OCTOBER EVENT Monthly Meeting: 8 p.m. Monday, October 12, 2020 From the comfort of your living room via Zoom! Peter T. Lin on Bulletin Compact Vandaceous Species and their Hybrids October 2020 Details of the Zoom meeting will be emailed a few days before the meeting

Compact Vandaceous Species and their Hybrids Plant and supplies Peter started growing orchids over ceived numerous AOS awards. His in- swap / sale 35 years ago, but then stopped due to terests in orchids include Dendrobiums, school and starting a career. It wasn’t Angraecoids, and Neofinetias. He is also until about 15 years ago that the orchid known as “Mr Sophronitis” as he has a Sunday, 25 October “bug” came back and he is now heavily passion for growing and collecting them. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. involved once again! He is an accredited He maintains a collection of a thousand Atlantic Station judge with the American Orchid Society, or more orchids at his home in Southern and a hybridizer of mini-catts. He enjoys California in 3 small greenhouses, out- Parking Deck meeting with other orchid enthusiasts, doors, as well as an offsite greenhouse. 286 16th Street Entrance and can often be found at various orchid Peter will talk about the many differ- Atlanta, GA 30363 shows and societies around the country. ent small growing species and hybrids Due to limited growing space, Peter within the Vanda alliance. This fast paced Got plants and supplies likes to specialize in miniature orchids, PowerPoint presentation will include that need a new home? both species and hybrids, and has re- many pictures along with cultural tips — Come and swap them for stuff you need Interested in growing your collection? — Come and get cool plants for cheap!

We will meet inside the Parking Deck, Rain or Shine Social Distancing and Masks Required Semi-Outdoors, but protected.

Parking is Free for 2 hours or less.

Click on the link below for a pic- ture of the entrance of the parking deck Vanda testatacta (left) and V. falcata (right), https://goo.gl/maps/p9dfZcgzD- two compact species from Barbara Barnett’s Wid8dFa8 collection

Join the Atlanta Orchid Society Membership in the Atlanta Orchid Society is $30 for individuals or $45 for households. Yearly membership runs January 1-December 31. Anyone joining in the fourth quarter will purchase a membership for the following year. Contact the society’s Treasurer (see page 2) for a membership application, or complete an application online at our website: www.atlantaorchidsociety.org 2 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

