Bromeliad Society of Victoria Inc

Bromeliad Society of Victoria Inc.

VOL 33 NO 2 April – May 2016

The April General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 27th April, in the Multi-purpose Room at Phoenix Park. Details Page 6

CONTENTS 2016 Calendar of Events ...... 2 Editorial ...... 3 BSV President’s Report ...... 4 March Field Day at the Home of Nance Esmore ...... 5 General Meetings...... 6 Report of the February Annual General Meeting ...... 7 Fees For 2016 ...... 8 We’re Going to the Zoo ...... 9 From a Member’s Garden ...... 10 May Field Day at Andrew and Sue Raff’s "Chrysalis" ...... 11 Discussion Group Meetings ...... 12 Orthophytum ...... 13

2016 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 27 April General Meeting – Hawi Winter NZ Conference 22 May Field Day – Andrew and Sue Raff 22 June General Meeting 24 July Field Day 24 August General Meeting 25 September Field Day – Jo Wilkins, Troposphere 26 October General Meeting 12-13 November BSV Annual Show 14 December Christmas General Meeting

FRONT COVER:

Squirrel Monkey investigating a Neoregelia at Melbourne Zoo Cover photo, and those in the Zoo article, by Noel Harcourt

EDITORIAL I was very disappointed to miss the brom planting at the Melbourne Zoo, as I was on a local garden club trip to sunny New Zealand at the time. Melbourne’s autumn weather was mild during my 3 weeks away so Brian only had to water my broms, and other potted plants, once.

Luckily, Nance’s Field Day was rescheduled from March to April, and I was home in time for that.

The May Field Day at the Raff’s should be a great experience for all of you, and I am looking forward to seeing how it has changed in the last 2 years since the January 2014 BSV Field Day there.

Don’t forget to send me your contributions for ‘From a Member’s Garden’, and any other articles, large or small, to share with BSV members.

Happy growing, Jill

MIDHURST BROMELIAD FOREST DRIVE NURSERY NURSERY Specialist Growers of Tillandsia Located at REPTON, South of Seedlings and other Genera Coffs Harbour. SPECIES AND VARIETIES Hard grown to suit all Australian All quality plants at reasonable prices Plants for all level of collection. conditions. Beautiful TILLANDSIA, Wholesale and mail order only. VRIESEAS, NEOREGELIAS, AECHMEAS ETC. Write for price lists of Tillandsia Visitors Welcome, but phone first and other genera to: (02) 6655 4130 A.H. P.O. Box 612 Hurstbridge, Vic 3099 For mail order send S A E: PO Box 2 Phone ( 03 ) 9718 2887 Bonville, NSW, 2441 Email : [email protected] Prop. Peter Tristram www.bromeliads.com.au

BSV PRESIDENT’S REPORT Hi Members, Autumn is a great time to get out into the garden as the high temperatures of summer are mostly past and there is still ample daylight to get a lot done. The bromeliads are also still showing plenty of colour and there are a variety of flowers coming through. I was pleased to find a Wittrockia cyathiformis in flower in my garden but I only spotted it because the flower stem grew up above the surrounding foliage. The pink and white bract with the bright orange flowers is a real stand out and once I’d found one I spotted two more in

different parts of the garden.

That’s one of the great pleasures of growing bromeliads that have tall or brightly coloured flower spikes, they can appear in the garden when you least expect them, especially if your garden is crowded like mine and plants

tend to get lost amongst the greenery.

This is a good time to start winter proofing your garden which can include, making sure that cold sensitive plants are moved to more accommodating positions, feeding those bromeliads that benefit from a pre-winter boost and making sure that autumn leaves don’t clog up the vases of plants.

Following the February BSV AGM we only had one change in the administration and that was the outgoing of Eric Friedman as Librarian and in with Gayle Kerr. Many thanks to Eric for his fine work in looking after the library during the General Meetings and thanks to Gayle for taking on this role. Thanks also to all those on the BSV Committee and those undertaking other roles in the BSV, we couldn’t function without you.

Due to Easter Sunday falling on our usual Field Day date for March, the Field Day at Nance Esmore’s home in Glen Waverley was postponed to 10 April 2016. I enjoyed seeing a lot of members at Nance’s because it’s a garden well worth visiting and Nance’s hospitality was second to none.

The April General Meeting will feature a rendition of Hawi Winter’s talk at the last New Zealand Bromeliad Conference and will be well worth attending. Try not to miss it and don’t forget to bring in plants for the display table and the sales table and some supper to share.

