Bromeliaceae

VOLUME XXXIX - No. 6 - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 The Bromeliad Society of Queensland Inc. P. O. Box 565, Fortitude Valley Queensland, Australia 4006, Home Page www.bsq.org.au OFFICERS PRESIDENT Bob Reilly (07) 3870 8029 VICE PRESIDENT Vacant PAST PRESIDENT Wayne Lyons (07) 3202 8454 SECRETARY Karen Murday (07) 3359 2373 TREASURER Glenn Bernoth (074) 6613 634 COMMITTEE David Brown, Beryl and Jim Batchelor Joe Green, Len and OliveTrevor, Barry Kable,Doug Upton, Peter Paroz AUDITOR Anna Harris Accounting Services COMBINED SHOW COMMITTEE Bob Cross, M O’Dea N. Ryan, Bob Reilly CONVENTION COMMITTEE Greg Cuffe (Convenor) Bob Cross(Display), Wayne Lyons, Bob Reilly, Olive Trevor BROMELIACEAE EDITOR Ross Stenhouse SALES AREA STEWARD Norma Poole & Phyllis James FIELD DAY CO-ORDINATOR Nancy Kickbusch LIBRARIAN Evelyn Rees SHOW ORGANISERS Bob Cross SUPPER STEWARDS Nev Ryan, Barry Genn PLANT SALES Nancy Kickbusch (Convenor) N. Poole (Steward) COMPETITION STEWARDS Arnold James, Ruth Higgins HOSTS Joy Upton, David Brown HALL STEWARD Joy Upton, David Brown BSQ WEBMASTER Ross Stenhouse SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHERS Doug Upton, Viv Duncan LIFE MEMBERS Grace Goode OAM, Bert Wilson Peter Paroz, Patricia O’Dea Michael O’Dea

Front Cover: Tillandsia vicentina Photo by Ross Stenhouse Rear Cover : Inca Trail, Peru Photo by Andrew Tremelling

Bromeliaceae 2 NOV/DEC 2005 Contents

INFLUENCE OF GREY-LEAVED TILLANDSIA SPECIES IN HYBRID CROSSES ...... 4 BROMELIADS XIII CONFERENCE REPORT ...... 5 OH GOSH $800! ...... 6 SEE A MEMBER’S GARDEN ...... 6 PHOTOGRAPHER’S CODE ...... 6 ERRATA ...... 6 ANNUAL ...... 6 SUBSCRIPTION ...... 6 THE EDITOR’S DESK ...... 7 F1, F2 AND ALL THAT ...... 8 MORE ON VARIEGATION ...... 9 LIBRARY BOOK REVIEWS: PART 3 ...... 9 2005 SPRING SHOW ...... 11 AECHMEA ‘LALINDA’ ...... 13 NEOREGELIA ‘YELLOW DEVIL’ ...... 15 WHY NOT PURCHASE OFFSETS? ...... 16 HELMUT JESSE’S PLANTS ...... 17 NEOREGELIA CONCENTRICA AND IT’S HYBRIDS ...... 19 T. PUNCTULATA SCHLTDL. & CHAM...... 28 SOME MEDIUM-SIZED NEOREGELIAS ...... 32 AECHMEA ‘PEREZ’ ...... 40 WANTED: PHOTOGRAPHS OF YOUR SHADEHOUSE ...... 40 FOR COMPETITORS AND JUDGES ...... 42 AUTUMN SHOW ...... 45 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ...... 45 CALENDAR OF EVENTS: NOV. 2005 – FEB. 2006...... 48 NOTICE OF THE 2006 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Members are hereby notified that the Annual General Meeting of the Bromeliad Society of Queensland (Inc) will be held on Thursday, 16th of February, 2006, commencing at 8pm in the Uniting Church Hall, 52 Merthyr Road, New Farm. Business to be conducted will be: The Presidents Report. The Financial Report, Election of Society Officers, Election of the Management Committee, and Election of the Auditor. Nomination forms for positions are available on request from the Secretary. They must reach the Secretary by 5pm 1st February 2006. In the event of insufficient nominations being received for each vacancy, nominations will be called for at the general meeting. Karen Murday Secretary

The Bromeliad Society of Queensland Inc. gives permission to all Bromeliad Societies to reprint articles in their journals provided proper acknowledgement is given to the original author and the Brome- liaceae, and no contrary direction is published in Bromeliaceae. This permission does not apply to any other person or organisation without the prior permission of the author. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual contributor and may not neces- sarily reflect the opinions of the Bromeliad Society of Queensland or of the Editor Authors are responsible for the accuracy of the information in their articles.

