Atlanta Orchid Society Newsletter

The Atlanta Orchid Society Bulletin

Affiliated with the American Orchid Society, the Orchid Digest Corporation and the Mid-America Orchid Congress 2001 Recipient of the American Orchid Society’s Distinguished Affiliated Societies Service Award Newsletter Editor: Danny Lentz

Volume 46: Number 4 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

APRIL EVENTS

The Meeting: 8:00 Monday, April 11 at Atlanta Botanical Garden Topic to be determined.

Greengrowers: Gary Collier & Mark Reinke on April 16, starting at 12:00

Join us at the home of Gary Collier and Mark Reinke and see how they raise orchids from seed. Gary & Mark have recently constructed a large greenhouse and laboratory area to support their breeding program. You can also take a stroll through their large property and enjoy the spring wildflowers. Every guest will receive a free Cattleya-alliance seedling, and a

picnic lunch will be served. Please let Gary & Mark know if you are planning to attend. See page 5 for more information and directions.

(There will probably not be any Greengrowers meetings scheduled for May or June. If you would like to host a Greengrowers later in the year or have an idea for another place to visit, please let me know. -danny)

Inside This Issue

Atlanta Orchid Society 2004 Officers…………………………………………..….…………… Page 2

Collector’s Item…….Laelia ghillanyi Pabst.…..…… by Ron McHatton….. …………………. Page 2

Events Out and About………………Dates for your Calendar…………...……….…….……… Page 3 Minutes of the March Meeting ….…….…….…...……….………….…………………...….… Page 3 Member Spotlight – Reba & Bennett Herzfeld. In Memorium – Gavino Rotor..……....…….. Page 4 April Greengrowers – Information & Directions………………………………………………. Page 5 The March Exhibition Table (with notes by Ron McHatton)…….………………..…………... Page 6 Recent Awards from the Atlanta Judging Center……….……………………………………… Page 9 Cryptostylis, the Tongue Orchids……………………………………………………………….. Page 12

All contents © Atlanta Orchid Society unless otherwise noted.

Page 2 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

THE ATLANTA ORCHID SOCIETY COLLECTOR’S ITEM

Officers Laelia ghillanyi Pabst. LAY-lee-ah gill-ANE-ee-eye President David Mellard Tribe: Epidendreae 3409 Regalwoods Drive Subtribe: Laeliinae Doraville, GA 30340 Etymology: For Laelia, one of the vestal virgins or the Roman 770-270-5758 [email protected] name Laelius

Vice-President/Programs The State of Minas Gerais in Brazil is home to the center of Richard Hallberg 152 Sloan St. distribution of a number of species commonly called rupicolous (rock- Roswell, GA 30075 growing) Laelias. These plants are characterized by small marble-like 770-587-5827 to cone-shaped pseudobulbs and single, very thick leaves. Flowers [email protected] range in color from white to yellow, orange and red as well as purple Secretary depending on the species. While many species such as L. flava have Sandy Phillips been in cultivation for a great while many are rather uncommon and 870 Virginia Circle NE recently identified. Atlanta, GA 30306 404-874-1417 Laelia ghillanyi was described by Pabst in 1973 and has a very [email protected] restricted distribution growing between 1500-1600 meters on volcanic Treasurer rock. Pseudobulbs are less than 7cm high and can be up to about Reba Herzfeld 2.5cm in diameter. Each pseudobulb carries a single extremely thick, 4798 Summerset Lane succulent leaf. Inflorescences carry two or three flowers held just Dunwoody, GA 30338 770-394-3731 above the foliage and the blooming period in the northern hemisphere [email protected] is typically Spring into early Summer. In addition to the typically

Immediate Past President purple colored clone illustrated here, a white form of the species is Evan Dessasau III known. There are several other purple flowered species that are 404-241-4819 superficially similar to Laelia ghillanyi however the column of this [email protected] species is distinctly winged so that from the side it appears about twice

Directors (year term expires) as wide at the base as at the tip. In contrast the other species have columns that are of a uniform width. Mark Reinke (2005) 864-718-0152 Rupicolous Laelia species have a reputation of being difficult to [email protected] maintain in cultivation for long periods. They require very high light Jeff Whitfield (2005) 706-675-3583 intensities, usually growing in full sun exposure and excellent drainage [email protected] their roots and will not tolerate continued dampness. To-be-filled (2006)

