C. insigne x C.
Eburneo-Lowianum ‘Concolor’ FCC/RHS.
Because C. Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ first
flowered eleven years later in 1922 when it
was awarded, we can deduce that Holford’s
orchid grower, H G Alexander, had made a
remake of the original. It is also noteworthy
that a sibling C. Alexanderi, the cultivar
‘Rosalind’, was good enough to gain an
AM/RHS in 1922 and an FCC/RHS the
following year. Any other C. Alexanderi awards
Andy Easton
Andy Easton, who has been growing and
breeding Cymbidium hybrids from New
Zealand to the USA for decades, here
postulates that in the case of Cymbidium
Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ FCC/RHS one of the
diploid parents produced triploid (3n)
gametes, which fused with the haploid (1n)
gamete of the other to produce a tetraploid
(4n). Cymbidium Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ was
a unique tetraploid plant, while others from
the same seed pod were diploids. Because of
its bigger size it gained the prestigious award
of a First Class Certificate (FCC) from the RHS.
Unfortunately it seems all the plants that
were in existence had been infected with
Cymbidium Mosaic Virus (CyMV).
Cymbidium Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ FCC/RHS awarded to
G L Holford in 1922
in England were to plants from companies
like McBean’s and not Holford’s nursery.
It has been fashionable to criticize the hybrid
C. Eburneo-Lowianum (C. eburneum x C.
lowianum) over the years. In 1989 an article
written to mark the 100th anniversary of the
hybrid blooming commented that it
combined the worst qualities of both
parents! I respectfully disagree. I am familiar
with C. Eburneo-Lowianum ‘Concolor’, now
lost to virus and progress. Characteristically
it carried three to six flowers, usually with
two spikes per mature bulb. It was bred from
the album form (Ed. in this case, meaning
pale yellow-green without red spots) of C.
lowianum, C. lowianum ‘Concolor’, certainly
not the best form of the species. In fact, upon
reflection, C. Eburneo-Lowianum seems to
me to have been an ideal fusion of C.
lowianum’s floriferousness and C.
eburneum’s toughness and flower longevity.
I did reflect on which parent might have held
the seed pod when I remade the hybrid in
the 1980’s using C. lowianum ‘Compte d’
Hemptinne’ as the pod parent and pollen
from our very fine C. eburneum ‘Coburg’. The
cross was treated with colchicine and one of
the finest resulting tetraploid forms carried
an average of seven flowers on the spike.
From that I deduced that the original was
probably made the other way around. I
believe that had Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’
been bred from a C. Eburneo-Lowianum
produced from parents in the reverse order,
commercial cymbidiums today may well
have produced spikes with several more
flowers on average!
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 37
Cymbidium Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ FCC/RHS
Parentage of Cymbidium Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ FCC/RHS
Parentage of Cymbidium Eburneo-Lowianum
Cymbidium eburneum showing the low flower count on
the scapes
Cymbidium Eburneo-Lowianum ‘Concolor’ FCC/RHS,
awarded to G L Holford in 1903
So, what really happened at Westonbirt and
why did a tetraploid C. Alexanderi appear? I
feel that the remake was certainly made on
the C. Eburneo-Lowianum ‘Concolor’ FCC/RHS,
probably with pollen from the clone C. insigne
‘Westonbirt’. For those of you interested in
hybridizing, I should explain that as
unreduced gametes are not so rare in diploid
orchids, it is very likely this happened to at
least one of the eggs in the ovaries of C.
Eburneo-Lowianum ‘Concolor’. The doubled
allele (Ed: an allele is a length of chromosome
within a gamete, in this case a pair of
doubled alleles, which contains an inheritable
characteristic) for colour was clearly not the
album allele because C. Alexanderi
‘Westonbirt’ never bred any ‘albums’, ever. The
38 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Cymbidium insigne ‘Splendens’ FCC/RHS awarded to
Sanders of St Albans in 1908
hybrid C. Almeralda (C. Alexanderi x C.
Esmeralda) provided initial evidence of this,
reinforced by later hybridizing efforts. If C is
the allele for colour and c is that for albinism
(Ed: ie an allele that carries no properties to
give colour), C. Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ would
have arisen from a CCc gamete from C.
Eburneo-Lowianum ‘Concolor’ in combination
with a C gamete from the pink C. insigne (Ed:
so the pollen and unfertilised seeds that it
produced would always contain CC or Cc, so
always transmitting the dominant allele for
colour).
I remember Keith Andrew commenting at an
orchid society meeting one evening that the
combination of the two parents of C.
Alexanderi was an obvious crossing, and that
Cymbidium lowianum ‘Concolor’ showing the high
flower count on the scapes
Close up of Cymbidium eburneum
is correct. Getting a chance tetraploid that
would change the Cymbidium world forever
was, of course, the serendipitous result that
makes orchid hybridizing so rewarding and
unpredictable.
Close up of Cymbidium lowianum ‘Concolor’
H G Alexander is reported to have noticed
the seedling that would become C.
Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ as growing
differently from its siblings. I was told by
Barnard-Hankey that Alexander marked the
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 39
was growing at Dos Pueblos Orchids when I
worked there, tubs and tubs of it, all virused;
a fairly average grower with spikes of 5–8
flowers. The marked foliage was not broad
and the bulb size was average. Sadly, we all
have had a fear of virus over the years and
nobody thought to secrete a few plants in a
garden in Santa Barbara so that today we
might know the original and even free it
from virus using the modern techniques
now at our disposal.
C. Almeralda ‘Dorset’ AM/RHS awarded to Dorset
Orchids in 1952 showing red markings on a yellow
background
plant with one of his wife’s hatpins. We
would love to know when the plant became
virused but it was probably sown onto an
infected host (Ed: seed was sown onto the
compost of a pot – the host – which
contained another Cymbidium where one
would expect the mycorrhizal fungus,
necessary for germination, to be found).
Maybe in this case the host plant was
virused. Let me say quite clearly that I have
never accepted the so-called virus-free C.
Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ as the real McCoy. I
had the plant, used it in a couple of hybrids,
and am quite confident that it arose out of
the selfing of C. Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’. It
always had too many flowers and aspects of
its lip deviated too much from the original
for me. I am very familiar with the original. It
40 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
My curiosity was sufficiently great that I
used one of the tetraploid C. EburneoLowianum selections with a converted
tetraploid insigne (Ed: one in which colchicine
had been used to induce a tetraploid plant)
and remade C. Alexanderi in the tetraploid
form in the 1990’s (Ed: so both parents gave
diploid gametes to their offspring, 2+2=4). I
made the cross both ways and also with a
tetraploid C. Eburneo-Lowianum that was
made from C. lowianum ‘Concolor’ and a
tetraploid C. insigne that was made from C.
insigne var. album AM/RHS and C. insigne var.
album that was carrying an album gene. In
retrospect all I can say is I was four times
foolish! The various combinations were
woeful, excessively prone to leaf tip-burn
and absolutely nothing of any interest
emerged. They were extremely hard to
dispose of even as pot plants. After seeing
fifty or more I dumped the remainder, older,
wiser and even repentant. Obviously the
special balance between 3/4 of the genetic
material of C. Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ tracing
to its pod parent and 1/4 from C. insigne was
what gave the wonderful result.
C. Alexanderi ‘Westonbirt’ has been unique in
its contribution to modern cymbidiums. It
has produced timeless hybrids like C.
Cymbidium insigne var. ‘album’ The tetraploid form was
used to remake C. Alexanderi, but this was a failure
Jungfrau ‘Dos Pueblos’ that first bloomed in
1958 and is still, in 2010, the most popular
mid-season white Cymbidium cut-flower
variety in The Netherlands! I never met H G
Alexander, but through the efforts of my
recently departed friend, Brian Rittershausen,
we have a treasure trove of historical
material about him preserved. Brian tracked
down Alexander’s two grandsons who
shared with him much family memorabilia.
Sadly, their father was killed in the Second
World War but not before he had made the
first C. pumilum hybrid, C. Minuet, that
started yet another Cymbidium dynasty. We
all owe a huge debt to Sir George Holford,
who saw in H G Alexander the qualities that
would make him the greatest orchid
Cymbdium Minuet, a famous hybrid, raised by Sydney
Alexander
hybridizer of the past century; and we must
never forget Alexander and his son Sydney,
whenever we are evaluating the
contributions of English orchid growers to
our modern orchid world.