Bromeliaceae 3 NOV/DEC 2005 unless the other parent has the same INFLUENCE OF GREY- trait….” Dimmitt (1990) p.121 LEAVED TILLANDSIA bulbosa. “….with its bulbous base and SPECIES IN HYBRID twisted, awl-shaped leaves (it) is extremely dominant. Nearly all of its hybrids look CROSSES mostly like it, to the extent that it is diffi- Author: Bob Reilly cult to recognise the other parent. It tends to dwarf the inflorescence of hybrids. The This paper is largely based on Dimmitt trait of red upper leaves at flowering does (1990), comments from Margaret Paterson, not come through well….” Dimmitt (1990) Nev Ryan and other participants at the Bro- p.121 meliad Society of Queenslands tillandsia butzii. contributes its growth habit, in- workshop in 2002, some observations from cluding size, and branched inflorescence. Karen Andreas, and feedback at the Bro- capitata. contributes the shape, size meliads XIII conference in 2005. They are and colour of its inflorescence. also generalisations. Thus, a particular concolor. “….transmits stiff leaves and cross may not exhibit the characteristics good symmetry of the rosette. The which one would expect, based on the ob- branched spikes and their bright red colour servations in this article. and/or chartreuse bracts are transmitted to albertiana contributes its growth habit offspring very well. Its progeny bloom over (including size) and petal shape/colour. It an extended period, and the bracts stay appears to be a “dominant” parent in colourful for about three months…” crosses. Dimmitt (1990) p.121 albida. “….has a caulescent habit that crocata. contributes its inflorescence’s does not show up in hybrids with size, shape and petal colour. acaulescent species, but its very long, thin didisticha. “….greatly slows the inflorescence is dominant. Its hybrids have growth of its hybrids, even with T.stricta; not been winners, but one with T. none are even close to flowering at four streptophylla is interesting. It looks like a years of age….” Dimmitt (1990) p.121 giant, acaulescent T.albida (or a white- durat. Dimmitt (1990) argued that leafed, non-curly T.streptophylla) with a duratti’s size was not evident in its hybrids. very tall, branched, narrow inflorescence This statement is not universally true. For with reddish bracts and pale blue flow- example, Wonga (durattii x mallemontii) ers….” Dimmitt (1990) p.121 is much closer in size to duratii, than baileyi. contributes its size, growth mallemontii. Dimmitt stated that duratii habit, and inflorescence shape. contributes stiff, succulent, heavily lepidote bergeri. contributes its size and growth leaves to its hybrids. This is not universally habit. true e.g. see Wonga and Goomong (duratii brachycaulos. “….contributes soft, x stricta) neither of which have succulent green leaves. It also greatly shortens or usu- –like leaves. ally completely suppresses the elongated Dimmitt (1990) continues “…Its spike of another parent. The bright red (duratii) green primary and flower bracts leaves at maturity do not come through well Continued on page 31 Bromeliaceae 4 NOV/DEC 2005 at the field trip destinations to make con- BROMELIADS XIII ference delegates welcome. CONFERENCE REPORT The bromeliad displays were an impres- (by Bob Reilly) sive feature of the conference. They in- cluded displays from individual bromeliad Over 200 people attended the confer- enthusiasts, societies, and commercial ence. They came from overseas (New Zea- growers. land and the United States of America) and Nev Ryan mounted an excellent tilland- from around Australia. The attendance of sia display featuring clumps of Tillandsia over 20 people from New Zealand was par- tectorum, ionantha, ionantha ‘Druid’, and ticularly welcome. lorentziana. Bewitching Bromeliads, pre- Talks were given at the conference by pared by Lynn Hudson, had a “witch” Australian and overseas speakers. theme. As well as witch dolls and black cat Bruno Da Silva from Brazil spoke on a figurines, there were guzmanias, vrieseas, range of technically-oriented topics includ- tillandsias, billbergias and aechmeas in the ing: Studies in Ananas and Aechmea, and display. a revision of the genus Bromelia. David Doug Upton and Dorothy Cutcliffe had Shigii from Hawaii covered several topics a lovely display of vrieseas and neorege- including: Hawaiian bromeliad hybridists lias. Of particular interest, were flowering and their hybrids; and the work of John plants of Vriesea ospinae var. gruberi and Arden, a prominent American hybridist. Neoregelia ‘Johannis de Rolf”. Barry and Andrew Steens from New Zealand gave Ann Kable’s display featured well grown a presentation on New Zealand bromeliad neoregelias in hanging pots suspended gardens. Australian speakers and their top- from a galvanised pipe framework. These ics were: Bob Reilly on how to maximise were “balanced” by a bed of neoregelias, your chances of successfully importing vrieseas, and billbergias. bromeliads into Australia, Olive Trevor dis- Andy Stalens had an eye-catching dis- cussed some recent bromeliad importations play of flowering Tillandsia aeranthos, into Queensland, Arno King talked about bergeri, and schiediana plants. Shane the genus Alcantarea, while John Catlan Zaghini’s display consisted of a bed of discussed factors influencing leaf coloura- brightly-coloured neoregelias. I was par- tion in neoregelias. ticularly impressed by the white-centred The audience appreciated these speak- neoregelias – some of which were pure ers’ presentations. The general view was white, while others had green and pink that there was something for everyone in spots on a white background. the presentations, and they presented a Lyn Grubb’s display was centred wide range of useful information. around a galvanised pipe festooned with Field trips were made to the Roma hanging pots of neoregelias, while under- Street Gardens and the Mt Coot-the Botanic neath were cryptanthus, which are rarely Gardens, the Olive Branch, and Mike seen in Queensland. The centrepiece of Symmons’ nursery. All who attended ap- Cheryl Basic’s display was an Alcantarea preciated the wide range of bromeliads on imperalis and an Aechmea “Blue Tango’. display and the efforts made by everyone Continued on page 30 Bromeliaceae 5 NOV/DEC 2005 Oh Gosh $800! ANNUAL The following extract is from the latest issue of “Brom Watch” published by Rob SUBSCRIPTION Smythe in Townsville. The story was re- porting on the plant auction at the recent Membership fees ($15-Single, $20- Bromeliads XIII conference. Family, $30-Overseas) are due and “A variegated Vr. Red Chestnut went payable on the 1st January 2006. for $800 with very interesting bidding $100, Prompt payment will greatly assist $200, $300, $400, $500, $501, the Treasurer and Secretary. Mem- $502,$503,$504,$505,$506,$507,$800. bers who have not paid their annual The auctioneer nearly had a seizure as fees, will not receive any further cop- his wife won the bid. “ ies of Bromeliaceae after the Janu- I can’t help speculating who the auc- ary-February 2006 edition. tioneer was. Ed Karen Murday Secretary See a Member’s Garden At the October meeting the call was put Photographer’s Code out for members who were prepared to RS : Ross Stenhouse have fellow members visit them and look DU : Doug Upton at their garden. These garden owners should RSm: Rob Smythe be able to answer many of the questions BB : Beryl Batchelor that newer members may have, or simply PF: P Franklin showin a practical situation how things are HJ: Hulmet Jesse done. DB: Derek Butcher If you are prepared to have fellow mem- AT: Andrew Tremelling bers pay you a visit, please contact the So- ciety Secretary or the Editor. We are hop- Errata ing that we end up with a number of vol- From the Sept/Oct edition of Brome- unteers scattered over the SEQ region (and liaceae further afield if possible). The names and Page 8 - The article titled ‘Plant Labels’ is contact details will be published in a list in by Don Woods, not his son Andrew Woods each edition of Bromeliaceae. Page 14 - caption should read Vriesea ‘Elfi’ The first volunteer is: not ‘Elfin’ Nancy Kickbusch, The Gap, Brisbane Page 33 - Fig 3 - The plant should be cap- Phone (07) 3300 1704 tioned Tillandsia selerlana