Fred Missbach (2006) 404-237-1694 [email protected] Mikie Emerson (2007) 404-289-3684 [email protected] Danny Lentz (2007) 770-640-0112 [email protected]

Other Volunteers Newsletter Editor/Greengrowers Danny Lentz

Webmaster Tom Kaschak [email protected]

Page 3 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

Events Out and About MINUTES OF THE MARCH MEETING

April The meeting was called to order by President David Mellard. The February minutes were approved as written. 4/1 - 4/3. Heart of Dixie Orchid Show in • At the Southeastern Flower Show, the majority of orchid awards Madison (near Huntsville), Alabama. Contact: were earned by Atlanta AOS members. Wade Brannon won the Josie Asquith, 256-881-2571. Max Ellenberg Trophy (Best Specimen Orchid) with a jewel orchid. Danny Lentz represented the Atlanta Orchid Society 4/9 (Saturday) American Orchid Society well and did a great job of organizing our participation in the monthly judging, Atlanta Center, 2 pm, ABG. show. In the horticulture division, David Mellard won panel awards: Buckley Medal, National Garden Club Gold Medal, 4/11 (Monday) Atlanta Orchid Society Certificate of Excellence in Horticulture by American Garden monthly meeting, ABG, Day Hall, 8 p.m. Club and Best Species Trophy for his Trilliums. Topic to be determined. • Not getting the newsletter? Let David Mellard know. • David presented the 2005 budget. There were no questions. 4/12 – 4/17 New York International Orchid • The board has requested a change to the number of minimum Show. board meetings from 4 to 3. This proposal which changes the by-laws was published in the March newsletter and will be voted 4/15 – 4/17. Orchid show in West Knoxville, on at the April meeting. The next scheduled board meeting will TN at the West Town Mall. Contact: Ches be on June 26, 2005. Lyon, 865-573-0704. • Mark Reinke will be the chairperson of the newly established New Members Committee to support new members and 4/16 (Saturday) Greengrowers at the house encourage membership. He will be working with Sondra of Gary Collier and Mark Reinke. See page Nierenberg, who has been calling new members for some time. 5 for details. Volunteers are needed to participate in the committee. • Greengrowers: March 26, 1PM to 3PM. Hwei Hsieh’s 4/20-25 AOS Members Meeting in greenhouses. Bloomington, MN • Summer auction will be held on June 12,2005 at the American Legion Hut near Chastain Park. 4/23 Orchid show in Mobile, Alabama, • Carter & Holmes will host an open house on March 17-19. sponsored by the Mobile Area Orchid Society. • Peach State Orchids in Woodstock donated two blooming Contact Joseph Paine, 251-666-6505. orchids and Margo Britton and Eldon Parks donated an orchid for the silent auction. 4/29 – 5/1. Orchid show in Nashville, TN, • Lennette Greenhouses in Kanapolis, NC (near Charlotte) is sponsored by the Orchid Society of Middle going out of business. Their flyer is in the Catalog book on table Tennessee. Contact: Tom Harper, 615-771- at meetings. 2755. • Roy Harrow informed the society that Gavino Rotor passed away last Tuesday night at 88 years of age. More information May about Gavino Rotor can be found on page 4.

5/9 (Monday) Atlanta Orchid Society • We will be donating a $170 microscope to the school supported Monthly Meeting. Topic to be determined. by Ecuagenera. • Kurt Studier spoke on growing Masdevallias in the South. He 5/13 – 5/15 Redland International Orchid focused on culture, which was very informative. His formula for Festival, Homestead, FL. growing medium is 8 parts coconut husks, 1 part charcoal, and 1 www.redlandorchidfestival.org part perlite. See his web site, www.mountainvieworchids.com, for the CH washing instructions and CH source. 5/14 (Saturday) American Orchid Society • Welcome new members: John and Mable Doucette, Alfonso, monthly judging, Atlanta Center, 2 pm, ABG. Alejandra and Alan Doucette, Peggy Herrman. • Thanks to all who donated plants to the raffle table: Kurt Studier of Mountain View Orchids, Helen Weil and others. The Rockdale County Master Gardener • Thanks to those who brought refreshments: Cathy Caine, Association would like someone to give a Marianne Gilmore, Siu-Ping and Alice Hong, Sandy Phillips and presentation on orchid culture some time others. this year. If you are interested in doing • Thanks to the orchid judges: Wade Brannon, Gary Collier, Terri this please contact Frank Longshore at Hansen, Roy Harrow, Linda Miller and Jeff Whitfield.