Bruce Lee

MARCH FIELD DAY AT THE HOME OF NANCE ESMORE Held on Sunday 10 April

Nance has been collecting bromeliads for many years, and was looking to reduce the size of her collection and to show her garden to BSV members. Over 35 eager people attended Nance’s Field Day on a lovely cool Sunday afternoon. Everyone had a great time socialising, and many plant, and plant-hanger, bargains were to be had. We all went home with something from Nance’s collection.

Thank you to Nance and her daughter Sue for their hospitality.

GENERAL MEETINGS These are held at Phoenix Park Community Centre, Rob Roy Rd, Malvern East. Melway Ref. Map 69, D2. Meetings commence at 7:45 pm sharp.

AVAILABLE AT EACH MEETING

At each meeting you may take advantage of the following: 1. Raffle. 2. A Bromeliad Book Library. 3. Members plant sales table. 4. Plant display and competition. 5. A section for your problem plants. Ask the experts what they think. 6. Books for sale. 7. Accessories for sale. 8. Lots of other interested growers to meet and chat with.

OFFICE BEARERS 2015-2016

Position Name Email Phone

President Bruce Lee [email protected] 9726 6126

Vice President Chris Larson [email protected] 9568 8856

Secretary Kerry Lusk [email protected] 0438 798 568

Treasurer Chris Baker [email protected] 9596 1992

General committee Barry Robinson [email protected] 9801 1628

Jill Abbott [email protected] 0400 921 374

Robert Mather [email protected] 0431 968 358

Len Murray [email protected] 0413 809 744

Mike Raymond [email protected] 0411 283 369

Non-committee Positions Membership Bev Leishman 9561 4419 Secretary: [email protected] 20 Gallery Place, Wheelers Hill 3150 Librarian: Gayle Kerr Plant Vote: Bev Leishman Raffles: Gary Lee Plant sales: Cheryl Johnston Supper Coordinator Jane Baker Patron: Maurice Kellett Life Members: Nance Esmore, Chris Larson, Jean Nicol, Len Summers Editor: Jill Abbott [email protected] Production: Brian Abbott Deadline for all editorial and advertising is the first Tuesday of publication month.

REPORT OF THE FEBRUARY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING held at the Phoenix Park Community Centre on Wednesday 24 February 2016

A pleasant late Summer evening saw 32 members, including three new members, Gwenda Eleftheriou, Barbara Clemson and Rhonda Caulfield welcomed to our meeting. We enjoyed a colourful bench of over 50 high-standard exhibit plants, a well-stocked sales bench and a supper table well laden. The new committee and support position holders were installed and our 2016 year got off to an excellent start. After supper we were feasted by two member demonstrations by Chris Larson and Bryan Paten who showed us how they mounted bromeliads and tillandsias their own styles. I think we all learnt a lot from Chris and Bryan, and certainly appreciated them sharing their knowledge, tips and experience with us. Following these practical demonstrations three mounted branches of bromeliads were auctioned for the society. There were a lot of smiles that went home with treasures. Many of us were inspired to ‘give it a go’. Thanks Chris and Bryan!

RESULTS OF THE POPULAR VOTE: TILLANDSIA: Another spectacular Tillandsia reuteri grown by Chris Larson was a standout winner in this section. Its large green foliage with a 65cm multi-branched pink and green inflorescence tipped with purple was about to burst with mauve flowers. A stunning plant.

OTHER BROMELIADS

OUTSIDE OR SHADEHOUSE GROWN: A most unusual sight on our bench was a large pot of Ochagavia litoralis almost a metre tall and 70cm in diameter . It was a winner grown by Robert Mather. Its spiny, leathery, greyish reflexed foliage contrasted with a long pink waratah-like inflorescence bearing dozens of pink flowers which won favour over more than 20 other lovely plants. Thanks for bringing it in Robert.

GLASSHOUSE /POLYHOUSE GROWN: A navy and cream ceramic pot of two plants of an unnamed strong growing Vriesea nearly a metre tall with burgundy-based dark green leaves won for Garry Thompson. One plant had a thrusting 60 cm tall six- branched inflorescence of green to yellow with bright red feather-like tips making it a very eye-catching item.

NOVICE: Again there was no entry in this section. This section is for anyone who has never won in the Popular Vote. So bring along your favourite bromeliad if you fit this category...

This summer has surely been great for our broms. There are still a few weeks for dividing your plants and getting them in good shape before the winter.

Happy growing,

Bev

FEES FOR 2016 Fees were due on 1 January 2016 and can be paid at the April meeting, by direct deposit, or by cheque mailed to The BSV Membership Secretary, Bev Leishman,

20 Gallery Place, Wheelers Hill VIC 3150

If your details haven’t changed, you will not need to fill in a 2016 Membership Form.