GENERAL MEETINGS are held on the third Thursday of each month except for December, at the Uniting Hall, 52 Merthyr Road, NewFarm, Brisbane, commenc- ing 8 pm.. Classes for beginners commence at 7.30 pm. FIELD DAYS are held regularly in the gardens of members as advised. MEMBERSHIP FEES: Family $20, Single $15 pa The BSQ web page can be accessed at w.w.w.bromsqueensland.org.au

Bromeliaceae 6 NOV/DEC 2005 The Editor’s Desk Being the editor of this journal is a great site. Have a look at the site, it changes of- job. You sure do get a lot of feedback and ten! most is positive, however I have to tell you Apart from the obvious use to mem- my hardest critic is myself. As soon as I bers as a source of up to date news, the site get my copy of Bromeliaceae through the also serves the purpose of being a resource mail and start to read it, immediately all the that editors of magazines or newsletters can mistakes seem so obvious, yet they have access for stories. been past three proof-readers and myself Editors of the smaller societies some- in the laying out stage. We try very hard to times struggle to obtain content for their get it right but those errors do seem to slip journals. Articles published in this journal in and are extremely difficult to eliminate. are also on the society’s web site in a form The letters to the editor section is a bit that makes them easily downloadable (use bigger than usual this issue and contains a cut and paste). Images are published in two number of interesting contributions. I places, some accompany the articles, oth- would like to particularly thank those who ers are available in the image gallery. made the effort. Its always interesting to read the feature articles, but my gut feel is Editor Ross Stenhouse that most people get a kick out of reading Photography see code that section. As it develops, my opinion is Mail Out R & B Pugh that people will look at the photographs, Contributors Bob Reilly read the “Letters to the Editor” and then Peter Paroz go on to read the rest of the journal. So Olive Trevor please keep the section alive and well by Rob Smythe taking the time to drop us a line, email or Hulmet Jessee hard copy is OK. Margaret Draddy I would like to remind the reader that Carmel Cullen the Society has a web site at http:// Mike Symmons www.bromsqueensland.com. This is still a Andrew Tremelling temporary IP address until the old IP ad- Lyn Hudson dress can be repointed at the new hosting Hulmet Jesse Bromeliaceae Copy Deadlines Jan/Feb...... December 5th, 2005 Mar/Apr...... February 5th, 2006 May/June...... April 5th, 2006 Please forward all copy and photographs to: The Editor, 15 Timbarra Crescent, Jindalee, Qld 4075 Phone: 07 3376 5558 Email: [email protected] Electronic copy RTF or MSWord 7.0 or earlier - Times New Roman

Bromeliaceae 7 NOV/DEC 2005 to a superior specimen selected from a F1, F2 and All That batch of species seedlings. ?? By Peter Peroz A. (Derek Butcher) There will always be discussions on At the September general meeting, there seed raising. Although not defined, Benz- was a lively discussion as to the definition ing suggests that a species is a collection of plants that can reproduce themselves from of F1 and F2 bromeliad hybrids. My refer- ence in these matters is ‘A Dictionary of seed. A variety does the same. But this Biology’ by Abercrombie, Hickman & seems to be ignored by some taxonomists; Johnson. for example a variety called variegata! If a species does not reproduce from seed with- “ F1 (First Filial Generation) The off- spring resulting from crossing plants or in the species description, then the plant is a hybrid in my view. animals of parental generation (P1) from which an experiment starts. If you have a stable species crossed with any stable species, then it is a primary hy- F2 (Second Filial Generation) The off- spring resulting from crossing members of brid or F1. Remember that some taxa are described as species but are natural hy- the F1 generation among themselves.” ………… brids!! All other crossings are secondary F2,