ATLANTA ORCHID SOCIETY The Atlanta Orchid Society Bulletin Volume 61: Number 10 – October 2020 Newsletter Editors: Véronique Perrot & Mark Reinke Officers The Atlanta Orchid Society is affiliated with theAmerican Orchid Society, the President Orchid Digest Corporation, the Mid-America Orchid Congress, Helen (HB) Blythe-Hart 770-656-4054 and the Garden Club of Geogia. Vice-President/Programs Danny Lentz Secretary Jody Gomez Welcome to new members! Treasurer Jon Crate 770-846-9541 Michael Beers, Kristy Nicholas, Timothy Deeb-Swihart (Atlanta, Ga.) 270 17th Street NW, Unit 4501 and Ron Utterback (Atlanta, Ga) Sharon Lawson (Forest Park, Ga) Atlanta, GA 30363 Lydia Adams & Ryan Hanes Charles Milsted (Hoschton, Ga) (Flintville, Tn.) Immediate Past President David Mellard 404-310-9899 Nominations and Elections to the Board of the AtlOS Our nominating committee this year We welcome back Jason Mills-Shoul- Trustees is chaired by Barbara Barnett. The oth- ta to the Board, and we thank Maegan er members are Dan Williamson, Danny for accepting to be a trustee for another Trac Nguyen Lentz, Kyle Brooks, and Véronique Per- three years. Maegan Brass rot. Here is the slate of officers and trust- Atsushi Matsumoto None of the current officers reach ees proposed for election to the board Carl Quattlebaum their term limit at the end of the year, for 2021: Larry Kikkert and all are willing to continue serving in President: Helen Blythe-Hart; Véronique Perrot their current roles. Trustees Trac Nguy- Vice-President: Danny Lentz en and Maegan Brass will reach the end Treasurer: Jon Crate of their three-year term. Atushi Matsu- Secretary: Jody Gomez Volunteers moto and Carl Quattlebaum will contin- Trustee: Maegan Brass ue their terms as trustees through 2021, Trustee: Jason Mills-Shoulta AOS Rep – Barbara Barnett and Larry Kikkert and Véronique Perrot The election will be held at the Novem- Greengrowers – Danny Lentz through 2022. ber meeting Librarian – MAOC Rep – Doug Hartong International Speaker Day on 31 October 2020 Meeting Hospitality – Membership – Barbara Barnett & Confinment and all the bother with ists in South Africa, Colombia, Equador Maegan Brass Covid-19 is a pain on multiple fronts, but and Brazil without having to fly any- Education and Outreach – Lynne Gollob it does bring some unexpected benefits. where. Registration is $30. See the link Silent Auction – Carson Barnes The series of talks organized by Orchid for details: Monthly Ribbon Judging – David Mellard Digest is one of them. It will allow us to www.orchiddigest.com/speak- Newsletter – Véronique Perrot & hear talks given live by orchids special- er-day-2020.html Mark Reinke Orchid Digest Rep – David Mellard A message from Terry Furuta Show Chairs (2020) – Danny Lentz & Jody Gomez Normally I give my bloomed out phals are big, healthy plants. Website/Social Media – Danny Lentz & that I replace in the arrangements in lob- I have some oncidiums, dendrobiums Jeremie Carroll bies of buildings to a lady who re-blooms and other special plants that I would sell them and gives them to the Atlanta Bat- for $5 to $10 each if anyone wants them. tered Women’s Shelters. All the shelters I have a grammatophyllum that is huge are closed and she has run out of room for $15. for plants. Take care! I would be happy to give the phals to Terry anyone in the AtlOS who wants to pick 2970 Peachtree Road, Suite 160 them up from my shop. Most of them Atlanta, Georgia 30305 came from Peach State Orchids and they [email protected] 3 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020 Plants and Potions EVENTS CALENDAR Cocktail Party and Orchid Auction October 10 – American Orchid Society monthly You’re cordially invited to our De- Much appreciation to VP Danny judging (tentative): Magnolia Room, cember meeting for a virtual holiday Lentz for facilitating our monthly meet- ABG, 1 p.m. Contact Doug Hartong to cocktail party, where we sip our libations ings, seamlessly conducting the Zoom, confirm judging will take place of choice and socialize with our fellow doing our auctions and for finding us ([email protected]) Orchid Enthusiasts from the comfort of amazing speakers from around the world 12 – Atlanta Orchid Society Monthly our homes over Zoom. We have many that we wouldn’t have been able to have Meeting, via Zoom: Peter T. Lin on orchids to be auctioned as well as show otherwise. Thank you also to David Mel- Compact Vandaceous Species and their and tell of our orchids in bloom. I’ll be lard for helping me transition into being Hybrids spreading the Holiday Spirit by wearing president and Barbara Barnett not only 25 – Plant and supplies swap/sale, my Santa hat—hope you put on some for her help with Membership, but her 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; see front page for details festive jingle too!! unsung behind-the-scenes help to make 31 – Orchid Digest international speaker Thank you to everyone who has par- our society succeed. Véronique has done day; www.orchiddigest.com/speak- ticipated in our orchid meetings since a terrific job with our informative news- er-day-2020.html we’ve had to go virtual in April. It’s been letter, putting together the photos of our a crazy year- I for one, am so happy to virtual Plant Table about which Mark Re- have beautiful blooming orchids as a inke of Marble Branch Farms so thought- November respite to the craziness going on in our fully informs us. 9 – Atlanta Orchid Society Monthly country. Big thank you’s to Nancy for her gen- Meeting: Tim Culbertson and Breeding My windowsill Garden of Eden is filled erous donation and to Jon for keeping a with the Pescatorea Alliance and the with slippers and moth orchids, queenly tally on the totals. Maegan reaches out Search for Blue. Cattleyas and dancing ladies. There are to new members and Jody has come 14 – American Orchid Society monthly so many wonderful orchids to grow- I through for us above and beyond just judging feel very grateful to have had the amaz- being Secretary. Thank you to all of the ing line-up of speakers this year to share Board Members and Officers that keep more about these diverse plants with us. our group vibrant and growing but most December It’s great to be able to bend the ears of importantly, our members- we would not 12 – American Orchid Society monthly people who grow under lights, in cool- exist without you. judging ers, greenhouses and to be able to get Happy Holidays—hope to see you 14 – Atlanta Orchid Society Monthly advise about culture, potting or dividing next year. Meeting: Plants and Potions—Cocktail these incredible plants our extraordinary Respectfully yours, Party and Orchid Auction (see at right) members grow. HB

HB’s Garden of Eden 4 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020 Notes on plants submitted to the virtual meeting of the Atlanta Orchid Society for September, 2020 Notes by Mark Reinke; Photos by various members of the AtlOS