Details of fees, and methods of payment, are on page 20 of this newsletter.

If you deposit at a bank, please let Bev know via email [email protected]

This will be the final newsletter for unfinancial members.

Bev Leishman

WE’RE GOING TO THE ZOO After many months of planning and a couple of false starts, we finally agreed on 13 March to head into the Melbourne Zoo to plant out some of the South American residents’ enclosures with Bromeliads. What seemed to be a suitable date for those interested in helping, turned out not so suitable for some, so it was a reduced group of five BSV members and three additional helpers who eventually met with Noel Harcourt at the zoo at 10:30 Sunday morning. After emptying the donated bromeliads out of our cars we sorted out what we needed for our first task and Noel took us across to the Peccary enclosure. Fortunately, the Peccaries had been herded into a separate space and the hot wires that deterred them from accessing certain areas within their enclosure, had been turned off. We were then able to start weeding and preparing the ground by adding mulch provided by the zoo, so that the bromeliads had a suitable place to grow. By the time we finished the enclosure had been transformed into a more interesting, colourful and tidier place for the Peccaries and the public to enjoy. We then headed for our second enclosure, the home of the Squirrel Monkeys. These South American primates were also lured out of their public viewing area with the promise of food so that we had free access to decorate their enclosure with bromeliads. Unlike the Peccaries the Squirrel Monkeys would have access to the bromeliads inside their enclosure so we also planted in the garden area between the enclosure and the pedestrian walkway. Noel had installed three tree branches that were cemented into the ground in the garden area so bromeliads could be tied to the branches as well as planted in the ground. 9

Once the planting was complete, the monkeys were released back into the enclosure and immediately went to each accessible bromeliad to see what they could find. Only one Neoregelia that had been inserted into a woven basket up in a tree was torn apart, but the others that the Squirrel Monkeys had access to were thoroughly investigated. It was a very entertaining sight and it will be interesting to see how these plants fair over time. There were plans to plant out one more enclosure but we were advised that that enclosure would be repopulated by a non-South American species in the near future so it wasn’t suitable. So with the bulk of the work done we grabbed some lunch and then Noel took us behind the scenes of the Lion feeding and an ‘up close and personal’ with the Giraffes. We were also provided with some family passes to the zoo which will be included as BSV raffle prizes. It was a very rewarding day and the zoo staff members were most accommodating. Time will tell as to how well the bromeliads survive in this environment, but I’m sure that there will be other opportunities to work with the Melbourne Zoo in the future. Bruce

FROM A MEMBER’S GARDEN Following Bryan Paten’s demonstration of mounting broms at the February meeting, I asked Bryan if he could share some photos of the mounted broms at his home. Some of the Bromeliad arrangements I have hanging in the covered pergola outside our dining room, and kitchen area.

MAY FIELD DAY AT ANDREW AND SUE RAFF’S "CHRYSALIS" Sunday 22 May, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

250 Sandy Road, Fingal

Phone: 59886921

Melway Ref 252 B5

The entrance is approx 1.5km from Trumans Road, on the high side. It is a long driveway with plenty of parking at the top.

There is plenty of seating and tables, and a BBQ if required for those who may like to make a day of it and see some of the attractions of the Southern Peninsula area.

We are only approx 1km from the Ocean Beach and 7 mins from the bay.

The Bromeliad collection is probably the largest outside (not in Hothouses), growing in the most Southern Region of the World with over 10,000 plants (but I have lost count). There are also over 50 different Aloe species, many rare and unusual succulents and other genera.

There are also 5 different breeds of chooks and the smallest domestic breed of ducks.....oh and "George".

The garden is enclosed in a 2 acre area with 9 different bromeliad areas, plus in the garden, so it takes some time to see everything. The ground is undulating but easily walked.

For any further information just give

Andrew and Sue a call.

DISCUSSION GROUP MEETINGS The Discussion Group will meet Wednesday 20 April, 2016 at the Kevin Heinze Garden Centre, 39 Wetherby Rd, Doncaster, at 8 pm. The discussion group meets on the third Wednesday most months to talk bromeliads in an informal setting. The meeting is not of a technical nature. However arrangements may change at the last minute, so if you are not on the discussion group mail out, please call Chris (9568 8856) or Len (9569 7936) to check that arrangements are still current if you plan to attend. All members are very welcome - don’t be put off thinking it will be technical. Future Discussion Group Dates: 18 May, 15 June, 20 July, 17 August, 21 September

Cryptanthus ‘Black Magic’

Geoff Beech Aechmea Fasciata variegated Lynton Johnston

Tillandsia jucunda viridiflora Len Summers Guzmania monostachia Chris Larson

ORTHOPHYTUM - by DAVE WESTON an overview of the genus - presented at Bloomin Broms, June 2014

The genus Orthophytum sits within the sub family Bromelioideae. The genera Cryptanthus and Lapanthus are the most closely related, future revision of these genera and the genus Orthophytum may see some species reassigned to one or the other genera.