Back Cross. (Usually applied to animal or tertiary F3 etc. Varieties that are intra-spe- breeding) The crossing of a plant with a cies and are crossed cause a bit of a dilem- plant from an earlier parental generation. ma but if the progeny are within the spe- (Used to try to intensify a desirable trait) cies description then surely they should be Reverse (Reciprocal) Cross A cross identified as such. For example how did from the same parents; exchanging the role ‘Pickinny’ come into being?. If you grow of seed and pollen parent. this from self set seed and you don’t get ………… seedlings like ‘Pickinny’ but within Ae. or- landiana species description, then surely Primary Cross The F1 generation. ………… these are Ae. orlandiana. David Benzing, in his book ‘ The Biol- Cultivar names should only be given if ogy of Bromeliads’ has an excellent chap- they have features that make them out- ter on bromeliad hybridisation (page 266). standing from the ‘normal’ species. Varie- Although published in 1980, his comments gated plants really stand out but some of are still relevant. Recommended reading for the other ones that are given Cultivar names a newcomer to bromeliads interested in cre- make you wonder if the person really ating bromeliad hybrids. knows the species or are after a quick buck. Q. (Peter Paroz) A cultivar is not necessarily a hybrid but all What is the status of crosses between hybrids are cultivars! two varieties of a species ?? My understanding is that the progeny Remember Membership would not constitute a hybrid. However under the present naming rules for hybrids, Fees are Due! these can be registered with a hybrid name!! Also, I gather that this could apply Bromeliaceae 8 NOV/DEC 2005 MORE ON LIBRARY BOOK VARIEGATION REVIEWS: PART 3 (by Bob Reilly) (by Bob Reilly)