The orchid paintings, © RHS, Lindley
Library / Dr Henry Oakeley are taken from
the RHS Awarded Orchids CD-ROM (2003),
which includes over 6,000 paintings from
the RHS Lindley Library collection, as well
as the Hermans Index of RHS Orchid
Awards and the Hermans Index to The
Orchid Review. For more information,
please contact “RHS Orchid CD” at
[email protected].
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 41
Best in Show winner at OSGB Autumn Show,
Mike Buckingham’s Masdevallia Confetti
Obituary - Brian Rittershausen
Obituary - Brian Rittershausen
Wilma Rittershausen
Henry Oakeley adds:
and Canada and lectured and judged at World
Conferences in Miami, California and Glasgow.
He sat on a number of committees and was a
Royal Horticultural Society judge as well as a
British Orchid Council judge. He was a regular
exhibitor at Chelsea Flower Show for over 50
years during which time the nursery gained 20
Gold Medals and numerous Silver Medals.
For his many contributions to orchids Brian
was awarded the RHS Gold Veitch Medal and,
last year jointly with Wilma, the Westonbirt
Orchid Medal for outstanding literary services
to orchids. Together they published over 20
books. The nursery has also amassed over 100
RHS Awards of Merit, First Class Certificates
and Certificates of Cultural Commendation.
Many of these were for new hybrids raised by
Brian.
Brian Rittershausen at Chelsea Flower Show in 2002
Brian Rittershausen died peacefully in Torbay
Hospital on 23 September 2010 aged 74.
Brian was one of the second generation of
orchid growers to run the internationallyknown Burnham Nurseries at Newton Abbot
in Devon. He joined his father upon leaving
school and was soon followed by his sister
Wilma, and later by his wife Ann. Under his
guidance the nursery was transformed from a
‘cottage industry’ to the highly respected
position it holds throughout the world today.
In addition to encouraging beginners to enjoy
orchid growing as a hobby, Brian set up a
conservation project, importing many rare
species which are under threat of extinction in
the wild, to raise and distribute to serious
collectors.
Brian’s expertise took him around the world
studying wild orchids in their natural habitats
in India, Nepal and South America. He was a
well-known figure at all the major events and
exhibitions. He gave lecture tours in the US
44 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Today the important work which he began 60
years ago is continued by his daughter Sara,
who continues to run the nursery with her
team of valued experts. With his knowledge
and love of orchids, Brian had few equals. His
loss will be felt throughout the orchid
establishment.
Brian’s contribution to amateur orchid
growing in the UK was enormous. He ran the
Orchid Symposiums, hiring the RHS halls for
them, from 1969 to 1992 (with up to 400
people coming to hear the talks), selling plants
(with their prices on – a novelty as at RHS
shows it was not allowed), and then at Syon
Park until 1998. These became the model for
the British Orchid Council, where Brian
represented the British Orchid Growers’
Association, whose Congresses started in 1973.
Amateur societies organised coach parties
from as far away as Germany to come to
Burnham Nurseries where they were always
welcome. I bought orchids from his father
when I was a member of the Bristol and West
of England Orchid Society in 1958/59, and from
time to time from Brian, ever since. I sold him
Maxillaria praestans ‘Garfield’ CCC/RHS
(Garfield was our cat), which was over a metre
across when it outgrew my greenhouse in
1986, 10 years after I had bought it as a small
plant from him. I am sure that the divisions
are still being sold at the nursery to this day.
He lectured far and wide, and I remember
hearing of his 1988 Canadian lecture tour
where, if memory serves me right, he gave 20
lectures to 20 different societies across the
continent in as many days, travelling in
temperatures down to -30°C. He was
indefatigable. The nursery staged over 50
displays at Chelsea, latterly by his daughter
Sara and her team, but for years with Brian
organising everything. They were always
spectacular, and enormously popular with the
public. He was the longest serving member of
the RHS Orchid Committee, and ViceChairman until the end of last year when his
health deteriorated.
He was hugely supportive of everyone. On a
personal level, he helped me to build up
collections of various genera (I remember well
the collection of Bulbophyllum species that I
bought – lovely plants, but I never had green
fingers with them) as well as Lycaste and
Anguloa. He helped me throughout the time I
shared with him on the RHS Orchid
Committee. There is so much to say about
him but not enough words. We miss him.
Ted Southwick adds:
It was with great sadness that I read, in the
OSGB Journal, of the death of Mr Brian
Rittershausen. He was a great man. I will
always remember the kindness he showed to
an ignorant novice. It was with some
trepidation that I approached him at an RHS
show, to ask how I could get a Cymbidium I
had been given to flower. That was over forty
years ago, I followed his advice and of course
the plant bloomed. Thus was born my love of
orchids. In my old age I can no longer look
after my plants myself, which is sad. But I have
the consolation of the wonderful memories of
a charming gentleman, who taught me most
of what I know about the genus.
May he rest in peace.
Centre of the 50th exhibit put up by Burnham Nurseries at Chelsea in 2007
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 45
Obituary - Michael Potter
Neville Dunn (Photo by Neville Dunn)
bay windowsill of his mother’s flat which did
not have a garden. When he moved the short
distance to his home in Hendon he became
the proud owner of his first greenhouse. This
quickly increased to two and then three.
Michael could always be relied upon to
provide spectacular cattleyas,
paphiopedilums and outstanding specimen
plants for the Society table and shows held
around the country. Many an orchid
enthusiast or beginner was given divisions
of his coveted plants. Michael was infamous
for his green raffia which he dyed, when his
wife Maureen was out, and hung on the line
in single strands to dry.
Michael Potter at his 70th birthday party
The Lea Valley Orchid Society has the very
sad task to report the death of Michael
Potter on 3 September 2010, after a short
period in hospital. Michael was a longstanding member of the Society and also a
Committee member for many years.
In his youth Michael enjoyed walking, golf,
dinghy sailing and skiing and in his latter
years enjoyed an annual trip to Eastbourne
for the ladies’ tennis championship.
His love and enthusiasm for orchids began in
1975 when he was asked for his opinion on a
friend’s orchid, because he was noted for his
‘green fingers’. This coincided with a large
orchid display at Selfridges, as mentioned in
The Orchid Review January 1975. From this
moment on Michael was ‘bitten’ by the
orchid bug. His first attempts were on the
46 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
In 1995 Michael joined the BOC Judging
Scheme as a trainee judge. At the time of his
death he had served as a qualified BOC
Orchid Judge for over ten years and was
unstinting in sharing his knowledge both on
a one-to-one basis as mentor to trainee
judges and also on the lecture circuit. He
was Cultural Adviser for the OSGB for a
number of years and enjoyed his contact
with people from all over the country.
Michael was Lea Valley Orchid Society’s
representative at the British Orchid Council
meetings for many years. He was well
known both at home and abroad by the
trade.
Over the last few years Michael took up
photography, going on many courses to
improve his skills. Quite a few of his photos,
needless to say, were of orchids but he also
had an eye for scenic views.
Michael will be greatly missed by all at Lea
Valley and we extend our condolences to
Maureen.
Book Review
Orchids – One Family’s Passion by Wilma
Rittershausen. Paperback, 172 pages, A5. From
Burnham Nurseries £9.99 plus £2.00 p+p
This is a lovely small book about the history
of Burnham Nurseries; from its founding by
Percy and Nancy Rittershausen, followed by
their children Brian (and his wife, Ann) and
Wilma Rittershausen, and now to Brian and
Ann’s daughter, Sara. We should all be
grateful to Wilma (and the family) for
compiling this account of the profession of
orchid growing during the past 60 years as
experienced by their specialist nursery. It
covers the mundane and the dramatic and is
a ‘very good read’. I enjoyed it. Wilma has the
skills of a composer, with words rather than
music, and tells an interesting tale, with
equal skill – as we have come to expect after
all the books she and Brian wrote together,
and her years editing The Orchid Review.