Distribution - Orthophytum are endemic to regions within the north and east of Brazil.

The genus has approximately 60 species of which 50 or so have been formally described and there are still new species being discovered. The taxonomic knowledge of orthophytum is still quite rudimentary; many species are poorly researched and only known from type collection specimens.

Habitat and Ecology Orthophytum are terrestrial and predominantly rupicolous - growing on or amongst rocks. They inhabit the Caatinga area, plus granitic gneiss inselbergs, and quartzitic- sandstone outcrops in the campos rupestres or “rocky fields” ‘inselberg’ = an isolated hill, ridge or small mountain that rises abruptly from virtually level land.

Caatinga habitat with Encholorium and Ortho. horridum with Melocactus cactus species

[Ed: The Caatinga biome is exclusive to the Northeast of Brazil. It is the largest dry forest in South America, it also has moist forest enclaves and is rich in biological diversity. ‘gneiss’ = coarse grained metamorphic rock.]

Campos rupestre, literally means ‘rock fields’, in this context refers to a type of shrubby montane savanna vegetation of the Espihaco Range formed from an ancient plateau of Precambrian rock. The range is not continuous, but separated by deep river valleys. There is a high diversity of plant species with many endemic to discrete plant communities. The climate typically is mild wet summers followed by a 3-4 month dry winter. Temps average 17-20oC.

Rocky Fields Vegetation varies in campos rupestre

Many species are heliophiles, (growing in full sun) and often at high altitudes. A few species are endemic to terrestrial rain forest habitat. A large number of the species are highly localised and endemic to very small areas, often only inhabiting a few rocky outcrops or discrete niches.

Orthophytums are often found growing in association with other bromeliads, orchids, bryophytes and lichens on exposed rocky outcrops where their roots can take advantage of the moisture and nutrient resource within the stabilized layer of peat and humus which accumulates over time.

Orthophytum Morphology

Orthophytums have a well-developed fibrous root system and are essentially terrestrials taking up most of their nutrients and water from the soil substrate. In habitat these species tend to establish themselves in rock crevasses where their roots can access the humus and moisture which is directed into these repositories from off the surrounding rocks. Orthophytums are particularly variable with growth form, generally the foliage tends to be more succulent than most other bromeliad genera, and prominent spines along the margins of the leaves are a characteristic feature.

There is considerable variation even within species, such as O disjunctum which has forms with a dense cover of white trichomes ranging through to grabrous forms with smooth glossy foliage which can vary from a reddish colour to a dark green.

The genera Orthophytum is divided arbitrarily into two main complexes. These two complexes are determined by inflorescence structure: the sessile inflorescence complex and the scapose inflorescence complex.

Sessile Inflorescence - The principal characteristic of the sessile inflorescence group is that these species produce their flowers in the centre of the leaf rosette, however the foliage does form a tank. The foliage is stiff to rigid long narrow leaf blades with spiny margins. At the onset of flower initiation the foliage will turn a brilliant red, some species exhibit contrasting colour characteristics.

Orthophytum burle-marxii Orthophytum sp. aff. roseum side view of inflorescence The exceptions here are the caulescent species of the “subcomplex vagans” such as Orthophytum vagans and Orthophytum zanonii. These species are characterized by long foliated stems and produce their flowers in the axis of the terminal leaves. 15

Scapose Inflorescence - Within this complex is the “sub-complex disjunctum”, this includes species like: Orthophytums disjunctum, glabrum, rubrum, gurkenii and, in comparison, the relatively dwarf species with short scape inflorescence such as saxicola.

Ortho. disjunctum Orthophytu gurkenii inflorescence scape prior to flowering

Orthophytum fosterianum at rosette stage Orthophytum fosterianum at scape development

Under cultivation it can develop quite soft lush foliage; in habitat it has a different appearance.

The example of an Ortho. disjunctum inflorescence scape shows the glomerate spikes of spent flower clusters along the upper portion of the scape, you can also see that there is a distinct difference in the leaf shape and the scape bracts at the base of the spikes. The foliage of the scapose group tends to be more succulent and the leaf blades are more often quite broad and triangular in form. Some species in this group can be quite soft, but all exhibit some degree of spininess on the leaf margins. 16

To add further complication, under the scapose inflorescence complex is another group; “sub-complex leprosum”. The disjunction sub-complex forms a distinct rosette of leaves prior to development of the inflorescence. The leprosum sub- complex species do not develop a rosette and the leaves are not clearly distinguishable from the scape bracts.