C. labiata forma coerulea C. bicalhoi (formerly Laelia dayana)

Cattleya Alliance name of Laelia dayana. When the Bra- than above.” Scgl. imbricata is one of the We have a few species exhibited in zilian Laelia species were merged with showiest species in the genus and comes this group that deserve further discus- Cattleya in 2008, that name presented from wet lowland and montane forests sion for various reasons. Danny & Di- a problem because there was already a over a wide range that includes south- anne showed us a rare color form of the natural hybrid described as C. x dayana western Mexico, Central America and “type” species for the genus Cattleya. (forbesii x guttata), as well as a registered northern South America. Their plant of C. labiata forma coerulea cross from 1908 originally called Lc. Switching to hybrids, crosses in- had three large showy flowers with pale Dayana (C. velutina x L. crispa) that would volving Brassavola nodosa were again mauve segments and a deeper violet lip, also be called Cattleya Dayana under the well represented. I showed off one of with a hint of yellow radiating out of the new changes. To avoid additional confu- my prized possessions, a division of an throat. This species was described in sion, the species was renamed Cattleya awarded form of one of the famous and 1824 and was the first cattleya to be im- bicalhoi. This miniature grower bears a important parents: Brassocattleya Rich- ported back to England. The name of the similarity to Cattleya pumila but comes entire genus, if fact, was given in honor from mountains closer to the coast in of William Cattley, the British Merchant the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas and Horticulturalist who first flowered Gerais. It can be distinguished from that this species in his collection. This orchid species by having smaller, somewhat was described as coming from the Organ more “droopy” flowers with a greater mountains near Rio De Janeiro, perhaps contrast between the segments and the with the purpose of intentionally mis- darker lip that also has more prominent leading collectors, but was later found keels. Both species require attention to to occur in the states of Cearaá Paráiba, grow well and do best mounted with fre- Pernambuco, Alagoas, and Piauí, which quent water and cool to mild tempera- are at the far northern end of the east- tures. ern mountain ranges of Brazil. Numer- HB (Helen Blythe-Hart) presented ous color forms of C. labiata exist and it a brightly colored species common- factors into more than 20,000 registered ly labeled Hexisea imbricata. However, hybrids. The similar looking C. warneri it and the other members of the genus was for many years often sold as C. labi- have been reassigned as of 2002 to Sca- ata but can be distinguished from it be- phyglottis. While it may not look at first cause it blooms in the spring rather than glance like it belongs in this section, the fall. the Mid-American Orchid Conference Vinh Nguyen showed us another Bra- show schedule puts this species in class zilian species he submitted under the old 16 “Cattleya allied genera species other Sclg. imbricata (formerly Hexisea imbricata) 5 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Bc. Morning Glory