Visit the nursery at Forches Cross, Newton
Abbot, Devon (01626 352233) as well and see
how it has progressed since 1949. For more
information on the nursery and the book, as
well as a free catalogue, visit www.
orchids.uk.com.
Henry Oakeley
From the Treasurer
Sally Mill
Subscriptions – I would like to remind you
that the subscriptions for 2011 were due on 1
January and membership cards for all those
who have paid to date should have been
enclosed with this Journal. If you have paid
and have not received your card, please call
the Membership Secretary, Walter Lefley,
01708 788389. If you have not paid and wish
to continue your membership, please send
your subscription as soon as possible as, in
accordance with Rule No 7, you will be
considered to have resigned if this has not
been received by 31 March 2011.
Sally Mill
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 47
Spotlight on Species – Habenaria
and Pecteilis
Iona Macphie with contributions from Michael Powell, Jens Larsen, Jeanette Beaney
and Mike Penney
The genus Habenaria is very large with over
500 published species. Pecteilis is much
smaller with eight species, some of which
were formerly known as Habenaria and under
which name they are frequently found in
books, on the internet and in orchid
catalogues. In the wild, most species of
Habenaria are found in tropical and
subtropical areas of Latin America, Africa and
Asia. Pecteilis are found only in southeast Asia.
The rather dismissive description of
Habenaria in some encyclopaedias as ‘a large
genus of generally small white and green
blooms’ belies the fact that within this large
group some of the species have true
horticultural merit, their flowers having
fascinating forms or brightly coloured blooms
or, occasionally, delightfully patterned leaves
Habenaria rhodocheila with striking orange blooms
Habenaria and Pecteilis species are terrestrial,
deciduous orchids with a well-defined life
cycle, dying down completely in the autumn
and remaining dormant with no vegetative
growth over the winter before sprouting
again in the spring. They are not the easiest of
orchids to maintain in cultivation and pose
something of a challenge to the would-be
grower. Most species are tuberous (although a
few habenarias rely on thick roots instead);
losses in cultivation are generally due to rot at
the point on the tuber from which the growth
emerges.
The compost selected should allow good
drainage so that it is moist but not soggy
after watering. A 75:25 mix of Perlite and
Sphagnum moss or a typical terrestrial mix of
equal parts of seramis, hydroleca, 2-4mm
aquarium gravel and Sphagnum moss have
Habenaria medusa (syn. H. myriotricha)
Habenaria kakoeri with salmon pink blooms
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 49
Habenaria medusa (syn. H. myriotricha) with amazing
fringing on the lateral aspects of the lip
Pecteilis radiata, also known as the ‘egret orchid’ a
temperate species from southeast Asia
Habenaria dentata with toothed lobes of the lip
Habenaria carnea with delightfully patterned leaves
50 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
both been used with success. Other
possibilities include a well aerated compost of
small stones and sand containing organic
material in the form of soil, leaf mould or fine
bark. Some overseas growers rely on pure
coconut fibre; cultivation of some species, in
particular the cool growing Pecteilis radiata,
has been achieved with pure Sphagnum moss.
At the start of the growing season, as the new
growth becomes visible the tubers should be
planted in fresh compost. Orientation in the
pot should be horizontal, not vertical. The use
of long narrow pots, to allow a good five
centimetres of crocking at the bottom, is ideal.
The tubers may be planted up to five
centimetres deep, but some growers prefer to
keep the growing point closer to the surface,
especially if the pots are to be watered from
the top. After planting, the plants are carefully
watered to settle the compost and placed in
an airy spot, preferably in the path of a fan. If
watering from the top it is advantageous to
Pecteilis hawkesiana, previously Habenaria sagarikii, with
a contrasting yellow lip
just direct the water around the edge of the
pot, thereby keeping water away from the
stem and leaves of the newly developing
growth. Once the new growth is well
established, the plants should be kept moist
and in a humid atmosphere and fed on a
regular basis, using a fertiliser concentration
of up to 500µS (Ed: microsiemens – a unit of
electrical conductance, gadget required to
measure) or about 250ppm (Ed: parts per
million – a unit of concentration, another
gadget needed to measure). Watering from
below is recommended, the pots being
plunged to the level of the top of the crocking
for a few seconds every few days, allowing
moisture to ascend into the compost by
capillary action. The frequency of watering
will depend on environmental conditions but,
especially if watering from below, may have to
be more frequent than for many other potted
orchids. The aim is to keep the compost nice
and moist but not stagnant.
Habenaria trifida growing in deep shade in leafmould,
Peru, 2,000–2,500m
Close-up of flower of Habenaria trifida
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 51
will develop to take its place. If culture is
optimum, this should be the same size or
larger than the one it has replaced, ideally
with additional offset tubers. In the wild, over
time, a large clump may form as the number
of flowering-sized tubers gradually increases.
In cultivation, two or more tubers of similar
size may be planted in a pot to simulate the
natural situation.
Habenaria corydophora growing terrestrially, Peru
Close-up of flower of Habenaria corydophora
Growing temperature requirements will
depend on the species, but most will need to
be kept warm and in moderately bright light.
A close watch should be kept for aphids, to
which these orchids can be prone, and which
may accumulate on the undersides of the
leaves. During the growing season the
original tuber will degenerate but new tubers
52 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
After flowering, the leaves will start to die, at
which point water should be withheld and
the medium left to dry out. During the winter,
the dormant tubers must not be left in wet
compost or there is a high risk they will rot. An
exception to this may be P. radiata, a species
from South Russian to Korea, Japan and China,
which is said to be frost hardy down to -6°C;
once mature, it is advocated by some to be a
suitable subject for growing as a garden plant
in the UK, albeit with some winter protection.
One grower cultivates this particular species
successfully in pure Sphagnum moss in an
unheated, unshaded conservatory, the pots
being placed in a shallow tray containing
rainwater all year around. However, even with
this species, and especially with the tropical
and subtropical species, most growers find
that tubers of Habenaria and Pecteilis species
do require to be dry during the winter, with
only minimal moisture in the compost, just
sufficient to stop the tubers shrinking.
Although temperatures for many species can
be a little lower in the winter, this is not
essential and one expert leaves the pots with
the dormant tubers under the solid staging in
their greenhouse. Some of the smaller species
can be successfully cultivated on windowsills,
provided the ambient humidity, temperatures
and light conditions are favourable.
(Ed: Information on cultural requirements of
individual species can often be found on
www.orchidspecies.com)
How to cultivate a happy Display Team
Valerie Pugh
crates which are sturdy enough for
transportation and easily stored at the
shows. Please do not use any packing
material around the plants that might
disintegrate when wet.
André Roux
Val Micklewright
Roy White
In 2011 we celebrate the 60th anniversary of
the OSGB and the Display Team want to
make our show displays this year better than
ever. Committee Member André Roux has
kindly agreed to design his first exhibit for us
at the London Orchid Show in March, Roy
White will again lead the team at Chelsea in
May with help from our President, and Val
Micklewright will be in charge our our display
at Peterborough in June.
The crates (pictured below) are available to
pre-order from the Display Manager, Valerie
Pugh, [email protected] or 01403
251176. The cost is £3.00 per crate and orders
may be collected at the February and March
meetings.
For full details on how to prepare and pack
your plants please refer to the Display
Manager’s guidelines in OSGBJ (2010) 59( 1): 72.
• Check plants for pests and diseases, stake
well and water thoroughly.
• Label every plant clearly with its name and
your name.
• Provide a list of plants to the collection
driver.
• Email a list to the Membership Secretary in
advance so labels can be made.
• Pack plants carefully in plastic crates as
illustrated and label the crates clearly with
your name.
• If your plant looks good, the OSGB will look
good.
✘
✔
The Society is grateful to everyone who lends
plants and needs your help to ensure that the
plants travel to and from the shows safely
packed and in good condition. Storage space
is limited at the shows and boxes can get wet
at Chelsea. The Display Team would like
plants to arrive in collapsible, plastic storage
How NOT to pack plants
How to pack plants
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 53
The OSGB Autumn Show 2010
down’, green, star-like flowers each about
1cm in diameter. Sally was also awarded the
Fernhill Trophy (1 Cattleya or allied genera)
for this pretty plant.