(770) 918 -1818 or e-mail Respectfully submitted, Sandy Phillips [email protected]. Page 4 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

Member Spotlight In Memorium, Gavino Rotor

Dr. Gavino B. Rotor Jr., of Signal Mountain, TN, died Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at his home. He was born in Manila, Philippines, March 26,

1917, the son of Engracia and Gavino B. Rotor

Sr. A graduate of the University of the Philippines with a bachelor's degree, he came to the United States in 1946. He entered Cornell University, where he received his master's degree and in 1952, he was the first person in the nation to receive his Ph.D for his study on the growth and flowering of orchids. At Cornell, he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and was elected to the Society for Advancement of Research. From 1954 to 1958,

he worked at Rivermont Orchids on Signal Reba & Bennett Herzfeld Mountain as director of research. In 1957, he was guest speaker at the 4th World Orchid Reba & Bennett joined the society in June 2003 when Congress in Hawaii on his use of Colchicine to they only had 3 orchids. As with most of us their increase chromosome count in Cattleya collection has rapidly grown and they are now caring for orchids. In 1958, he and fellow Cornell 50 orchids (along with other assorted plants) in their graduate, Bob Enck, founded Crestwood home. Although they’ve only been in the society a short Orchids on Fairmount Road, Signal Mountain. time they have become very involved. Reba is now our Here they amassed an outstanding collection treasurer and was the co-chair for hospitality at our last of rare and fine orchids. Their orchid exhibits November show. Her brisket recipe has been featured in were always greatly admired at the orchid the February 2005 newsletter. shows held in Mid-America. In March 1979, Crestwood Orchids received the Gold Medal The Herzfelds grow their plants with natural light coming Certificate for its exhibit in the Tennessee through west-facing windows. Reba says she waters Valley Orchid Show in Chattanooga. In 1961, when she remembers (usually every week to 10 days) and he was appointed as Judge for the Mid- fertilizes occasionally. Under this regime of benign America Judging Center in St. Louis, Mo., and neglect the plants grow and flower well.

in 1983; he became an American Orchid Note: The Member Spotlight column will be running Society Judge Emeritus. He is survived by his monthly from now on. Reba will be coordinating the friend and partner, Bob Enck. column so please let her know if you would like to be included.

Join the Atlanta Orchid Society Newsletter Submissions To submit material for the newsletter, or to sign up for the Membership in the Atlanta Orchid Society is $30 for email version of the newsletter, please contact Danny Lentz. individuals or $45 for a household membership. The deadline for submissions is the 20th of the previous month. Yearly membership runs January 1-December 31. If you join after September your membership will MAIL TO: Danny Lentz include the following year. You can join at one of 1045 Wordsworth Dr. our monthly meetings, or contact the society’s Roswell, GA 30075 Treasurer (see page 2) for a membership application. EMAIL: [email protected]

We meet the second Monday evening of each month Advertising at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. For directions to Advertising is now being accepted for our newsletter. The size ABG, please visit their web site at and number of ads may be limited at the discretion of the www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org or contact one of our editor. Advertising Rates per issue are: ¼ page $10, ½ page society’s officers listed on page 2. $20, full page $40.

Page 5 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

April Greengrowers

Date: April 16 beginning at 12:00 Place: Home of Mark Reinke & Gary Collier 155 Marble Branch Trail Walhalla, SC 29691 (864) 718-0152

Gary and Mark have recently built a 26’ x 92’ greenhouse, plus a laboratory where orchid seed is flasked. You will be interested in seeing how they harvest and store the rainwater that falls on the greenhouse for use on the orchid plants and in the evaporative cooling pads, as well as their innovative system to store solar heat, which provides 85% or more of their heating needs in winter. You will be able to observe orchid seedlings from germination, through various stages in flask, to community pots and individual pots and gain added appreciation for what goes into creating a new orchid hybrid. Each guest will receive a small seedling from one of Mark & Gary’s unusual Cattleya alliance hybrids, and there will be some additional plants available for sale.

Marble Branch Farms is a 54 acre secluded tract adjoining a National Forest wild area and bordered by two mountain streams. It is a botanical paradise where rare species from the Smoky Mountains and Coastal Plain meet. Mid-April will feature many native wildflowers, trees and shrubs in bloom, and with luck, the native Pink Ladyslipper orchids. A woodland walk up a magnificent hardwood cove will lead to a small, but beautiful, double waterfall, so wear casual clothes and good walking shoes.