Brassocattleya Richard Mueller ‘Summerfields Orchids’ ard Mueller ‘Summerfield Orchids,’ the 1990s and 2000s, and more than 200 AM/AOS. This plant is almost always in named crosses have descended from it. bloom for me. The cross, originally reg- Many of those are now becoming scarce, istered in 1965, combined B. nodosa with so I am using this plant to help create fu- the then newly described C. milleri. It ture generations of free blooming, easy took a while for hybridizers to recognize growing “nodosa type” cattleyas. One its value as a parent, but an explosion of such cross that has enjoyed recent re- new crosses using it were registered in makes is Brassocattleya Yellow Bird, and both Dan Williamson and HB showed off plants in bloom of this one that takes Bc. Richard Mueller back to B. nodosa. This orchid tends to bloom heavily in winter and then repeats some flowering in late Cattlianthe Trick or Treat summer. If kept long enough, it can form a specimen with hundreds of long-lasting showed us a nice dark example of Bc. flowers open at once. Morning Glory, which combines B. nodo- Jon and Fi once again showed us their sa with C. purpurata. This cross, dating Bc. Tigrinodosa in flower, a cross that, from 1958, is another that is so good that as I mentioned before, combines B. no- it gets remade from time to time. dosa with C. tigrina and was just recent- Danny and Dianne’s Cattlianthe Trick Bc. Yellow Bird (HB’s) ly registered by Jon. Danny and Dianne or Treat is something of a temporal anomaly. This cross is a normally very reliable later winter bloomer. Perhaps the fact that they grow it under lights has altered its usual flowering time. Two great compact crosses that I talk- ed about last month were once again on display. Dan Williams showed offRlc. Little Toshie ‘Yellow Rose’ and Larry Kikkert presented Rhyncattleanthe Coral Gold ‘Pacific Rainbow.’ Larry please note how I have presented the name here— that is how the tag should read. We also had two classic large flowered Bc. Tigrinodosa hybrids to admire this month present- 6 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Rlc. Little Toshie ‘Yellow Rose’ Rhyncattleanthe Coral Gold ‘Pacific Rainbow’ ed by Dan Williamson. Cattleya Senhora The famous C. Bow Bells is represented Broughtonia hybrid. Most Broughtonia Diane Leitao ‘Classic’ was registered in multiple times in the family tree of this sanguinea hybrids are notoriously in- 1977 by Sea Goddess Nursery, once co- orchid which can be seen in the full, lus- fertile, but they make lovely clusters of owned by the late actor, Raymond Burr. cious shape. Rhyncolaeliocattleya Susan flowers on strong stems, while staying Fender ‘Cinammon Stick,’ AM/AOS is a fairly small in plant stature. This one has more recent introduction, registered by fairly large three inch flowers that blend Carter & Holmes in 1994. It is the epit- yellow and purple. I only got a few plants ome of classic “art shade” breeding and out of this cross and this one I kept. It the autumnal colors really pop when flowered for the first time last year with photographed backlit by the sun! The just two blooms. This time there were strong influence of C. dowiana can be five so I’m hoping for even more in the seen in the bold yellow lines radiating future. out of the red-purple lip. Similarly, I got only a few plants out of Finally in this group, I got a chance the cross Rlc. Goldenzelle x Lc. Coastal to show some examples of my own tin- Splendor. The latter is a semi-alba L. an- kering in cattleya breeding. Through re- ceps hybrid with large flowers on strong search and a lot of trial and error, I have stems. While most came out semi-alba, learned both the joys and the heartbreak that comes with the quest to create new and interesting results in this group. From the time one makes a cross until the first flowers can be seen takes the C. Senhora Diane Leitao ‘Classic’ investment of four to seven years. Only then do you discover whether you were on to something or just wasted time on an orchid dud! Often it is a mix of both, as a few good results will surface out of an otherwise mediocre attempt, or beau- tiful flowers come at the cost of unde- sirable growth or blooming habits. True orchid perfection is very elusive! While definitely not perfect, these are a few of my “hits” that happened to be in bloom this month. Guaricattonia Ernest Cromwell x C. Fire Magic is an example of successful- Guaricattonia Ernest Cromwell x Rlc. Susan Fender ‘Cinnamon Stick’ AM/AOS ly crossing a compact cattleya with a C. Fire Magic 7 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Rlc. Goldenzelle x Lc. Coastal Splendor Rlc. MBF Exotic Dream ‘MBF’ Rlc. MBF Love King ‘MBF’ as one would expect, this one is pale tone down the photo. But the trade off is very similar to Rlc. George King parent, yellow with deeper yellow and purple in that the plant is somewhat twisted and though scaled down. They also possess the lip. The cross took nearly a decade to pleated, courtesy of its famous grandpar- its intense fragrance. The 3.5 inch flow- flower for the first time. This one shows ent, Rlc. Eve Marie Barnett ‘Magnificent ers are held on strong stems just above 8 promise and hopefully will improve on Watermelon Gold,’ FCC/AOS which had to 10 inch growths that form such a tight its second flowering. It is also wonderful- flowers of unreal beauty, but with the clump that this plant now has four leads ly fragrant. I have another in bloom now worst of growth habits to go with them. in just a 4 inch basket. I liked it enough that is a true semi-alba, but it does not My last offering in this group isRlc . to make a self-pollination and have seed- have the good flat form we tend to prefer MBF Love King ‘MBF’ which is C. Love lings coming along in my lab. and has no fragrance. Fresh x Rlc. George King ‘Southern Rlc. MBF Exotic Dream ‘MBF’ is an Cross.’ The latter parent is a mericlone example of a cross I liked enough, plus mutation of a standard sized cattleya had enough seedlings to sell, to make it that has the original lavender of its seg- worth registering. It is Rlc. Exotic Ap- ments color blocked and therefore can peal x C. Dream Catcher. This plant has often produce semi-alba flowers in cross- many leads and nearly always in bloom es. In the case of this plant, they are pale with flowers that glow so much I had to cream with color in the lip making them

You can help out the Atlanta Orchid Society simply by shopping JOIN THE AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY at Amazon through their Amazon Smile program. To do this simply 12 issues of Orchids, the Society’s monthly full color magazine chock full go to smile.amazon.com every time of insightful articles and tempting ads for plants and supplies. you want to shop at Amazon. When 10% off purchases from the Society’s Bookstore and Orchid Emporium. you go to checkout for the first time, Reduced or free admission to participating botanical gardens. you will be asked to designate your For a limited time, if you join for two years you will also get a $30 gift charity. If you type Atlanta Orchid certificate (good on an order of $100 or more) Society in the search bar, we are the at any one of 13 commercial growers who advertise in Orchids. only result that comes up. Select that Membership now includes access to OrchidPro, one. You can change the charity at the database that replaces OrchidsPlus any time, by following the directions JOIN TODAY on the About page. All of the details of the Amazon Smile program can Single Membership, 1 year - $79, 2 years - $153 be found on the Amazon site at: Student membership, 1 year - $54, 2 years - $103 smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ JOIN OR RENEW ONLINE AT www.aos.org 8 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Cym. ensifolium forma album Den. lichenastrum