In articles which have appeared ear- The Society has an extensive library of lier in 2005 in Bromeliaceae, mention was books which are available for borrowing by made of several bromeliads which display members who attend the monthly meet- variable variegation. ings. Some of these books are now “out The photographs (see page 12) accom- of print”, which means you cannot buy a panying this article illustratethe first of these copy (unless you’re fortunate enough to plants: obtain a second-hand one). • Neoregelia ‘Chilli Verde’ This plant In this article, two “out of print” books grows well in garden borders, as well as in held by the library are reviewed. pots. The plant’s rosette is about 15 cm Tillandsia by Paul Isley. Published by across. The leaves are a mixture of green Botanical Press, Gardena, California in and cream in colouration, sprinkled with 1987. small red spots. The accompanying pho- The book has 256 pages, over 200 col- tographs show the wide range of variega- our photographs, and about 150 black and tion in different plants of this hybrid, as well white photographs and illustrations. as the variation in variegation between In the book’s first chapter, a brief over- leaves on an individual plant. view is given on how to grow tillandsias. • Vriesea ‘Highway Beauty’ This While written from a North American per- plant’s rosette is about 70 cm wide and 30 spective, nearly all of the material is rele- cm high. Typically, a broad, cream coloured vant to Queensland’s growing conditions. stripe runs length-wise up the centre of each The second chapter describes about 70 green leaf. However, the variegation pat- tillandsias and 1 grey-leaved Vriesea (es- tern in individual leaves can vary signifi- pinosae), in detail. There are usually 2 or 3 cantly from this “standard”. colour photographs of each plant, includ- There are many other examples of bro- ing one showing details of its inflorescence. meliads showing variable variegation. As only a few of the plants’ names have While this variation can be very interest- changed since the book was published, ing, it is best to see the variegated plant you most are still accurate. are buying, if possible, so as to ensure A description of each plants’ appear- you’re getting the bromeliad you really ance (including inflorescence) is provided. want. As botanical terms are used, some readers may find this material a bit “dry”. If you have this view, then the colour photographs Cultivar: A plant produced in cultiva- are adequate to gain an appreciation of each tion as opposed to one growing in habitat; plant’s appearance. The native habitat, and a horticultural clone or strain. A plant type cultural requirements, of each plant are de- within a cultivated species that has recog- scribed in non-technical language. nisably different characteristics. Most of the plants discussed are readi- Bromeliaceae 9 NOV/DEC 2005 ly available in Queensland. Examples in- a “package” consisting of a booklet con- clude: aeranthos, albertiana, atroviridip- taining the English text and the Spanish or etala, bergeri, brachycaulos, bulbosa, German editions). caput-medusae, crocata, cyanea, duratii, The book has 272 pages and over 1,000 fasiculata, ionantha, juncea, paucifolia, high-quality photographs. Many of these pseudobaileyi, schiedeana, stricta, tenui- were taken in the Baenschs’ garden, called folia, and xiphioides. Tropic Beauty, in the Bahamas. The book then describes, in a summa- Blooming Bromeliads opens with a rised form, the contribution of a number description of Tropic Beauty, followed by of botanists, explorers, and other people to short biographies of some of the botanists, the discovery, classification, and promotion explorers and nurserymen who have had a of bromeliads in general, and tillandsias in significant “impact” on the bromeliad particular. world. Some of the Baenschs’ travels in The next chapter provides an overview search of bromeliads in the northern part of botanical classification and nomencla- of South America, and Mexico, are then ture, with a particular emphasis on tilland- described. sias. A particularly useful item is a pronun- This test is illustrated by a large number ciation guide to botanical Latin. Such in- of colour photographs, including ones of formation is useful to all bromeliad grow- some rare bromeliads. An overview of the ers. botanical classification of bromeliads, and Chapter 6 discusses, in a relatively non- their ecology, is then provided. technical manner, aspects of the evolution The main part of the book deals with of tillandsias and their biology. The cultur- individual bromeliads. Mainly species, rath- al implications of the tillandsias’ biology, er than hybrid, are discussed. There is a for example, for watering requirements, are photograph (sometimes several) of each particularly useful. plant, accompanied by a very brief descrip- This book is a good example of the suc- tion of its appearance, natural habitat and, cessful “linking” of scientific information sometimes, other information. About 200 concerning bromeliads, with their cultural aechmeas are treated in this manner, 33 bill- requirements. bergias, 36 crytanthus, 64 guzmanias, 80 If you are interested in growing tilland- neoregelias, 21 nidulariums, 11 quesnelias, sias, and especially the species described around 120 tillandsias, over 70 vrieseas and in chapter 2, then this book is well worth more than 150 of other genera. reading. A chapter on bromeliads’ cultural re- BLOOMING BROMELIADS quirements (largely written from a Europe- The book’s authors are Ulrich and Ur- an/North American perspective) then fol- sula Baensch. This book was published by lows. The origin of many bromeliads’ Ulrich and Ursula Baensch in 1994 through names, and a glossary of botanical terms Tropic Beauty Publishers in the Bahamas. concludes the book. While the English edition of this book is The material on bromeliads’ cultural “out of print”, Spanish and German edi- requirements needs to be treated with some tions are still available through overseas’ caution, because of the differences between distributors. (Also available from them, is Queensland and European/North American Bromeliaceae 10 NOV/DEC 2005 conditions. Also, the way in which plant In the Society’s display, a bromeliad photographs are “linked” to the text can be tree was surrounded by billbergias, somewhat confusing until one becomes guzmanias, and aechmeas. In the front of familiar with the approach. Another rela- the display, were small guzmanias, tively minor drawback with the book’s lay- cryptanthus, and a spectacular Neophytum out is that plants are not presented in al- ‘Galactic Warrior’. Other exceptional plants phabetical order. If you are looking for a were lovely flowering specimens of Bill- particular plant, the easiest way is to look bergia alfonsii-johannis and a variegated up the book’s index, and then refer to the Aechmea marie-reginae. text. Beautiful floral displays of guzmania The book’s great strength is its many and vriesea infloresences flanked the Soci- colour photographs. Blooming Bromeliads ety’s display. contains photographs of many species Neoregelias are at their best at this time which are seldom seen in other publica- of the year, and their beauty was highlighted tions. For example, the book presents many in a display of hybrids and species. Some rare aechmeas, and species from the rarer “stand-out” plants for me were: ‘Lanarch’s (in cultivation) genera, such as Canistrum, Pride’, ‘Painted Delight’, and ‘Royal Bur- Hohenbergia, Pitcairnia, and Portea. gundy x Pink Sensation’. Overall, this book is well worth reading. An innovation for this year was a dis- play of bromeliad photographs organised by Ross Stenhouse. Three people supplied 2005 SPRING SHOW photographs, all of which attracted a lot of (by Bob Reilly) interest. There were “portrait” photographs Over 1,000 people attended the Soci- (one of Pitcairnia smithiorium was par- ety’s 2005 Spring Show. This was a good ticularly striking), a “mosaic” of bromeliad result considering the wet (but very wel- photographs, and photos of bromeliad come!) weather experienced during the trees. event. As always, the sales’ area drew a lot of The Sunshine Coast Bromeliad Soci- interest. ety’s display featured alcantareas e.g. There were over 300 neoregelia species vinicolor, and extensa, and foliage vrieseas and hybrids on sale. As well as new re- e.g. hieroglyphica, gigantea and leases, there were many old favourites. It fosteriana. They were complemented by was good to see a nice selection of flowering vrieseas, guzmanias, and ne- nidulariums—perhaps the best range seen oregelias. in recent years. There was also plenty of The centre piece of the Gold Coast Suc- flowering vrieseas, and guzmanias, as well culent and Bromeliad Society’s display was as a good range of the popular alcantareas. formed by canistrums, werahauias, and Thanks are due to the many people who vrieseas. They were surrounded by helped out in various ways on the week- aechmeas and neoregelias. Interesting end, as well as the people who supplied plants included: Werauhia kupperiana, plants for the displays and the sales’ area. Pitcairnia burle-marxii, and Vriesea ‘Gal- Without their support, events such as these axy’ (a variegated form of V. glutinosa). would not happen. Bromeliaceae 11 NOV/DEC 2005 Aechmea ‘Lalinda’ PF Aechmea ‘Lalinda’ PF