A picnic lunch will be served. If you plan to attend please let Mark & Gary know at (864) 718-0152 or [email protected].

Directions:

*Take I-85 North out of Atlanta

*Switch to I-985 towards Gainesville. After Gainesville highway changes name to GA-365

*Just after milepost 52 take right fork towards Toccoa - this is still GA-365

*At second stop light after last turn (comes after a long downhill grade), go left and follow GA-365 / US-123 through Toccoa, and on to Westminster, SC.

*Just inside city limits of Westminster, and immediately after US-76 joins in from left, turn left on Doyle St.

*At the next stop sign (4.2 miles from last turn) proceed straight across intersection toward low mountain range. You are now on Stribling Shoals Rd.

*Marble Branch Trail is 1.6 miles further on left - just after 5 black mailboxes in a row - first one says "Reinke/Collier".

*Follow Marble Branch Trail 0.6 miles (one lane gravel road) to house on left. House has blue metal roof and large greenhouse behind. Driveway fords shallow creek and there is plenty of parking once at house. If timid about crossing creek, go 150 feet further and park on left along road - take wooden footbridge across creek.

Travel distance is 100 miles from I-85 and Jimmy Carter Blvd. Usually 2 hours from the center of Atlanta. Page 6 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

MARCH 2005 EXHIBITION TABLE AWARDS with notes by Ron McHatton

CLASS 1: CATTLEYA ALLIANCE Blue Leptotes bicolor Collier/Reinke Red Laelia ghillanyi Barnett White Cattleya skinneri ‘Casa Luna’ SM/JOGA, AM/AOS Brinton/Park Blue Cattleya (skinneri x Ruth Gee) Collier/Reinke Red Slc. Mine Gold ‘Corona’ AM/AOS Collier/Reinke White Blc. Bouton D’or Missbach

(Blue) C. (skinneri x Ruth Gee) : This is absolutely spectacular. I Cattleya (skinneri x Ruth Gee) can’t tell size from the photograph but the color saturation is excellent as well as the form. I’ve seen several other C. skinneri hybrids involving complex Cattleya Alliance parents and flower count is often dramatically reduced by the complex parent. This is especially common in C. Ruth Gee hybrids. In this particular clone, flower count is excellent and floriferousness appears great also. This plant should show up on a judging table someday.

(Red - species) Laelia ghillanyi : This was entered as an unknown Laelia species from Minas Gerais, Brazil. From the photograph it fits best as Laelia ghillanyi.

Leptotes bicolor CLASS 2: CYMBIDIUM Blue Cymbidium Little Bighorn ‘Warhorse’ S/CSA Rinn

(Blue) Cymbidium Little Bighorn ‘Warhorse’, SM/CSA : All of the Cym. Little Bighorn clones are exceptionally floriferous and easily flowered. The floriferousness stems from the Cym. floribundum (Cym. pumilum) in the background and there have been clones of this hybrid that carried as many as 35 flowers per inflorescence. Cym. floribundum tends to produce compact, somewhat pendulous inflorescences that often do not clear the foliage. The first miniature Cymbidium hybrids resulted from mating this species to a standard, improving the elongation of the inflorescence. Backcrossing these early primaries to standards, while increasing the overall plant and flower size resulted in further improvement in flower form and presentation of the inflorescence. This cross, Cym. (Dag (primary miniature) x Sussex Moor Cym. Little Bighorn ‘Warhorse’ (standard)) was registered by Featherhill in 1982, the same year this clone received its Silver Medal.

CLASS 3: DENDROBIUM

Blue Dendrobium thyrsiflorum Frye Red Dendrobium aphyllum Whitfield White Dendrobium Sweet Song ‘Memory’ Rinn

(Blue) Dendrobium thyrsiflorum : This species belongs to Section Callista, a group of about 10 species distributed from India through Myanmar, Thailand, southern China and northern Vietnam. All species grow in deciduous forests at moderate to high altitudes located in areas with a sharply defined dry winter. With the onset of winter, these plants are exposed to rather cool, very dry and bright conditions and they will perform best in cultivation if these conditions are mimicked. All species in this group can be recognized by their club-shaped pseudobulbs with distinctly narrowed bases, 1-5 rather leathery persistent Den. thyrsiflorum leaves and long, usually pendulous inflorescences borne from the nodes at the top of the pseudobulbs. Other species in this section include D. chrysotoxum, D. densiflorum, D. farmeri, and D. sulcatum Page 7 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