Sally Mill
Class 4 – 1 Cymbidium species. Sheila
Bicknell’s Cymbidium tracyanum. Our shows
would not be the same without Sheila’s
wonderful cymbidiums. This huge plant had
two large arching spikes and beat two other
species cymbidiums to first place.
Class 5 – 1 Cymbidium hybrid. Sheila Bicknell’s
Cymbidium Majolica. This lovely miniature
cymbidium carried no fewer than nine spikes
of bronze blooms and also gained Sheila the
Wyld Court Cup (1 Cymbidium).
Class 6 – 1 Dendrobium species. Neville
Dunn’s Dendrobium sulawesiense (now D.
glomeratum). This plant carried many deep
pink flowers on several canes.
Sally Mill’s Prosthechea grammatoglossa
This year the OSGB Autumn Show was, once
again, held in conjunction with the BOGA
Autumn Fayre at Wraysbury Village Hall. I
think all those who attended will agree that
it was a very pleasant day out. As well as the
OSGB show tables, there were three lovely
society displays, from the Chiltern, North
Hants and Thames Valley Orchid Societies, to
help visitors appreciate better how orchids
grow in their natural environment.
There were several orchid-related stands to
entice both beginners and more experienced
orchid growers; Plested Orchids, Orchids by
Peter White, Laneside Hardy Orchids, Just In
Glass and EarthenWear. I must admit that I
added another orchid to my collection, and
54 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Class 7 – 1 Dendrobium hybrid. Wanda Bailey’s
Dendrobium victoria-reginae x D. gonzalesii.
Although this was the only entry in the class,
this lovely plant, which was absolutely
covered with mauve/white flowers, richly
deserved its first place rosette. (Ed: D.
gonzalesii is now D. ceraula)
Class 9 – 1 Odontoglossum hybrid. Norma
Burgess’s Odontioda Samurai (Bakerara
Samurai – see Letter from the President).
Again this was the only entry in the class, but
fully deserving its first place. It had two large
spikes of purple flowers with a white lip, and
gained the Hubbard Bowl (Best
Odontoglossum) (see page 7).
Class 10 – 1 Oncidiinae species. Lydia Cobb’s
Oncidium ornithorhynchum. Once again, the
only entry in its class, but what a plant; it had
eight large arching spikes of dainty pink
flowers virtually covering the foliage beneath.
Sheila Bicknell’s Cymbidium Majolica
some visitors left with carrier bags of plants.
The three long OSGB show tables were filled
to capacity with entries (though thankfully
not over-crowded). Members from the
visiting societies also entered orchids in the
show, helping to add variety as well as
numbers to the tables. Orchids were entered
in 23 of the 43 classes available, and 7 of the
possible 15 trophies were awarded. Some of
the winners are highlighted below:
Class 1 – 1 Laeliinae species. Sally Mill’s
Prosthechea grammatoglossa. Sally
specialises in Encyclia and Prosthechea. This
interesting small species had three spikes,
two of which were covered with ‘upside-
Sheila Bicknell's Cymbidium tracyanum
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 55
Val Micklewright’s Paphiopedilum gratrixianum
Neville Dunn’s Dendrobium sulawesiense (now D.
glomeratum)
Wanda Bailey’s Dendrobium victoria-reginae x D.
gonzalesii (now D. ceraula)
Class 12 – 1 Paphiopedilum species. Val
Micklewright’s Paphiopedilum gratrixianum.
This large plant had four spikes, three of
which were in flower.
Class 13 – 1 Paphiopedilum hybrid. David
Thurtle’s Paphiopedilum King Arthur. This
was another good, large plant carrying three
spikes of dark flowers.
Class 14 – 1 Phragmipedium. Val
Micklewright’s Phragmipedium besseae. Val
specialises in growing Phragmipedium and
this large plant of the Ecuadorian form of the
species (ie more orange in colour) carried
two spikes with a total of five flowers of a
good ‘flat’ form (see page 9).
Class 15 – 1 Phalaenopsis species. David
Martin’s Phalaenopsis mariae. David is
known for his Phalaenopsis species. This was
a fairly large plant for the species and carried
two pendent spikes each with about six
flowers.
Lydia Cobb’s Oncidium ornithorhynchum
56 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Class 16 – 1 Phalaenopsis hybrid. Christine
Carter’s Phalaenopsis Black Diamond. This
well grown plant with a large spike of deep
David Thurtle’s Paphiopedilum King Arthur
pink flowers was a good example of what a
‘windowsill’ Phalaenopsis should look like
(see page 7).
Class 18 – 1 Pleurothallidinae hybrid. Mike
Buckingham’s Masdevallia Confetti. Mike
always enthrals us with his Masdevallia; this
one was simply stunning. The small plant
could hardly be seen underneath the myriad
very aptly named flowers – basically white
with pink speckles and yellow tails, although
this description hardly does them justice!
This gorgeous orchid gained Mike the Jo
Kelleher Painting (Best Pleurothallidinae) and
the Len Page Trophy for Best in Show (see
centre pages). Mike was also awarded the
Dusha Hayes Trophy (3 Pleurothallidinae
species and/or hybrids, Class 32) for a nice
group of three Masdevallia including
another, smaller plant of Masdevallia
Confetti.
Class 19 – 1 Vandeae. Wanda Bailey’s
Neofinetia falcata x Vanda coerulescens. This
was another stunning orchid bearing four
spikes of pale mauve flowers.
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 57
The RHS Slipper Orchid Symposium
The first International Slipper Orchid
Symposium and study day will be held at the
RHS London Orchid Show on Sunday 20
March 2011 in conjunction with the British
Paphiopedilum Society. The event will take
place in the RHS Conference Centre at the
Lawrence Hall, Vincent Square, Westminster.
There will be lectures by distinguished
speakers on Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium
and Cypripedium; giving an insight into new
breeding lines, cultivation and the natural
habitat of these rare and beautiful slipper
orchids.
David Martin’s Phalaenopsis mariae
Class 22 – Any other species. Mike Penney’s
Coelogyne fuliginosa. This was a good
specimen of the species carrying many
flowers, and gained Mike the Coach Trophy.
Class 29 – 3 Paphiopedilum and/or
Phragmipedium species and/or hybrids. Won
by Colin Carter with three very large and
quite beautiful Phragmipedium.
As well as all the trophies and rosettes
Wanda Bailey’s Neofinetia falcata x Vanda coerulescens
gained by the orchids on the show tables,
well deserved Cultural Certificates were
awarded to Mike Buckingham for
Masdevallia Confetti and to Wanda Bailey for
Neofinetia falcata x Vanda coerulescens.
The Autumn Show at Wraysbury was
definitely a success and we have booked our
place there again for next year. Let’s try to
make the Autumn Show 2011 even better!
OSGB Spring Show 2011
Iona Macphie
The OSGB Spring Show 2011 will be held on
Saturday 30 April 2011 in The Glasshouse at
the RHS Garden Wisley. Displays may be set
up and plants for judging brought to The
Glasshouse between 07.30 and 08.45.
Judging will start promptly at 09.00 and
must be completed by 10.30 at which time
the show opens to the public. The trophies
will be presented at 14.30 and the show will
close at 16.00. Detailed travel directions,
58 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
10.00 – 16.00 (doors open 09.30)
Registration (for the whole day): early
registration before 1 March 2011 costs £6.00,
£10.00 thereafter. Pre-booking through the
RHS Special Events Office on 0845 612 1253
(Mon–Fri, 09.00–17.00).
Provisional Programme
9.30
Doors open
9.50
Introduction
10.00 – 11.00 Sam Tsui, Orchid Inn, USA:
‘What is new in multi-flowering
Paphiopedilum breeding’
11.00 – 11.30 David Ridgeway: Recent RHS
awards
11.30 – 12.00 Andy Phillips: Phragmipedium,
Culture and Breeding
12.00
Lunch Break
13.30 – 14.30 Dr Phillip Cribb: Cypripediums
at home and away
14.30 – 15.00 Allan Burdis: Cultivation of
Paphiopedilum
15.00 – 15.30 Maren Talbot: Growing
Cypripedium
16.00
Close of event
This event is supported by a RHS Gurney
Wilson Award.
along with the schedule and details of the
cups and awards, can be found in the Annual
Supplement to the Journal, published in May
2010.