Neo. ‘Chilli Verde’ - Three different plants, three defferent effects. RS Bromeliaceae 12 NOV/DEC 2005 was an impressive 47cm long piece of plant Aechmea ‘Lalinda’ with an 8cm mace on the top! by Derek Butcher Ivy had a band-aid on her hand and it was said that her secateurs AND husband In 1994 Len Colgan brought in to a Norm were still in the clump of vegetation South Australian Society meeting a flow- when she left home. If you have seen Ivy’s ering Aechmea ornata var. nationalis. It backyard you’ll know what I mean. was the first time we had seen an Aech- So the TRUE Aechmea ornata var. mea ornata in flower in South Australia hoehneana is in South Australia, and I as- so it was quite an event. The fact that the sume Australia, for anyone with the space plant was variegated led us to accept the and inclination to grow it. Oh! I forgot to fact that the flower head was not up to tell you. The leaves can be over 1 metre long the usual size and standard we expect and are stiff with a point on the end. from Len . If you have a smallish plant with flop- So it was a bit of a surprise when Ivy py leaves about 30cm long, a shortish scape Kirby telephoned and said she had Aech- with red floppy bracts 5-6cm long, a cone mea ornata in flower. We do have a plant shaped flower head admittedly with blue called A. ornata var. hoehneana which had flowers but with long red floral bracts with been around in Australia for the previous a little whisker at the top (mucro) instead 20 years or so and origin was unknow, but of chunky short green bracts with a really which is clearly within that A. gamosepa- long whisker THEN you ain’t got the true la/cylindrata group. So I had this in mind Aechmea ornata var. hoehneana. Your while nodding my head and agreeing with plant is clearly in the Ortgiesia group. everything Ivy said. But then she men- tioned vivid red, upright, spiky leaves un- Meanwhile in 1992 Peter Franklin of derneath the blue flower head and I real- Raymond Terrace, had obtained a certain ised perhaps I should not have been so pat- Aechmea lalindei , now growing under his ronising. Subsequent phone calls were re- number PAF1259, from Joe Rigby who in ceived mainly for my wife Margaret but turn had got it from Keith Golinski in mention was still made of the said plant Queensland. Peter even sent me photos. doing its thing. Here was my bogus Aechmea ornata var. Finally on December 15th Ivy got fed hoehneana !! Peter and I were in agreement up with the lack of action of the Secretary that the plant just had to be an Ortgiesia and dumped a complete inflorescence on close to A. cylindrata. his desk in his DEN just when he was trans- We knew that Aechmea lalindei was the lating the description of Tillandsia tephro- old name for a male Aechmea mariae-re- phylla from Latin to English. A cockroach ginae so whoever had identified it as this, jumped out of the inflorescence so papers was from the ‘old’ school. How the same flew for a short while. Mind you, the inflo- plant got two names, admittedly both hav- rescence was post floral, with black bits ing cone shaped inflorescences and bluish hanging where the beautiful blue flowers petals, beggars the imagination. However, would have been. The long red spiky scape we must remember that there was little Bro- bracts up to 30cm long were still red so it meliad literature to refer to, in those days. Bromeliaceae 13 NOV/DEC 2005 Neoregelia ‘Yellow Devil’ DB