CLASS 4: EPIDENDRUM Blue Epidendrum stamfordianum fma. album Collier/Reinke Red Epidendrum chlorops ‘Woodstream’ Collier/Reinke Red Epidendrum stamfordianum Lentz/Morgan White Prosthechea brassavolae Hallberg

(Blue) Epidendrum stamfordianum formum album : Color forms of species are technically considered as forms rather than varieties and the correct designation is formum album. This is often confused and the literature is rife with incorrect designations. At least three color forms of this species are known. In addition to the albinistic form, there are two color forms, the most common one a sort of tawny yellow base color and other pink. This species is unusual in the genus Epidendrum in that the inflorescences are produced from the base of the pseudobulbs rather than terminally making it easily recognized. Epi. stamfordianum var. alba (Red) Epidendrum chlorops ‘Woodstream’ : This was entered with the designation CBM/AOS. I’ve been unable to find this award. Several years ago the Certificate of Botanical Merit (CBM) was divided into the two current awards Certificate of Botanical Recognition (CBR) and the Certificate of Horticultural Merit (CHM). It is possible that this particular clone received a CBM under a different species name and then was later corrected by the owner however it’s impossible to follow those sorts of changes.

(White) Prosthechea brassavolae : For those of you reeling under name changes, this species is also known as Encyclia brassavolae and, some time ago, Epidendrum brassavolae. Rather recently, Carl Withner has proposed another name change to Panarica brassavolae so you may also see it under that name.

CLASS 5: ONCIDIUM ALLIANCE Red (Odcdm. Tiger Butter x Oda. War Lord) ‘Looking Glass’ Rinn White Mtdm. Super Spot ‘Everglades’ Rinn

(Red) (Odcdm Tiger Butter x Oda. War Lord) ‘Looking Glass’ : Odontocidium Tiger Butter is an excellent parent, imparting good size and form along with significant warmth tolerance to its hybrids. It’s resulting hybrids are strong growers, thriving under intermediate to often warm conditions. (Odcdm. Tiger Butter x Oda. War Lord) ‘Looking Glass’ CLASS 6: CYPRIPEDIUM ALLIANCE Blue Phrag. Jason Fischer Brinton/Park Red Paph. Raisin Jack Decaminada White Paph. Kevin Porter Rinn

(Blue) Phragmipedium Jason Fischer : Phrag. Jason Fischer has only two species in its background; Phrag. besseae and Phrag. sargentianum. Both species produce branching inflorescences on mature plants and their resulting hybrids become quite spectacular after a few years. Phrag. sargentianum is known to enhance the depth of color saturation in red and brown pigmentation and its clearly evident here.

Phrag. Jason Fischer JOIN THE ORCHID DIGEST CORPORATION

Don’t let the name fool you, the Orchid Digest is a non-profit Please visit our web site at membership-based organization dedicated to orchids. http://www.atlantaorchidsociety.org Designed to appeal to the mid-range to advanced grower nothing beats the Orchid Digest. For just $32/year you get 4 The Atlanta Orchid Society web site contains issues of full-color, in-depth articles about orchids. The recent newsletters and articles, cultural magazine is large format and the fourth issue of the year is information for growing orchids in Atlanta, as always an extra-special issue devoted to a single genus.

well as a calendar of events and information For membership application forms contact Fred Missbach about our annual shows. (404-237-1694) Page 8 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

CLASS 7: PHALAENOPSIS ALLIANCE Blue Dtps. Martha Dolge ‘Mendenhall’ Lentz/Morgan Red Phal. Sunset Brinton/Park White Phal. Orchid World ‘Trenton’ FCC/AOS Hallberg

(White) Phalaenopsis Orchid World ‘Trenton’, FCC/AOS : This is perhaps one of the best clones of this cross. Exhibited by Zuma Canyon in 1990, Phal. Orchid World ‘Trenton’ received its FCC with 5 flower and 1 bud carried on two inflorescences. This relatively low flower count is a characteristic of the cross, and other crosses of Phal. violacea for that matter. As plants mature, branched spikes are produced increasing the overall flower count but each branch will never carry more than a few flowers at a time. If you are looking for fragrant Phals, this one is. Dtps. Martha Dolge ‘Mendenhall’