Members should contact the Programme
Secretary, Iona Macphie,
[email protected], if they have
any queries about the show or require help
transporting their plants or visiting the show.
This is an exciting opportunity to combine a
day at the LONDON ORCHID SHOW and hear
some of the world’s top slipper orchid
experts.
Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum was named for Sir Trevor
Lawrence, first chairman of the RHS Orchid Committee
Illustration of Paphiopedilum
lawrenceanum by Walter Hood Fitch (18171892) for Curtis's Botanical Magazine, 1878
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 59
Orchid Show at Josephine Butler
College, Durham University,
10 April 2011
Val Micklewright
The OSGB is supporting the Darlington and
District Orchid Society and BOGA Show at
Durham University on 10 April 2011.
Please note that as part of this show there
will be an open show table for all orchid
plants. The schedule will be the same as that
for the OSGB spring show (detailed in the
Annual Supplement to the Journal). However,
if you would like a copy emailed to you then
please contact Val Micklewright.
Displays will be set up on 9 April, Saturday
afternoon 13.00 – 18.00. The OSGB
committee would appreciate plants for their
display.
Registration and staging for the show table
will be from 07.30 – 09.00 on Sunday 10 April
although plants could be delivered but not
registered during the Saturday afternoon
set-up period. (This is intended for anyone
staying over who does not wish to keep their
plants in the hotels overnight).
As part of the weekend there will be a
guided tour of the University Botanic Garden
with the head gardener, starting at 10.30 on
Saturday 9 April.
There will be two lectures on Sunday 10 April:
11.00 Peter White – Paphiopedilum – New
trends in hybridising
14.00 Henry Oakeley – Orchid Hunting in Peru
15.30 Prize-giving for Best in Show and
Chairman’s Trophy for plant chosen by the
BOGA Chairman.
The OSGB still has some places available on
the coach to Durham; for more details please
contact Val Micklewright,
[email protected] or 01293 528615.
20th World Orchid Conference,
Singapore, 13–20 November 2011
Venue: Sands Expo and Convention Centre,
Marina Bay, Singapore.
The WOC Team are organising the following
tours post-WOC:
Visit www.20woc.com.sg for registration
details and full information about hotels,
events and tours: and keep an eye out for
WOC-related advertisements in the Journal.
1) West Malaysian tour of Penang, Langkawi,
Cameron Highlands and Gunung Jerai
2) Tour to Sabah and Sarawak, either 5 or 7
days
3) Northeast Thailand tour, 5 nights from 17–
22 November
Visit www.20woc.com.sg for further details.
60 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
20th World Orchid Conference, Singapore
Peter Williams of Mae Tang Orchids is
advertising a four-night tour of Northern
Thailand, starting on the 22 November. It
includes visits to plant markets, orchid farms,
botanical gardens and orchids growing in
the wild. It costs SGD$600 for a single room,
excluding direct flights to Changmai Airport
from Singapore. Details on
www.theorchidman.com or e-mail Peter at
[email protected]. This tour can
be combined with the WOC’s Option 3 to
enjoy a nine night tour.
Michael and Ben Ooi of Ooi Leng Sun Orchids
are offering a tour of Penang, Langkawi and
Gunung Jerai, for US$1900 starting on 17
November. Details on www.aaorchids.com.
Chris Barker (Treasurer of Darlington OS) is
looking after bookings from UK and he will
organise and co-ordinate return flights from
Singapore to Penang. E-mail Chris at
[email protected]
Marina Bay Sands hotel, Singapore
NEI (UK) is offering a 7-day tour of Borneo,
for £725, starting on 17 November. It includes
orchid tours, a trip into the rainforest,
nurseries, markets and botanical gardens.
Details on www.neiuk.co.uk or call 01269
823355 or e-mail [email protected]
Alternative hotel options listed on the
conference website range from SGD$330 per
night at the Carlton Hotel to SGD$160 per
night at the YMCA Fort Canning Lodge. Visit
www20woc.com.sg/site/aboutsingapore/hotel-booking for further details.
Peter Reese-Jones (Secretary of South Wales
OS) of NEI (UK) is advertising in this Journal,
offering the complete package of transfer to
and from the airport, accommodation (4*
hotel on the edge of Chinatown) not far
from Orchard Road shopping paradise,
transport to and from the venue, local sightseeing, etc. The price without flights is £595
for 7 days.
If there are members who would like to
travel as a group, they should contact Kim
Solomon as soon as possible, on 0208 946
4410 or [email protected]. She has
offered to help co-ordinate a group,
depending on the number of interested
members, or at least put members in touch
with each other. However, it will be each
individual’s responsibility to arrange their
own travel insurance, accommodation and
flights. The Orchid Society of Great Britain
cannot be held responsible for any problems
arising from these bookings or travel
arrangements.
Accommodation
The official hotel for the conference is
Marina Bay Sands, a 5* hotel, SGD$412 for a
single or twin share (price per room).
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 61
Napier Hall Meetings – Table Show
Report by André Roux
2 October 2010
Even though most of October seems to have
dissolved into the mists of memory, recalling
the beautiful orchids on display is blissfully
easy. It would come as a surprise if anyone
present failed to be impressed with David
Trendell’s startling and intoxicating
Stanhopea graveolens, which I briefly but
respectfully mention at the outset as it has
been discussed in a recent issue of the
Journal, OSGBJ (2008) 57(4): 258. More than a
few members were overheard praising the
upturned table as a stroke of display genius!
Of three plants of this species on display,
Norma Burgess’s Spiranthes cernua ‘Chadd’s
Ford’ was far and away the most impressive
with its luxuriant and tall inflorescences of
sparkling, spiralling, vanilla-scented white
flowers. Formerly known as Spir. cernua var.
odorata it is now Spir. cernua. It comes from
eastern Canada to central and eastern USA
and is more vigorous and prefers a wetter
environment than its southern cousin, Spir.
odorata which is found in the southeastern
USA as far as southeast Oklahoma.
The leaves persist through most of the year
and barely a couple of new growths are
produced each season. Interestingly,
Spiranthes are nourished by a fungus in their
roots and it is important that they never dry
out. A good potting mixture comprises
crushed grit, sieved leaf-mould and humusrich compost, and whilst this species is
suitably robust and relishes damp
conditions, the medium should not become
waterlogged.
Dr Brubecker gained a CCM from the
American Orchid Society with this cultivar in
David Trendell’s Stanhopea graveolens
Norma Burgess’s Spiranthes cernua ‘Chadd’s Ford’ (Photo
by Petra Richardson)
1973, giving it its cultivar name – Chadd’s
Ford – after the rural township near
Philadelphia where he lives. It is widely
available as a meristem.
Another striking terrestrial was a beautiful
Pecteilis sagarikii, grown by Jeanette Beaney
(Ed: see page 51 for photo) which appears to
have been through the mill of name changes
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 63
in that it was originally Habenaria sagarikii
and is now regarded by the Kew Monocot
Checklist to be Pec. hawkesiana. It is native to
Myanmar and Thailand and, unlike
Spiranthes, is deciduous and prefers more
tropical temperatures. As the new growth
expands rapidly in late spring, the plant
needs warmth, high humidity and ample
water (again, carefully avoiding a soggy
medium) until after blooming, when
watering can be reduced gradually in line
with the wilting of the foliage. A new tuber
will have formed by this point and, rather like
Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium roots, it
is covered in fine hairs. Repotting at this time
is recommended and, along with cooler
temperatures of minimum 13°C, the compost
should be kept scarcely damp by way of a
few drops of water on the surface every few
days until the growth cycle recommences.
Colin Carter’s Coelogyne odoardi
64 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Whereas the leaves of many terrestrial
orchids are variously lush, scruffy or nonexistent during an annual cycle, those of the
small genus Macodes have a beautiful,
cloisonné appearance of gold woven through
rich greens and velvet purples. David
Martin’s robust specimen of Mac. petola
overwhelmingly justified its moniker of
‘jewel orchid’ (Ed: see page 5 for photo). The
species is tropical in its distribution, from
Java and Borneo through Malaysia to the
Philippines, and as such enjoys warm
temperatures and high humidity. The
importance of good drainage while
maintaining an evenly moist soil or humusbased compost cannot be over-emphasized.