Ortho. benzingii Ortho. sanctum scape(left) and flower with seed capsules (R)

Orthophytum glabrum showing offsets Orthophytum rubrum with the stolon produced on short stolons, several have already over 300mm long and yet to exited the container via the drainage develop the terminal offset. holes. The offset near the rim of the pot is starting to produce roots and could be removed.

Reproduction and Propagation of Orthophytum

All Orthophytum species are capable of producing viable seed. However unless the grower is seeking a new form or variation there is little advantage in using seed, as the resulting plants can be quite variable and slow to produce.

Vegetative propagation. All Orthophytum will reproduce vegetatively either by offsets produced basally or on stolons, or In the case of some species within the scapose complex, by offsets produced at the terminal point of the individual flower spikes on the scape.

Ortho. aff. Roseum basal offset Basal offsets of Ortho. “Stellar Beauty” development

Some species within the scapose complex, produce offsets at the terminal point of the individual flower spikes on the scape.

Orthophytum “Warren Loose”showing the initiation of the growth point from Orthophytum “Starlights” the spike terminal point terminal offsets

Cultivation Requirements Orthophytum are well suited to either container or garden cultivation. They require bright light and good air circulation. Many can tolerate full sun exposure given adequate depth of soil and moisture. Soil media should be well drained but rich in organic matter. They have requirements similar to Cryptanthus except they are tolerant of much higher light intensity and will generally tolerate extended periods of dryness.

Pests and Disorders Orthophytum have very few pest issues, the main one would be Mealy Bug. Root rot may occur with soil media that is not free draining.

Leaf rot can occur when water stays on the leaf surface for an extended period.

Garden and Landscape Applications The sessile group of Orthophytum are best suited as container plants as they are often slow to reproduce and can become lost in a garden situation. The scapeose group are well suited to garden and landscape applications as they will quickly estabish and often naturalise in the garden. These also make great potted plant specimens as they go through their various growth stages.

Orthophytum Intergenerics Most of the worthwhile intergeneric crosses have been made with Neoregelia. X Neophytum ‘Firecracker’, ‘Ralph Davis’ (photo on right), ‘Gary Hendricks’, ‘Hytime’.

Summary The main distribution is Brazil There are at least 50 known described species New species are still being found in the wild They are terrestrial plants often found in harsh stony habitats There is considerable variation in growth forms, even within species There are two main complexes, the Sessile and the Scapose. Easily propagated by removing offsets Adaptable to cultivation Require well drained organic soil media Bright light to full sun Few pests Ensure free air movement and avoid prolonged wetting of foliage The sessile group are best suited to containers

The scapose are more adaptable and can be used in garden landscapes.

Reproduced with kind permission, from the Bromelcairns2014 #4 newsletter.

MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS Single: $20 per annum Family: $25 per annum All membership fees are due on 1st January each year.

In order to reduce costs and keep the BSV financial we will only send an electronic copy of the newsletter to you where you provide us with an email address. If you also require a hard copy of the newsletter, in addition to an electronic copy, then we are asking that you pay an additional $6 on top of your annual subscription to help cover some of the printing and postage costs. Please refer to the Membership Form for details or contact a BSV committee member if you have any questions.

All subscription correspondence should be sent to: The Membership Secretary, Bev Leishman, 20 Gallery Place, Wheelers Hill VIC 3150

PLEASE NOTE THAT PAYMENT OF MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION CAN NOW BE MADE BY BANK TRANSFER. THE SOCIETY’S BANK DETAILS ARE: BANK NAB ACCOUNT BROMELIAD SOCIETY OF VICTORIA INC. ACCOUNT NO. 48-585-2809 BSB 083-132

PLEASE ENSURE THAT DEPOSIT/TRANSFER CLEARLY SHOWS THE MEMBER’S NAME.

COLLECTORS CORNER GARDEN WORLD 810 Springvale Road Braeside Vic 3195 Phone (03) 9798 5845 Fax (03) 9706 3339 Email: [email protected] Website: www.collectorscorner.com.au BROMELIADS – comprehensive collection together with a large selection of Imported Tillandsias available. 10% discount on most lines to Society members on presentation of their cards. CACTI – from small varieties to advanced specimens SUCCULENTS – living stones, crassulas, agave, aloe and many more. BONSAI – from starters to specimen plants. CARNIVOROUS PLANTS – from seedlings to advanced plants.

All opinions expressed in the Newsletter are those of the authors, not necessarily those of the BSV. 20