um forma album, which typically blooms Dendrobium Alliance at this time of year. I have a clone called This month we saw a great group of ‘Iron Bone Sue’ that is in flower now and species that illustrate the wide diversity looks identical to David’s in both plant in the genus Dendrobium. Two of them Cym. danyanum and flowers. The actualCym. formosanum come from Australia. Barbara Barnett is allied with, or the same as, Cym. go- showed us the aptly named Den. lichenas- Cymbidium Alliance eringii, and typically has only one flower trum, a tiny species from the northeast- This is not the season in which to ex- per spike with a decided triangular ap- ern part of that country that forms a mat pect to see the blooms of large or me- pearance. It would more likely be bloom- of succulent, textured growths that cling dium sized Cymbidiums, especially hy- ing in late winter than now. Despite hav- close to tree trunks almost in the man- brids, though there are a few out there. ing only a few small flowers per stem, ner of a lichen. The tiny flowers come in Instead we were presented with two ex- Cym. ensifolium has been a very import- many colors and are rarely abundant but amples of smaller flowered species that ant parent for breeding warmth tolerant can occur off and on throughout the year. are currently in their peak bloom period. hybrids because it grows even in rather From the same region, but usually found I showed off a nicely flowered Cymbidi- hot regions like Southern India and Sri in humid locations in mangroves or along um dayanum, which has grown up from Lanka. With the right pairing, much rainforest streams, is Doug Hartong’s a small plug seedling to this nice plant more dramatic flowers can be achieved Dendrobium taylorii. While known as Ca- in just 3 growing seasons. This species is in a single generation. detia taylorii since 1912, it was recently fairly widespread in the mountains from returned to the genus under which it was northeastern India, through Southeast described in 1884. Asia and China to Taiwan and Japan, A similar situation is in play with and also in the Philippines, Borneo, the George Guenthner’s Den. tentaculatum, Celebes and Sumatra. It can be found which occurs just to the north of the pre- both as a terrestrial and as an epiphyte, often on cliffs or in rotting logs where its pendent inflorescences can hang down properly. The leaves are long and grassy and the pseudobulbs small and hidden in the leaf sheaths. This plant is considered typical in color pattern, but I also have a form that is almost solid red, sometimes referred to as variety angustifolium, and a beautiful album variety, that for me al- ways blooms a few weeks later. The flow- ers can be very abundant, but only last a few weeks. David Mellard showed a plant he la- beled as Cym. formosanum album. Howev- er, I believe this is actually Cym. ensifoli- Den. taylorii 9 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Den.Samarai

Jon and Fi showed us their plant of the hybrid Den. Samarai, which combines Den. antennatum and Den. stratiotes from the Spatulata section and shows off its striking “antelope horned” flowers for months at a time. Their example has par- Den. tentaculatum Den. subclausum ticularly evenly twisted petals and bold striping on the lip. A mature plant will vious two species on the island of New clone known as ‘Ching Hua.’ I have sev- become large and bushy but can have Guinea. It has been known in collections eral from that batch as well, which boasts hundreds of flowers open at once. as Diplocaulobium tentaculatum for many lots of purple in the foliage in addition to George Guenthner provided the high- years but has been recently returned to the enchanting blooms. light of this section for September with the name given in its original description Vinh Nguyen once again showed off his striking Den. Swiss Mountain Palace in 1905. A fully mature plant can have his Den. subclausum, which he submitted covered in gorgeous bicolored flowers. many of these spidery flowers open at in July and is in bloom again. This vari- This hybrid takes the cross between Den. once. able species from the Molucca Islands cuthbertsonii and Den. glomeratum back David Mellard showed us the beautiful and New Guinea can bloom off and on to the former species. Likely it lives a flowers ofDendrobium cumulatum. This throughout the year from its tangle of charmed life inside one of his specialized is a gradually deciduous species from the thin wiry stems. While many forms have growth chambers along with other cloud mountains of Southeast Asia and Bor- flowers the stay semi-closed, Vinh’s plant forest orchids. Outside of such condi- neo that produces pendulous clusters of has nicely open ones. This form is often tions I believe it would be near impossi- flowers from older bare canes. Most wild referred to as variety speciosum. ble to keep alive in our climate. collected plants have much paler color than what you see here. David’s plant is likely from a recent batch that originat- ed with the selfing of a particularly dark

Den. cumulatum Den.Swiss Mountain Palace 10 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Epicattleya Fascination Catyclia Maui Chocolate Psychopsis papilio