CLASS 8: VANDACEOUS ALLIANCE : No awards

CLASS 9: MISCELLANEOUS OTHER GENERA Blue Lepanthes calodictyon Lentz/Morgan Blue Ludisia discolor Brannon Red Ophrys (fuciflora x heldreichii) AD/AOS Mellard/Marino White Bulbophyllum maximum Whitfield

(Blue) Lepanthes calodictyon : This is one of those species you grow for the foliage rather than flowers. While many species of Lepanthes are cool growing, this species will adapt rather well to intermediate conditions and can actually be grown in a small terrarium as a houseplant. They are quite intolerant of dryness and low humidity so care must be taken to see that they do not dry out.

(Red) Ophrys (fuciflora x heldreichii) AD/AOS (provisional) : Lepanthes calodictyon Absolutely spectacular! This award is provisional pending registration of the cross. An AD (Award of Distinction) is given to the grower as well as the hybridizer to recognize a worthy new direction in breeding and this clearly represents such. It’s a shame we don’t see more European and Australian terrestrial 2005 First Quarter Ribbon Judging Results orchids in our collections. (A picture of this flower will appear in next month’s newsletter.) Name Jan Feb Mar Qtr 1 Collier / Reinke 19 11 21 51

Lentz / Morgan 9 24 13 46 Rinn 9 24 11 44 Brinton / Park 17 7 9 33 Mellard / Marino 14 10 3 27 Brannon 8 6 5 19 Whitfield 10 4 14 Frye 5 5 10 Barnett 5 3 8 Chandler 6 6 Hallberg 4 2 6 Dampog 3 3 Decaminada 3 3 Dufano 2 2 Emerson 1 1 Missbach 1 1 Ludisia discolor Walkosky 1 1 Page 9 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE ATLANTA

JUDGING CENTER

The following awards were granted at the February session of the AOS Atlanta Judging Center. They are provisional awards pending official publication in the Awards Quarterly. Certificates of Horticultural Merit and Certificates of Botanical Recognition are also provisional pending identification by an AOS certified taxonomist prior to publication of the award.

Dtps. Brecko Snowland ‘Tejas’ AM 81 pts. ( Dtps. Texas Snow x Phal. Land O’Cotton ) Natural Spread: 12.0cm H x 12.0cm V Ten round, flat flowers well-displayed on one arched inflorescence; flowers clear white; lip midlobe and side lobes edged apple green, side lobes with wine red stripes; callus yellow with fine red spots and stripes; substance firm; texture sparkling. Exhibitor: Ken Avant

Cattleya walkeriana ‘The Chairman’ AM/81 pts. Natural Spread: 10.3cm H x 11.3cm V Three flowers and two buds on two inflorescences; flowers lavender; sepals tipped green; lip midlobe rich fuchsia, white basally, light yellow spot centrally; side lobes dark lavender with very light picotee; column light lavender with fuchsia edge; substance very hard; texture sparkling. Exhibitor: Fred Missbach

JOIN THE AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY

For $46.50/year, you reap the following benefits:

• 10% off on purchases from the Society’s Bookstore AM 82 pts. ( Phal. Helengene x Dtps. White Wonder ) and Orchid Emporium. Reduced or free admission to Natural Spread: 12.0cm H x 9.0cm V participating botanical gardens. Twenty-seven flowers and one bud well-presented on three branched, arching inflorescences to 110-cm long; flowers For a limited time, if you join for two years ($84) you will pure white; lip side lobes butter yellow striped maroon also get a $30 gift certificate (good on an order of $100 or centrally; staminode yellow speckled maroon; substance more) at any one of 13 commercial growers who advertise flaccid; texture glistening. in Orchids. JOIN TODAY. For information, contact Exhibitor: Stones River Orchids Evan Dessasau (404-241-4819) Page 10 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005 © 2005 Danny Lentz

Laeliocattleya Little Pete ‘Golden Legacy’ © 2005 Danny Lentz AM 80 pts. ( L. Icarus x C. aurantiaca ) Natural Spread: 6.0cm H x 6.0cm V Laeliocattleya Gold Digger ‘Buttercup’ Thirteen star-shaped flowers on one strong, upright 31-cm HCC 77 pts. ( Lc. Red Gold x C. Warpaint ) inflorescence; flowers orange; lip deeper orange with red Natural Spread: 6.5cm H x 9.0cm V striations; substance firm; texture satiny, waxy on reverse. Eighteen striking flowers well-presented on three Exhibitor: Fred Missbach inflorescences; flowers orange; lip buttercup yellow with red striations in throat; substance firm; texture waxy. Exhibitor: Barney & Aileen Garrison