Guzmania albarosea HJ Hohenbergia stellata 'Red' HJ (See supporting description submitted by Helmut on these two plants - page 17) Bromeliaceae 14 NOV/DEC 2005 Anyway, we convinced Keith Golinski that on-line Cultivar Register in Cultivar Cor- his plant was one of THOSE Aechmea cy- ner at http://BSI.org we will see: lindrata. Aechmea lalindei did not appear Neoregelia ‘Sun King’ – a cultivar of in the promotional CD for Bromagic in cruenta. Very large with broad leaves – 1997. It was somewhat in limbo because it yellow in bright light – red tips to leaves – was an A. cylindrata with a distinctive rosette flattens out almost completely at shape and our experience has shown that anthesis with inflorescence rising on stalk there are more hybrids in this Aechmea sub- in center – will easily take full sun in most genus Ortgiesia than we had at first real- areas. ised. We feel that the name ‘Lalinda’ should Butcher’s comment - This sounds like be preserved as a Cultivar name. a cultivar of N. johannis to me but no pho- to available. Neoregelia ‘Yellow Devil’ Neoregelia ‘Lucky Strike’. By J El- by Derek Butcher more. (‘Sun King’ x kautskyi) Large pro- lific upright rosette - yellow green in col- There is a Neoregelia being grown in our with distinctive peppermint red linea- Queensland under the name of ‘Sun King’ tions and stripes on the outside of the 4 inch which has reddish stripes on the back of wide leaves - loses striping in bloom as en- the leaves. Preliminary investigations have tire plant suffuses coral-red - 12 inches tall revealed that the Cultivar Register 1998 and 25 inches across - scarlet-red rounded says that ‘Sun King’ is a form of N. cruen- apiculate tips. Photo by James Elmore held ta and was used extensively by James El- on the Register and shows a flowering plant more to produce many hybrids. Regretta- which is not as dramatic as the description! bly we have very few photographic records Neoregelia ‘Yellow Devil’ By J Elmore. of Elmore’s hybrids to help in identifica- (‘Sun King’ x kautskyi) Medium upright tion. plant resembling cruenta – upreaching It is said that Grace Goode named Ne- leaves in yellow green with tiny red spots. oregelia ‘Sun King’ for a plant she received Photo on the Register is from the 2000 from a Chuck in the USA but I know that WBC at San Francisco and shows a plant Grace only names her own hybrids. Let us with stripes! now look at Shane Zaghini’s Neoregelia Other Cultivars with same parentage are book where he shows a photo of N. cruen- ‘Bonanza’, ‘Eureka’, ‘Gold Dust’, Gold- ta x corcia and we know that Shane pays en Nugget’, and ‘Yukon’ none of which are scant attention to spelling. I believe that the described or photographs available. Queensland ‘Sun King’ is the same plant. I To call the Queensland plant Neorege- had thought that ‘corcia’ was a wrong lia ‘Sun King’ is erroneous if only because spelling of coriacea but I now believe it to it seems to be a hybrid rather than a culti- be kautskyi . Why, I hear you ask! I think var of a species, and it needs another name. the plant came into Australia as Neorege- The only description from above that men- lia cruenta ‘Sun King’ x kautskyi. Some tions the red lines is ‘Lucky Strike’. I be- reduced the label to read ‘Sun King’ while lieve its overall reddening is cultural and others mis-spelt kautskyi wonder if this would happen to the Queens- If we now refer to this parentage in the land plant in some collections. Bromeliaceae 15 NOV/DEC 2005 This matter needs to be resolved and of maintain. With offsets you have the op- Rob Smythe of Townsville has suggested portunity to exercise greater control over that the plant looks closest to N. ‘Yellow the eventual appearance of the plant. Sure- Devil’ if only for the yellow green leaves. ly this must be an advantage. We know that in the 1980’s Pam Koide was Of course many of us don’t enter com- offering ‘Yellow Devil’ and we know that petitions, we grow bromeliads because of prior to this, the Elmore collection, on their natural beauty. In many cases the tech- James’s death, had been purchased by two nical challenges of trying to grow a speci- Californians. This could well be how the men-quality plant are sufficient to maintain plant came to be in California for the World our interest. In my case my interest in bro- Conference. meliads is coupled with a love of taking I will be noting the Cultivar Register that photographs of the flowers. I am interest- ‘Yellow Devil’ can have red stripes to link ed in having plants that photograph well. with the Californian clone. This leaves it Of course there are only so many images clear to call the Australian ‘Sun King’ by you can take of one plant, so the hunt is the name ‘Yellow Devil’ and ask you note always on for new genera, species, and your label accordingly . hybrids to photograph. Cost is always a If you know of any other information factor because it’s not only the cost of the regarding this plant or our calculated guess, plant, but the cost of the photography as please let me know or perhaps they could well. contact: Robert S Smythe I have observed that mainly the plants [email protected] are offered for sale when in flower. This of- fers the purchaser the opportunity of see- Why Not Purchase Offsets? ing exactly what they are buying. Many Author: Ross Stenhouse offsets look similar when young, making precise plant identification difficult. The old I pose the question above quite serious- marketing adage of ‘sell the steak on the ly. At a recent society management com- sizzle and not the flavour’ seems to be com- mittee, I heard that there is a rule that says ing into play. In the age of the 10 minute that you must have owned a plant for three fix, by buying mature plants we are able to months before you can enter it in competi- establish our gardens quickly without the tions. Not being a person who goes in for need to be patient and wait for the plants the competitive aspect of bromeliad grow- to grow. This could be yet another reason ing I hadn’t really worried about the finer to buy mature plants. aspects of belonging to the society. Of However, there is another factor that we course, this rule makes a lot of sense be- should look at, and that is cost. Offsets be- cause without such a rule you might be ing much younger plants, don’t have the getting credit for what is largely someone same investment in time and effort on the else’s achievement. part of the grower. Its reasonable to expect This got me thinking - why do people that this reduction in effort is reflected in purchase mature plants? Mature plants are the purchase price. How often do you find established, their appearance and vitality yourself in the position of having a plant has largely been determined, it’s just a case that is producing offsets but you don’t have Bromeliaceae 16 NOV/DEC 2005 room in your shade house to pot them and grow them on? Why not sell the offsets Folks Like You unpotted or pot a few and sell them at the submitted by Margaret Draddy next society meeting? Put a little market- There is a list of folks I know ing expertise into play and download an im- All written in a book age off the web, print it out and attach it to And every year at Christmas time the plant as an indication of what the pur- I go and take a look chaser can expect when the plant matures. And that is when I realise My personal opinion is that pricewise That these names are a part, an unpotted offset should be worth about Not of the book they are written in one third the price of a mature plant. Many But part of my heart. mature plants sell for around the $8-9 price For each name stands for someone point at society meetings, so an unpotted Who has touched my life sometime offset should sell for maybe $2.50 to $3.00. And in that meeting they have become By selling offsets we are providing a way Etched forever in my mind. for members to expand their collections and For once you have known someone providing a way for beginners to get started The years cannot erase. without expending a lot of money. What is The memory of a pleasant word, your opinion? Or of a friendly face. So never think of my Christmas cards HELMUT JESSE’S PLANTS Are just a mere routine Of names upon a list. The following is a contribution sent in To be forgotten in between by Helmut and relates to two photographs For when I send a Christmas card (on page 14) also submitted by the author. That is addressed to you Guzmania albarosea is not a well It is because you are on the list known species. It was obtained many years That I am indebted to ago from ‘Forest Drive Nursery’. It’s a fair- And whether I known you for many ly large plant with a beautiful flower spike years in pink and white, flowering every second Or even just a few, year and lasting at least four months. The In some ways you have had a part photographed plant was grown in Ather- In shaping the things that I do. ton, North Queensland. So every year when Christmas comes Hohenbergia stellata ‘Red’ is fairly I just realise anew common and can be fount in most collec- The biggest gift that God can give, tions. It has a tall single flower spike last- Is knowing folks like you. ing for many months. After flowering for about 10 years every second year around Adventitious: Produced out of unusu- May, last year it produced five separate al or abnormal places, such as some roots flower spikes without any special reason. I or buds, or from stems or leaves. Often used wonder if that has been recorded else- in connection with offsets from broms such where? The plant was grown in Atherton, as Alcantarea extensa. Normal offsets are North Queensland. usually produced after flowering Bromeliaceae 17 NOV/DEC 2005 Neoregelia ‘Hugo’ RSm Neoregelia ‘Gee Whiz’ RSm