Epidendrum/Encyclia Alliance Johnston, who was a member of the At- Oncidium Alliance We had two entries in the section for lOS for a number of years. There ended The three species represented this September. Dan Williamson submitted up being two slightly different seedlings month are vastly different in look, his very striking Epicattleya Fascination, in the same pot. Both have wonderful though less so in their cultural require- which is a hybrid between Epi. cristatum flowers and, despite having once per year ments. HB showed us a normal flowered and C. guttata. I really like the colors blooming parents, can flower twice per (as opposed the peloric form she submit- on this one. I imagine it will be a tall, annum. ted last month) of Psychopsis papilio. See slender plant at maturity, and hopefully last month’s newsletter for details about should produce more flowers to the in- this species. Jon and Fi once again had florescence. I showed off Catyclia Maui their Miltoniopsis roezlii forma xanthina Chocolate, which is a cross between C. in flower. This rare yellow form of the tenebrosa and E. phoenicea. This partic- warmest growing member of that genus ular version was done by the late David is a frequent bloomer, spiking quickly on every new growth produced throughout the year. The fragrance is wonderful. Véronique showed us a nice close up of the tiny flowers of Gomesa radicans, a species from the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil that forms a large ball of narrow grassy leaves that partially JOIN THE ORCHID obscure the many to hundreds of flowers DIGEST CORPORATION it can produce. Don’t let the name fool you, the Orchid Digest is a non-profit membership-based organization dedicated to orchids. Designed to appeal to the mid-range to advanced grower, nothing beats the Orchid Digest. For just $39/year you get 4 issues of full-color, in-depth articles about orchids. The magazine is large format and the fourth issue of the year is always an extra-special edition de- voted to a single genus. For member- ship application forms contact David Mellard (404-237-1694) or visit www. orchiddigest.com to join online. Miltonopsis roezlii forma xanthina 11 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Gomesa radicans Schunkeara Big Shot ‘Hilo Sprakle’ Paph. henryanum

There were two hybrids shown that Mps. roezlii. Slipper Alliance include Brassia in their ancestry, given Michael Beers submitted a number of In slipper orchids this month Danny them a starry appearance. Jon and Fi photos this month but did not include & Dianne showed us a wonderful small showed off theirSchunkeara Big Shot the name of the orchid in the file name species plus two different primary hy- ‘Hilo Sparkle,’ AM/AOS. While original- leaving me guessing. I am, however, fairly brids made with it. Paph. henryanum, ly registered as a Beallara, things have certain that his photo number 5 is Bras- found in a very restricted area in South- changed a lot in the Oncidium Alliance sidium Urchinesque ‘Standing Tall,’ AM/ west China and only described in 1987 is since 2006 and this orchid’s current AOS. I have one of these and really enjoy a near miniature grower with compara- nothogenus name is a combination of how easy growing and freely blooming it tively large and flashy flowers notable Brassia + Miltonia + Miltonopsis + Oncid- is. Michael, next month please include for the orchid pink pouch lip and a strik- ium. The beautiful fragrance of this or- plant ID if you have it, with your photos. ing dorsal sepal that is normally green chid comes from the fact that it is 25% THANKS! peppered with an irregular pattern of large dark purple dots. To create Paph. Doll’s Kobold it was crossed with Paph. charlesworthii, which usually changes the background color of the dorsal to white and organizes the spots into verti- cal bands. For Paph. Graham Robertson, Paph. henryanum was crossed with Paph. sukhakulii, which broadens the reach of the petals and gives lots spots on both

Brassidium Urchinesque ‘Standing Tall’ Paph. Doll’s Kobold Paph. Graham Robertson AM/AOS 12 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Paph. Maudiae Paph. Chiara Paph. Charmingly Wood