These orchids often grow in dense shade and
the leaves are highly sensitive to direct
sunlight, burning easily.
Borneo had another orchid representative on
display in the form of the fairly uncommon
Coelogyne odoardi, also found in Sarawak.
The two-leaved pseudobulbs bear a
pendulous inflorescence of striking orangebrown scented blooms that open
simultaneously. Many of the more colourful
Coelogyne species tend towards warmer
environments and this one is no exception. It
is found at low elevations (200–900m)
growing epiphytically on the branches of
mountain forest canopy trees and subject to
frequent mists.
Among the orchids on Jo Kelleher’s display
were two charming New World species,
Trisetella cordeliae and Laelia dayana (no
longer its real name). At first glance, the
Trisetella could be mistaken for a Masdevallia
and was indeed considered to be a member
of the latter genus until botanical
investigation (typically the microscopic
details we cannot easily distinguish) proved
The flowers of Trisetella cordeliae
otherwise. The generic name is derived from
the Latin trisetus, meaning ‘three little hairs’
or ‘bristles’ and alluding to the tails at the
end of the sepals. Trisetella cordeliae is found
in Huánuco in Peru and is best grown in a
small pot or on a mount under conditions of
high humidity and intermediate
temperatures.
The orchid formerly known as Laelia dayana,
often wrongly labelled as Laelia pumila or
considered a variety thereof, is a species in its
own right and, apart from being reclassified
as a Cattleya, is now to be recognised as C.
bicalhoi. Ungainly by name but certainly not
by nature, this showy compact orchid bears a
comparatively large, single rose-purple
flower with a white lip intensely veined and
tinted with purple. The developing
inflorescence is not, as with other cattleyas,
protected by a sheath but instead by the
developing leaves. It is endemic to the
Jo Kelleher’s Cattleya bicalhoi, previously Laelia dayana
and L. pumila (Photo by Petra Richardson)
tropical slope forest of the Organ Mountains
near Rio de Janiero, Brazil, and is still
reasonably common in remote areas. C.
bicalhoi is typically located under conditions
of fairly low light and high humidity at an
elevation of about 1,000m, although some
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 65
colonies have adapted to more exposed
locations at the highest end of the elevation
range where temperatures are cooler and
moisture is high.
Aërangis luteoalba var. rhodosticta seen at another show
66 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Iona Macphie
Low light and high humidity are conditions
favoured by the riverine forest treasure that
is Aërangis luteoalba var. rhodosticta, a dwarf
species native to the African equatorial belt
and ranging from Cameroon to Ethiopia and
southwards to Tanzania and Angola. It grows
predominantly on twigs and the branches of
shrubs in areas well protected from drought,
often near waterfalls. Temperature ranges are
remarkably consistent, with days at 21°C to
27°C and nights at 13°C to 16°C. The equatorial
climate has two wet (spring and autumn)
and two dry (mid-summer and winter)
seasons and it has been suggested that this
may contribute to both the health and
blooming of this species. Plants should never
dry out or remain dry for extended periods,
and benefit from regular misting, drying only
slightly between watering in the dry seasons.
It was exhibited by David Martin.
Phragmipediums thrive on abundant
moisture and humidity and Val
Micklewright’s Phragmipedium Green Hornet
(longifolium x pearcei) was a superbly grown
plant. It was registered in 1996 and, like any
worthwhile hybrid, is free-blooming and
matures rapidly. Many of the most colourful
and eye-catching phragmipediums are fairly
large, spreading plants – the objective in
breeding this one was to create compact
plants with relatively large flowers that were
suitable for windowsill culture. The attractive
green flowers were held above the almost
grass-like foliage, rather like hornets in fact,
and represented charming elegance and
grace without any hint of a nasty sting.
Phragmipedium Green Hornet exhibited by Val
Micklewright
Photographic and Art Competition
– December 2010
Caladenia lobata (Marion Eyles)
Cymbidium Magna Charta (Diane Moosai)
Caladenia lobata (Marion Eyles)
Members taking part in the 2010
photographic and art competition had to
compete with snow and ice to get their
entries to the Napier Hall, the event being
held at the end of a week marked by
transport disruption and school closures!
However, over 60 intrepid travellers made it
to the Christmas meeting, bringing with
them an interesting selection of
photographs, painting and drawings.
Restrictions of time and space only allow the
‘firsts’ to be shown, but we are very grateful
to all participants for giving us such a good
range of material to study, judge and enjoy.
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 67
Photographic and Art Competition – December 2010
Paphiopedilum charlesworthii x Maudiae (Judy Feasey)
Cyprus and often called the Cyprus bee orchid,
was taken with a Nikon D3000, using the
following settings – ISO 1600, aperture f8,
shutter speed 1/1250.
Cattleya Hawaiian Wedding Song ‘Virgin’ (Diane Moosai) Winner of OSGB Photographic Trophy
Class 1, for an orchid photograph 7x5 inches or
less, resulted in a tie for first place. This is an
unusual situation because the rules state that
in the event of equal scores, the winning
photo shall be that with the most first place
votes. But what happens if both scores and
number of first place votes are the same?
Provision is not made for this eventuality so
two first places were awarded. Marion Eyles’s
entry was a close up of one of the
extraordinary spider orchids of South West
Australia Caladenia lobata, taken with a
Canon EOS 400D digital camera. An image of
a more conventional orchid, Cymbidium
Magna Charta (sic) taken by Diane Moosai at
Wisley last spring, with her trusty Panasonic
Lumix camera, claimed the other first place.
Class 2, for larger photographs of an orchid,
saw Diane once again returning to the front
68 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
of the hall to be congratulated by OSGB
President, Henry Oakeley. This time her prize
winner was an image of Cattleya Hawaiian
Wedding Song ‘Virgin’, complete with curious
insect, the shot having been taken outdoors
on a beautiful day in August. Marion Eyles
was also a double winner, her second success
coming in Class 3 with a different view of
Caladenia lobata showing a little of the
habitat.
Class 4, for a larger photograph of a native
orchid, was won by the new Editor of the
OSGB Journal, Sam Hurley, with a picture
taken on the Society trip to Northern Cyprus
in March. The European genus Ophrys, whose
members resemble bees, shows what
extraordinary adaptations some orchids have
made in order to attract a pollinator. Sam’s
entry of Ophrys kotschyi, which is endemic to
After the amateur photographic classes we
turned to art and in a well-supported Class 5a,
the accolade for the best painting went to
Doreen Jenkinson for a delightful portrayal of
the colourful Prosthechea vitellina. Class 5b,
for any other orchid art form was restricted,
this year, to pencil drawings and was won by
Judy Feasey with her excellent, true to life
depiction of Paphiopedilum charlesworthii x
Maudiae. Next year hopefully needlework will
be back on the benches and perhaps some
flower arranging, cake decorating and
computer art!
The final class, Class 6, was for ‘The
Professionals’ that is for members who had
sold some of the type of work they were
exhibiting. In a close run battle, the winner
was Henry Oakeley with a monster picture
(A3+) of Paphiopedilum appletonianum.
Certainly focusing and lighting have to be
perfect in order to be able to print such a
large photograph – flaws that one might get
away with in a pocket-sized picture are
magnified and shown in high definition in
portrait size entries. (Ed: f29 gives a sharp
depth of field; 1/200 sec stops camera-shake;
a ring flash illuminates the flower while
leaving background dark; a 50mm macro lens
allows one to get close enough to fill the
frame with the flower. The most interesting
photograph in this class, from the technical
aspect was not done with a camera at all! The
two entries of a Phalaenopsis illuminated
from behind were done by placing the flower
on photographic paper in a dark room, and
then shining a light through it – as if it was a
negative - onto the paper. The paper is then
developed using the usual photographic
technique.)
Finally, members were asked to vote for their
favourite photograph in the amateur classes.