AM 89 pts. Natural Spread: 12.7cm H x 8.1cm V Paphiopedilum Saint Swithin ‘Sergeant Major’ One impressive, full-formed flower on one inflorescence; AM 80 pts. sepals and petals white, finely hirsute; dorsal sepal hooded, Natural Spread: 10.0cm H x 30.5cm V slightly askew; petals with amethyst blotch basally; pouch Three pleasingly arranged flowers on one 66-cm arched mimosa yellow intensifying as side lobes enfold, interior inflorescence; sepals creamy yellow with distinct densely spotted wine red with spots showing through to mahogany stripes; petals chartreuse overlaid with fine exterior; serrated staminode canary yellow spotted ruby mahogany stripes and mahogany spots on margin of basal red; substance firm; texture crystalline; flower pleasantly quarter; pouch chartreuse with light mahogany veins and fragrant. tesselation; staminode classically hooked, tan with dark Exhibitor: Ken Avant mahogany pubescence marginally; substance firm; texture waxy. Exhibitor: Fred Missbach Page 11 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

Paphiopedilum Hsinying Rainbow ‘Shiraz’ © 2005 Danny Lentz AM 83 pts. ( Pulsar x Candy Apple ) Natural Spread: 12.8cm H x 10.4cm V Phaleanopsis lobbii ‘Tejas’ One full, flat flower on one inflorescence; sepals deep AM 83 pts. maroon with black veins; petals deep green basally Natural Spread: 2.3cm H x 2.8cm V overlaid deep maroon with darker stripes and nearly black Sixteen flowers and one bud evenly distributed over four spots and hairs on upper margins; pouch glistening deep horizontal inflorescences; flowers clear white; lip with two maroon, approaching black; staminode chartreuse blushed chocolate brown vertical bars, lighter centrally; throat clear and radially striped maroon; substance firm; texture glossy. yellow spotted dark brown; callus ciliate; substance firm; Exhibitor: Stones River Orchids texture sparkling. Exhibitor: Ken Avant

Phragmipedium Sorceror’s Apprentice ‘Hocus Pocus’ HCC 77 pts. ( longifolium x sargentianum ) Phragmipedium Sorceror’s Fire ‘Andean Copper’ Natural Spread: 15.0cm H x 10.6cm V AM 81 pts. ( Andean Fire x Sorceror’s Apprentice ) One flower and two buds on one 66-cm inflorescence; Natural Spread: 12.1cm H x 8.5cm V dorsal sepal and synsepal chartreuse with wine red veins; Two flowers and two buds on one 50-cm branched, upright petals citron green on basal half becoming wine red inflorescence; base color chartreuse; sepals and petals distally, edged chartreuse; pouch chocolate brown, citron tesselated dark brick red, petals with maroon cilia, denser green internally with dark wine red spots; staminode citron on distal edges; pouch almost evenly brick red on exterior, green with wine red cilia on top edge; substance firm; spotted brick red on interior; column with maroon hairs on texture glossy. edge; substance very firm; texture shiny. Exhibitor: Fred Missbach Exhibitor: Fred Missbach

Page 12 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

Cryptostylis, the Tongue Orchids

Cryptostylis is a genus of about r r twenty species that is distributed from Taiwan and Southeast Asia down through the Pacific region to Australia, where five species can be found. The Australian species ©2005 Reiner Richte can all be found in areas with a ©2004 Reiner Richte temperate climate, with one extending into tropical areas. Robert Brown described the genus in 1810. The name of the genus means “hidden column” and refers to the very short column which is surrounded by the basal lobes of the lip.