Paph. godefroyae Paph. Walnut Valley Paph. Toni Semple ‘MBFII’ AM/AOS petals and dorsal. Both of these crosses which in today’s dollars would be over were registered in 1992 and were among $140! Karl Harden submitted a photo the very first group of hybrids made with of Paph. Charmingly Wood, which is an the newly introduced species. example of current breeding descend- Roy Harrow showed us a nice album ed from the normal color form of Paph. form of Paph. Maudiae. Since I wasn’t Maudiae. This orchid is a full 28 gener- able to participate in the virtual meeting ations away from the original primary in September, I’m not sure if he was us- cross in its family tree! ing the name generically as a “Maudiae Roy Harrow also showed us an exam- Type” or his plant was an actual Paph. ple of Paph. godefroyae, a species in the Maudiae (callosum x lawrenceanum), the Parvisepalum group that grows on lime- cross originally registered in 1900 and stone cliffs above the sea in Thailand. which started a breeding line that con- Some forms of this species are much tinues to produce scores of new hybrids more heavily spotted which is quite each year. The demand for these easy striking, but most with that look tend growing, easy blooming ladyslippers is to remain fairly cupped as if they never as strong as ever. Helen Weil showed us fully open. This species factors into the another album flower of similar breed- ancestry of Jon and Fi’s Paph. Walnut ing but substituting Paph. sukhakulii for Valley, which they showed us last month Paph. callosum for a somewhat wider and now is on its second bloom from the spreading flower with broader petals. same inflorescence. The cross, called Paph. Chiara was reg- I was happy to have my Paph. Toni Paph. Worthy Fred istered in 1976 and probably originally Semple ‘MBFII,’ AM/AOS in flower used the typical color forms of the par- again. It scored 83 points and was award- Worthy Fred, a nice dark example of a ents. An album form of Paph. sukhakulii ed in September 2019 at the Alabama cross between a vinicolor Maudiae type may not have been available that long Orchid Show in Birmingham. This time and Paph. charlesworthii. ago. The species itself was only described it had 5 large flowers for a very striking in 1965. My first slipper orchid ever was display. The cross is Paph. lowii x hay- the normal form of Paph. sukhakulii and naldianum and this version obviously was purchased about 1969 or 1970 from used the album forms of each species. Hausermann’s Orchids. I paid $20 for it My other entry in this group was Paph. 13 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Phal. fasciata Phal. Kenneth Schubert ‘FANGtastic Violet’ V. falcata Vandaceous Alliance We are reaching the end of the main bloom season for Vanda falcata and its hybrids. David Mellard showed us a nice example of the species itself, a version with lavender pink flowers instead of the more typical white. Danny and Dianne showed three examples of its primary hybrid with Rhyncostylis coelestis called Vandachostylis Lou Sneary. The ‘Bluebird’ form tends to have an extended bloom season from late summer into early win- Phal. Nobby’s Purple Eagle Phal. Oh Mygod ter, while the ‘Pinky’ form flowers all at once this time of year and only rarely Phalaenopsis Alliance and Fi’s Phal. Oh Mygod (note that this spikes at other times. My plant of Van. This month we had just one species is how the registered name is spelled) Lou Sneary ‘Pinky’ has been part of our represented at the meeting. Larry Kik- is only about 25% Phal. violacea even kert showed off hisPhal. fasciata with one though it is introduced multiple times open bloom on each of two inflorescenc- in the family tree. In general, all of these es. Presumably this is the same plant that prefer warmth, high humidity and fairly was in flower for the July meeting. Each shaded conditions year-round. inflorescence can continue to flower in the summer/fall bloom season for up to five years, and despite the sparsely pro- duced small blooms, this species helps to bring color and pattern into breeding lines, and so now factors into the family tree of more than 11,000 registered hy- Van. Lou Sneary ‘Bluebird’ brids. The three hybrid entries in this group for September have similar growth and flowering habits to the above but are not one of the many crosses with Phal. fascia- ta in their family three. However, they all have a heavy dose of Phal. violacea, which can be seen in their overall look. Barbara Barnett’s Phal. Nobby’s Purple Eagle is more than half that species, Danny and Dianne’s Phal. Kenneth Schubert ‘FANG- tastic Violet’ is exactly half, and Jon Van. Lou Sneary Van. Lou Sneary ‘Pinky’ (Danny & Diane’s) 14 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Van. Lou Sneary ‘Pinky’ (Mark’s)

Angraecum curwonianum

Coryhopea Hayden Dallas Miscellaneous Our members grow a surprising num- ber of unusual and rarely seen species Van. Rainbow Stars ‘Blue Charm’ and hybrids that end up in this category. I’ve spoken at orchid society meetings collection for over 25 years. My photo all over the Southeast, including Florida, shows the portion I kept after dividing and I can’t think of one event that has it up a few years ago. George Guenth- had a show table as diverse as ours is on ner’s Vandachostylis Rainbow Stars ‘Blue a regular basis. Charm’ has a more complicated family This month was no exception and one tree that involves not only Rhy. coelestis, of the most unusual entries was Doug but V. curvifolia, V. coerulea and V. sande- Hartong’s Coryhopea Hayden Dallas. The Stan. Thunder Bird riana. However, it is 3/4ths V. falcata and photo listed the grex name as Hayden the look and growth habits of that spe- Aeranthes caudata Allen, so it took me some searching to cies totally dominate the result. locate this peculiar hybrid between Cory- George also showed us Schoenorchis has a widespread habitat from Southeast anthes macarantha and Stanhopea jenischi- micrantha, a tiny flowering species that Asia through many of the mountainous ana which was only registered last year Pacific Islands and into northeastern by an individual in Winston-Salem, NC. Australia. One of the common names for The fact that Doug has three open flow- this species is The Tangled Flea Orchid! ers on a single inflorescence, on what Doug Hartong shared with us his is likely still a young plant, reflects the Aerangis curwoniana, a small species from flower count of theStanhopea parent. An shady humid mountain forests of eastern older plant might be able to produce sev- Madagascar that has comparatively huge eral more to the spike. flowers. According to Kew, this species is There were some exceptional Pleu- more properly called Angraecum curwo- rothallids exhibited by George Guenth- nianum. ner again. His Lepanthes domingensis, as Vinh Nguyen showed us another spe- the name implies, comes from the moun- cies from Madagascar, Aeranthes cauda- tains of the Dominican Republic, as well ta, which produces up to five somewhat as from neighboring Haiti. The small, but spidery, green flowers, one at a time in colorful, orange-red flowers are produced succession, from a wiry stem that can be in succession from a drooping inflores- Schoenorchis micrantha up to eighteen inches long. cence that grows out of the stem just be- 15 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Lepanthes domingensis Trisetella hoeijeri