The majority opted for the winner of Class 2,
Cattleya Hawaiian Wedding Song ‘Virgin’, so
Diane Moosai repeated her success of last
year and retains the OSGB Photographic
Trophy for another year.
Prosthechea vitellina (Doreen Jenkinson)
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 69
The Royal Horticultural Society
Orchid Committee
Ophrys kotschyi (Sam Hurley)
Spiranthes cernua ‘Chadd’s Ford’
Full descriptions and illustrations of the
plants awarded by the Committee are
published in The Orchid Review. Subscription
details are available from the RHS:
www.rhs.org.uk/orchidreview,
[email protected] or 020 7821 3401.
The Committee met on Tuesday 9 November
2010 at Vincent Square and recommended
the following awards:
Awards to Plants
Award of Garden Merit
Spiranthes cernua ‘Chadd’s Ford’, exhibited by
Mrs Chai Butler.
Paphiopedilum appletonianum ‘Pride of Chantaburi’
70 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 71
The Royal Horticultural Society Orchid Committee
Calanthe Portelet ‘Saint Brelade’ AM/RHS
The Royal Horticultural Society Orchid Committee
Calanthe Mont Ube ‘Saint Martin’ AM/RHS
Calanthe Mont Nicholle ‘Saint Saviour’ AM/RHS
Calanthe Mont Pinel ‘St Peter’ AM/RHS
Calanthe Mont Nicholle ‘Saint Saviour’ AM/RHS
Calanthe Mont Pinel ‘St Peter’ AM/RHS
Calanthe Portelet ‘Saint Brelade’ AM/RHS
Award of Merit
To Calanthe Portelet ‘Saint Brelade’ (C. Five
Oaks x Augres) To Calanthe Mont Ube ‘Saint Martin’ (C. Mont
Nicholle x Beresford) To Calanthe Mont Nicholle ‘Saint Saviour’ (C.
Mont Pinel x Rose Georgene)
To Calanthe Mont Pinel ‘Saint Peter’ (C. Rose
Georgene x Five Oaks)
72 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Calanthe Mont Ube ‘Saint Martin’ AM/RHS
All exhibited by the Eric Young Orchid
Foundation.
There will be no meeting of the RHS Orchid
Committee on 8 November 2011 as previously
advertised.
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 73
Advertisements
Cheltenham & District Orchid Society
Annual Show
Churchdown Community Centre,
Parton Road, Churchdown,
Gloucester, GL3 2JH.
Wild Orchids in the
French Pyrenees
The Ariège has over 60 species of orchid and
around the Barn at Bentefarine there are more
than 20 to be found, including real rarities.
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or call +33 561 688795
Saturday 5th March 2011
10.30 am to 4.00 pm
Incorporating an ‘Open’ meeting of the
UK Branch of the International Phalaenopsis Alliance
Nursery & Society Displays, Plants for sale
Talks, Potting Demonstrations & Advice,
‘Resident Artist’, Refreshments,
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Entry £2
Alan Cursue Show Secretary
Telephone 01452 616387
Email [email protected]
www.cheltenhamorchids.org
www.phalaenopsis.org.uk
Visit us at The
RHS London
Show
19th & 20th March.'
Pre-orders can be despatched
from the following Shows as
well without the hassle of CITES. There is a
minimum of 4 weeks to pre-order for despatch
of plants from the Shows listed
March 24th - 27th.
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April 8th-10th.
Muestra Internacional de Orquideas, Italy
April 14th-17th.
Deutsche Orchideen, Dresden, Germany
May 14th - 15th
Orquimadrid 2011 Show, Spain
May 20th-22nd.
Orchid Show, Chantilly/Paris, France
www.ecuagenera.com
email [email protected]
74 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
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phone and fax 0049 4253 8343
When only the best will do !
Sterile, inert, an ideal long-term growing
medium for your orchids.
Easy to handle in re-potting making this a
superb alternative to bark.
Supplied exclusively by award-winning
Densyl Orchids.
A free guide to 'Growing Orchids in
Epiphoam' with every new order.
Plus a wide range of books available at
discount prices.
Visit us at www.densylorchids.co.uk or
www.epiphoam.co.uk
or phone
01328 820272
Registered charity no: 222879/SC038262
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 77
Advertisements
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Ruth Batten Photography
Laneside Hardy
Orchid Nursery
www.lanesidehardyorchids.com
MAE TANG ORCHIDS
Established 1990
We stock a good range of flowering size species and hybrids
and have twice yearly imports into the U.K. from our own
orchid nursery in Thailand.
We also regularly conduct -
Specialist holidays for orchid enthusiasts
Nursery: Bells Bridge Lanes, off Cockerham Road, Garstang, Preston
Tel: 01995 605537 : email: [email protected]
VISIT the WEB site for details of special SPRING offers
Newly available a range of cypripedium hybrids not previously available in the UK.
March sees the arrival of this years orchids from Shikuko Nurseries in Japan and these
will be for sale at the RHS London Show along with a wide range of hardies.
In May the Laneside Hardy Orchid Enthusiasts first annual event will be held in the
Midlands; including a competitive show open to all hardy orchid enthusiasts, talks and
plant sales.
Have your favourite Orchids photographed
and put onto Canvas, or printed and framed
to display in your home or as a gift
Email your requests to [email protected]
Or Choose from my selection of signed Orchid canvases,
prints and framed prints-see www.ruthbatten.co.uk
Mobile 07936 909 507
Where you can see orchids growing and flowering
in their natural wild habitat!
Our next tours are:
The Orchids of Thailand
in March 2011
And to compliment the World Orchid Conference we also
have a
Special W.O.C. tour
in November 2011
To see the kind of orchids we offer for sale and for more
information about our orchid tours, including a slide show
of our last tour - please visit our website.
www.theorchidman.com
Or write to: MAE TANG ORCHIDS
4 OLD HALL GARDENS CHESTER CH2 3AB U.K.
For full details of this and all the other activities this spring please visit the web site.
Advertising
Announcement
Notice To Advertisers
Advertisements are welcomed. Full page
£80, half page £40, quarter page £20.
Fliers, size A5 or A4 folded, for insertion
(please supply 1,100 leaflets) £80.
Adverts must be prepaid. Discounts
available for four consecutive issues.
Deadlines: December 10th, March 10th,
June 10th, September 10th .
For all requests and artwork
specifications
please contact Kim Solomon.
Tel: 0208 9464410,
email : [email protected]
78 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Rosemann
Greenhouses
British made greenhouses built to a
standard not a price.
Our Bernhard range is 8’6” high
and 8’3” wide.
Available from 6’ to 12’ long.
Including 6’ high doors, 2 roof
vents, a full width rear shelf and
downpipes.
Easy access - opening 4’ wide.
If you need a more compact
greenhouse then our Sprite 6’ wide
range is built to the same high
standards
19, Eastern Green Road
Coventry. CV5 7LG
Tel: 024 7647 1228
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 79
Advertisements
Advertisements
Laurence Hobbs Orchids Ltd
Bailiffs Cottage Nursery, Hophurst Lane,
Crawley Down, W.Sussex RH10 4LN
Tel: 01342 715142 or Mobile 07961 350053
Near M25/M23/Gatwick Airport
• For quality Cattleyas, Paphiopedilums, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobiums, Cymbidiums
• Also a range of nursery raised and imported species and hybrids
• Many Cattleya hybrids, seedlings and merclones from Carter & Holmes Inc. (USA) for
whom we are the sole UK Agents
Extensive choice, no order too small
Please send sae and £1 (redeemable) for black/white stock lists and
Carter & Holmes colour brochures
Plants supplied by Mail Order. Visitors welcome
Society/Group visits catered for, please ring in advance to arrange
Opening Times: Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm
Please phone first to avoid disappointment
Monday to Thursday: open by appointment only
Closed Fridays and Bank Holidays
Potting Demonstration Open Weekend˚ 21st & 22nd May
2011
Complimentary refreshments, 10% Discount
JUST IN GLASS
Ray Creek (Orchids)
Your favourite orchid
captured in glass.