Most of the Australian species of Cryptostylis are evergreen Cryptostylis leptochila terrestrial orchids which grow in small, spreading clumps. These plants have erect leathery leaves and thick roots that flowers. The lip of the flower is about 2cm long and spread through the upper layers of soil. One species .5cm wide. This species is identified by the double is a leafless saprophyte. (Saprophytes derive their row of round black calli on the furry lip. energy from an association with fungi in the soil instead of through photosynthesis). The species with Reiner Richter of Victoria and Eyal Lebedinsky of leaves can be cultivated in a soil-based mix amended Canberra both report this as a fairly common species. with leaf mould. They grow best in large containers The pictures shown here were taken by Reiner in the and don’t like to be repotted. Doongalla Forest Reserve east of Melbourne. He found one plant with a 69cm tall inflorescence. The flowers are generally non-resupinate and are dominated by the large lip. The other floral segments Cryptostylis erecta, the Bonnet Orchid or Tartan are very thin. Flowering usually occurs in Summer, Tongue Orchid, is distributed from eastern with the flowers opening successively up the Queensland through New South Wales and eastern inflorescence. Each flower lasts several days. All of the Australian Cryptostylis species are pollinated by the same male Ichneumon wasps trying to mate with the flowers. The male wasps are highly attracted to the flowers, possibly more so than they are to the female wasps. Although several of the species often grow together no hybrids have been found. David Jones writes that he has tried to cross-pollinate ©2005 Eyal Lebedinsky cultivated specimens of the different species without success.

Cryptostylis leptochila, the Small Tongue Orchid, is widely distributed from south-east Queensland through New South Wales, eastern Victoria, and Tasmania. It favors sclerophyll forests and can be found at higher elevations than the other species. The plant has ovate leaves approximately 12cm long by 4cm wide, green on top and purple underneath. The inflorescence can reach more than 40cm with up to 15 Cryptostylis erecta (continued on next page) Page 13 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

Victoria. It is a widespread and fairly common References: species that occurs in a variety of habitats from Native Orchids of Australia by David L. Jones, 1988 coastal plains to open forest, mountainous areas, and rainforest. The plants have leaves up to 18cm Field Guide to the Orchids of New South Wales and long by 3cm wide that are green on top and purple Victoria (Second Edition) by Tony Bishop, 2000 underneath, with a narrower shape than the other Australian Native Orchids in Colour by Leo Cady species. The inflorescence reaches 50cm tall and and E.R. Rotherham, 1970 bears up to 12 flowers. The lip of the flower reaches up to 3.5cm long by 1.2cm across. Posts on the alt.binaries.pictures.orchids USENET Newsgroup and personal communications by: The photographs shown here were taken by Eyal Reiner Richter ( http://orchids.rnr.id.au ) Lebedinsky at Pretty Beach in Murramarang Eyal Lebedinsky ( [email protected] ) National Park, in the South Coast region of New South Wales. Eyal found these growing in the same area as C. leptochila and C. subulata. r

Cryptostylis erecta

Cryptostylis subulata, the Large Tongue Orchid, is distributed from Queensland down through New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. It often grows in moist areas in the company of rushes and sedges, but can also be found in open forest. The plants sometimes form ©2005 Eyal Lebedinsky spreading clumps. The leaves are 15cm long by 3cm wide, dark green to yellowish green and held stiffly erect. The inflorescence reaches 80cm tall and bears up to 20 flowers. The lip of the flower is up to 3cm long and has a two dark ridges leading to a prominent bilobed callus projecting out near the end of the lip. The color of the lip can vary somewhat from reddish to reddish-brown, purplish, or yellowish. Cryptostylis subulata

-Danny Lentz Page 14 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org April 2005

Maxillaria huancabambae Maxillaria sp. Plants grown by the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Notice of Proposed Change to By-Laws

The Board of Trustees of the Atlanta Orchid Society has proposed a change to the society by-

The change is to the second paragraph of Article IV – Meetings.

Current text: Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be held at least quarterly, and shall be called by the president. Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be called by any member of the Board with written or verbal notice made to the entire board.

Proposed new text: Meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be held at least three times per year, and shall be called by the president. Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be called by Paphiopedilum emersonii any member of the Board with written or verbal This is a close-up shot of Paphiopedilum emersonii notice made to the entire board. ‘Tejas’ AM/AOS, described on page 10. This This proposal will be voted on at the April meeting. particular clone was very large and had a region of dense, fairly long white hairs at the base of the petals. In the recent book “Paphiopedilum” by Braem & Hot Breeding Group – The latest quarterly list of Chiron (2003) they list the size of P. emersonii as hybrid registrations has 38 crosses in the 8.5-9.5cm across and note that a population with Catasetum/Clowesia/Cycnoches/Mormodes group. “larger than usual” flowers has been reported. At 12.7cm (5 inches) this flower must have been bred Not a Marketing Genius : Cattleya Elephant Drops from the “larger than usual” group. (Chocolate Drop x Pink Elephants)