Lepanthes x uxoria Masdevallia nigricans Dracula marsupialis low the broadly oval leaves. Another one Ecuador, but at lower, warmer elevations Down. This one has Ctsm. expansum well with colorful flowers, albeit very tiny, is where a long dry season forces the plants back in the family tree, but also four ad- his Lepanthes x uxoria. This one comes to become deciduous. In this same group, ditional species in the mix. Introduced in from cloud forests in Ecuador. All the Doug Hartong exhibited a strikingly col- 2015, there are already five AOS awards sources I looked at treated it as a species, ored hybrid from the breeding program for various plants out of the cross. but George’s file name indicates it is a of Fred Clarke (Sunset Valley Orchids We had two Coelogyne entries this natural hybrid. Since he is the expert in near San Diego) called Catasetum Double month. Larry Kikkert showed us a young this group, I’ll take his word for it. Anoth- er species from Ecuador with tiny flowers is Masdevallia nigricans, with semi-closed purple blooms striped yellow. George’s final entry from that same country is one of the most intriguing, Trisetella hoeijeri, which produces wide spreading “mous- tache” flowers that are white with red stripes in succession from wiry stems that hover over a tuft of small leaves. Jon and Fi had a Pleurothallid entry as well with their Dracula marsupialis, which also comes from Ecuador and pro- duces downward facing three pointed flowers with a pouch shaped lip. Each in- florescence can produce several flowers in succession. Jon and Fi also showed us a nicely colored Catasetum expansum. This high- ly variable species yet again comes from Ctsm. expansum Ctsm. Double Down 16 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Coel. fimbriata

Bulbo. echinolabium (Vinh’s) Zygo. Jumpin Jack

Coel. ovalis plant of Coel. fimbriata with several open flowers. This creeping, mat forming spe- cies from the mountains of Southeast Asia can produce several hundred flow- ers when grown into a specimen. Véro- nique showed us Coel. ovalis which has a Bulbo. Joni Sielaff Sobralia decora ‘Mello Spirit’ very similar looking flower to the previ- ous species but is a slightly larger grow- amateur grower of this genus, just last as a roadside wildflower in some loca- er and comes from middle elevations in year. It also includes Bulb. phalaenopsis in tions. the Himalayas and Southwestern China. the family tree so I imagine it could also We had several entries in the Habe- It too can produce specimen plants with run you out of the room with its odor. naria group. David Mellard showed off one hundred or more flowers at a given The rest of this group represented a photo of two magnificent spikes of time. terrestrial species. Larry Kikkert shared Habenaria medusa with about three doz- Both Vinh Nguyen and Larry Kikkert with us Zygopetalum Jumpin Jack, which en large spidery blooms between them. had plants of Bulbuphyllum echinolabium mixes up to five, mainly ground dwell- This species comes from Sumatra, Java, in bloom this month. Vinh’s photo gives ing species from South America. Maria Borneo and Sulawesi. He also submit- a sense of how large the flowers are even Beug-Deeg presented a very attractive- ted an image with two very nice spikes compared to a fairly large growing plant ly hued bloom of Sobralia decora ‘Mello of Habenaria Raingreen’s Ice Bird, which for the genus. The fantastic, but foul Spirit.’ The original plant garnered David has the previous species as one parent. smelling, flowers can be up to 16 inches Mellard a Certificate of Cultural Merit Nicholas Rust presented a great photo from tip to tip and each inflorescence can in September 2006 with 33 flowers open with two spikes of Hab. dentata, a species produce several in succession, with flow- at once. Since the individual flowers last from the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, The ering possible nearly any month of the only about a day, this was a major accom- Philippines, Taiwan, China and Japan. year. Nicholas Rust showed us an inter- plishment! Luckily, each growth produc- He also gave us a nice close up view of a esting hybrid that includes this species es flowers in succession to prolong the flower ofPecteilis radiata, which has often as a grandparent. Bulb. Joni Sielaff was flowering season. It is native to Mexico been classed as a Habenaria, but comes registered by Bill Thoms, a well-known and Central America where it is common from much colder climates, occurring in 17 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org October 2020

Hab. dentata

Hab. medusa Hab. Raingreen’s Ice Bird forest glades of China, Japan and Korea cool growing terrestrial species at eleva- at elevations close to 5,000 feet above tions of 300 to 1600 meters in deciduous sea level. mixed forests, bamboo forests and open Finally, Nicholas showed us a terres- grasslands with lanceolate or ovate-lan- trial species that is a first for me,Brachy - ceolate, acuminate leaves and blooms corythis helferi, and for which information in the late spring through fall on a 3” to is scarce. Jay Pfahl describes it on his or- 8” long [6 to 20 cm], erect inflorescence chid species site as “Found in Assam In- with acuminate, lanceolate floral bracts dia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and that enclose the several [to 15] flowers.” Brachycorythis helferi Laos as a small to medium sized, hot to

Pecteilis radiata