7 Jacklin Lane : Luddington :
Scunthorpe : DN17 4RB
Decanters, Mirrors, Plates, Society Trophies,Vases,
Wine Glasses (anything in glass!).
A wide range of coloured glass and designs are
available. The ideal gift for any occasion
from a simple thank you to a glorious Wedding or
Anniversary. Other images may be requested
or supplied (non-orchid).
For further information on the range of
designs available, please contact:Andy Phillips, Just In Glass
Unit G2, Bunkers Hill Farm,
Rotherwick, Hants RG27 9DA
Tel: 01256 474911 and Mobile 07910 245690
E-mail: [email protected]
Commissions welcomed for individual
beaten polished-copper Orchids
80 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
Exciting list of species
& hybrids available.
2 X 1st class stamps appreciated.
Gift orchids from£20,
incl. p & p
Quality washed and heat-treated
coconut husk chips & top
specifications orchid feed in
stock. Try them, they work !!
Telephone: 01724 798445
www.raycreekorchids.com
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 81
Services to members
The Journal
Cultural Advice
Published quarterly
Available at all meetings, or by post from Val
Micklewright, 103 North Road, Three Bridges,
Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1SQ (please enclose an
SAE for reply) or [email protected]
Meetings
Held most months at Napier Hall, 1 Hide Place, off
Vincent Street (east of Vincent Square), Westminster
SW1P 4NJ. Doors open at 13.30, and unless
otherwise stated ‘Introduction to Orchids’ and
cultural queries at 13.45-14.15 with guest speaker at
14.30. Competitive show tables at all meetings
(except at the plant auction). Plants for judging must
be in place by 14.00. Non-competitive plants are
always welcome. Pay & Display parking bays are
enforced on Saturdays although parking is free on
single yellow lines but DO NOT PARK on ‘residents
only’ spaces. Meetings at which members may bring
plants to sell (with 10% to the Society please) are
marked with an asterisk (*).
2011
5 Feb* 13.45 Introductory session: A guide to
choosing orchids in auctions and
raffles
14.30 Auction. Four plants per member,
six per family membership
6 Mar
2 Apr
13.45 Introductory session:
Cymbidiums and cultural queries
14.30 Speaker: Dave Parkinson − Disas
13.45 Introductory session: Phalaenopsis
and cultural queries
14.30 Speaker: Maren Talbot –
Cypripediums
30 Apr
Spring Show in The Glasshouse
Gallery, RHS Garden Wisley
7 May
13.45 Introductory session: Cattleyas
and cultural queries
14.30 Speaker: Kenneth Bruyninckx –
Chinese cymbidiums
4 Jun*
14.30 AGM followed by a short lecture,
title TBC
2 Jul
13.45 Introductory session: Vandas and
cultural queries
14.30 Speaker: Dr Patricia Harding –
Huntleyas and related orchids
82 • OSGBJ 2011, 60(1)
OSGB Show Diary
including Affiliated Societies and International Shows
2011
17
February
19
North Bucks OS Show, Flitwick Village Hall,
Flitwick, Bedfordshire, MK45 1HP
(2 minutes from train station) 11.00-16.00
Contact: Kate Bellingham 01234 824882
OS of East Anglia Spring Show, Eaton Parish
Hall, Colman Road, Norwich,
NR4 7HA. 10.00−16.30
Contact: Colin Thorburn 01842 810520 or
[email protected]
30
The website has been designed by Ian Parsons. The
Society’s internet web controller, Val Micklewright,
will be pleased to receive material for the website,
[email protected]
March
12
OSGB Spring show, The Glasshouse
Gallery, RHS Garden Wisley (see pages 12
and 58)
30
Devon OS 36th Annual Show, Elizabeth
Hall, Exmouth, Devon. 10.30−16.00
Contact: Nicola Wakley 01404 850354 or
[email protected]
Library
19 - 20 RHS London Orchid Show, RHS Lawrence
Hall, Westminster, London. 10.00-17.00
Preview evening 18 March: preview tickets
£20, RHS members £15. 18.30-21.00
Website www.orchid-society-gb.org.uk
Books are available by post from the Librarian
(address inside front cover of the Journal) or can be
collected at the monthly meetings. They may be
borrowed for up to four weeks. The borrower is
asked to pay the outward and return postage. A full
list of books may be obtained from the Librarian or
found on our website.
26
Wisley Orchid Event (see page 11)
- 3 May
27
16
OS of East Anglia Autumn Show, Eaton
Parish Hall, Colman Road, Norwich,
NR4 7HA. 10.00−16.30
Contact: Colin Thorburn 01842 810520 or
[email protected]
30
South East OS Show, Ashford Rail Staff Club
Hall, Beaver Road, Ashford, Kent (near
International Railway Station). 14.00–16.00
Contact: Janet Hooker 01303 256637,
[email protected] or visit
www.seos.care4free.com
The RHS Slipper Orchid Symposium, RHS
Lawrence Hall, Westminster, London (see
page 59)
25
Hinckley & District OS Show, Masonic Halls,
St Mary’s Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire
Contact: Keith Bates 01455 446793 or
[email protected]
Displays
Members are invited to bring their plants to
contribute to official displays by the Society at those
shows shown in bold in the Show Diary, but please
liaise beforehand with Displays Manager, Valerie
Pugh, [email protected]
All articles and photographs in the Journal are the
copyright of the OSGB and the authors, and may not be
reproduced in any form without permission.
Opinions expressed in the Journal are those of the authors and
they, together with services and products offered by
advertisers, are not necessarily endorsed by the Society.
The Journal is produced quarterly and is available to members
by subscription only. The annual subscription is £16.00 with
£4.00 extra for each additional family member at the same
address. There is an overseas members’ postage supplement of
£4.00 for Europe and £5.00 for rest of world. Under 21
membership (UK only) is £12.00.
All subscriptions are due on 1 January unless new members
have a special arrangement to cover two years.
Membership application forms may be obtained from the
Membership Secretary.
May
23 - 28 The RHS Chelsea Flower Show
June
17 - 19 Peterborough International Orchid
Show, East of England Show Ground,
Peterborough www.peterboroughinter
nationalorchidshow.org.uk
October
15 - 16 Devon OS Orchid Weekend dedicated to
the memory of Brian Rittershausen,
Langstone Cliff Hotel, Mount Pleasant
Road, Dawlish Warren, Devon, EX7 0NA
Contact: Sue Lane 01884 32430
20
Travel Club
Numerous trips are being organised for members to
see orchids in their native environment and to visit
foreign nurseries. Contact Val Micklewright,
[email protected] or see website for details.
Southern Counties OS Show, Sir Robert
Woodward Academy (Boundstone College),
Lancing, West Sussex. 11.00−16.00
Contact: Ian Wybrow 01243 553538
April
2
3
South East OS Show, Ashford Rail Staff Club
Hall, Beaver Road, Ashford, Kent (near
International Railway Station)
14.00–16.00
Contact: Janet Hooker 01303 256637,
[email protected] or visit
www.seos.care4free.com
Solihull & District OS Show, Arden
School, Station Road, Knowle, Solihull, West
Midlands, B93 0PT. 11.00-16.00
Contact: Janet James 01564 822897
West Cornwall OS Spring Show, Blaythorne,
Holman Sports Club,
Pendarves Road, Camborne, TR14 7QB
11.00−16.00
Contact: Kit Lindsay 01209 717947 or
[email protected]
10
Darlington and District OS, OSGB and
BOGA Show at Josephine Butler College,
Durham University (see page 60)
17
CHS Sussex Orchid Group Open Spring
Show. Crawley Horticultural Hall, Ifield
Avenue, Crawley. 13.30 onwards
Contact: Mrs Sally Mill 01293 547896
November
13 - 20 20th World Orchid Conference,
Singapore. www.20woc.com.sg
2012
September
11-16
19th AOC Conference & Show, Perth,
Western Australia. ‘Wild About Orchids’.
www.waorchids.iinet.net.au/19th_AOC_Co
nference.htm
Further Diary Dates can be found via the OSGB
website and the British Orchid Council website
www.british-orchid-council.info/
OSGBJ 2011, 60(1) • 83

Orchids - The Orchid Society of Great Britain

Transcription

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