Neo. 'Two Tone x Perfection' RSm Neo. 'Serendipity Girl' RSm Bromeliaceae 18 NOV/DEC 2005 Neoregelia concentrica and it’s blade kinks and points downward. This is the reason why many neoregelias are so flat. Hybrids In the better forms of concentrica the turned Special interest — the large banded Neos. up area is short so all the blades pack closely by Rob Smythe giving the plant a very attractive and full I will restrict this article to those plants appearance. One of the best marked and found in my own garden as otherwise the shaped neos in my garden is Neo. ‘Hugo’ article could be too long. For most of the a clone of concentrica. Unfortunately in the plants discussed, I have supplied photos to tropics this species is reluctant to flower and the editor. It would be unlikely that he will I don’t have the inclination to destroy its find room for all of these. Missing ones can meristem with a screw driver, so pups are be seen on the fcbs site 1. as infrequent as one in five years. We do Neoregelia concentrica can be identi- grow very large plants as a consequence. fied by most growers on sight though this One of my Neo . concentrica plants is 80 1 won’t be so easy in the future with so cm across. Neo. ‘Monty’ is another excit- many variegated crosses reverting to the ing concentrica clone that just appeared as non-variegated forms e.g .Neo ‘Bruiser’, a sport in my garden . The sport was on the Neo. ‘Flesh’ and Neo.‘Chirripo’. Neo. type form of Neo.concentrica. It can grow ‘Bruiser’ is a very moody plant producing with every leaf coming out pure white. Who great variation in its variegates. The non said there were no albino bromeliads that variegated sports are already easily mistak- survive? One of my two plants gets some en, in my garden, for concentrica. Growers very narrow ribbons of green while the oth- accept the variations in this species but for er has pure white leaves. Why does this alba some mystical reason, I still hear growers survive while others die? The answer can arguing on correct pronunciation. Is it pro- be seen in your own garden. Look at your nounced concentric-a, just as you say con- variegated forms of Neo. concentrica and centric circles or is it pronounced concen- you will see the white variegations disap- TRIC-a with emphasis on the TRIC? There pear as the plant’s leaves age. The white is no argument both pronunciations are areas go green allowing enhanced photo- correct . As we are English speaking we synthesis. The same happens with ‘Mon- prefer the first pronunciation. If we were ty’. With ‘Monty’ this presents a problem non English speaking the Latin type pro- as two of the three pups did not develop nunciation would most likely be preferred. green in the older leaves quick enough to My description of concentrica is that it survive. We are lucky in Townsville to have usually has very thick leaves, moderately probably the highest light levels in coastal large black spines and is a rather flat plant. Australia. Putting together daylight hours It can have excellent shape or can be quite and intensity of light I think we win hands open towards the centre. It obviously has down. Maybe the intensity of light has no lots of concentric rings. The leaf is a little bearing as broms have a limit to how much unusual in that it has a rather flat blade light they can process in a day. This is called which curves dramatically upwards on ei- ‘Saturation Point’ and means that if there ther side as it approach the base. Try this is more light than is needed to process the out with a strip of paper. You will find the intake of carbon dioxide it is wasted. This Bromeliaceae 19 NOV/DEC 2005 Neoregelia 'Iris' RSm Neoregelia 'Camelot' RSm

Neoregelia 'Beetroot' RSm Neoregelia 'Isabel Sport' RSm Bromeliaceae 20 NOV/DEC 2005 gardening success is offset by Townsville marmorata concentrica so really it should also having the highest skin cancer inci- have its own name. I now call my spotted dence in the world. Neo.‘Chirripo’— Neo. ‘Cherry Jam2’. Using exclusively Neo concentrica Have a look at my photo supplied. N. ‘Chir- with Neoregelia carolinae as parents, we ripo’ is the one on the right hand side. No get variegates which do not lose variega- one will convince me that it is a primary tions with age. This is a sure way of sepa- cross between Neo. concentrica and Neo. rating a true variegated N. concentrica from carolinae. Like Neo. ‘Cherry Jam’ beside a look alike hybrid. Some of these crosses it, it must have Neo. marmorata in it’s are very flat e.g. Neo.‘Chirripo’ (50% con- makeup to provide the spots. It’s only hu- centrica) while some are not flat e.g. Neo. man nature to mix up tags. You might find ‘Flesh’ (75% concentrica). By % I mean this hard to believe but I saw a whole nurs- % parentage rather than % genetics. With ery (not broms) blown away in a cyclone. primary crosses there is no difference in Next week the hundreds of seedlings were these terms but with complex crosses all back in lines with labels in place. It does breeders like myself line breed. We are look- help to know what you are working with ing for special characteristics which may but I do remember one excellent American come primarily from one parent. Say for breeder saying, “Well if you want a green example we selfed Neo. ‘Chirripo’. We still flowered plant it often comes down to try- have involved only the two species equally ing crossing a yellow with a blue.” I am sure but we can theoretically predict, that a seed- this was tongue in cheek as understanding ling could be 100 % concentrica . Actually anthocyanin (colour) production in plants one chance in 226 which is one chance in is quite different to ‘paint box’ methods. A 67 million. This would be line breeding to classical example is in the family Or- the extreme i.e. chasing a pure concentri- chidacae where there is a species where you ca. Usually we would be looking for plants can take one plant, self it and all progeny like concentrica with added features from are white. Take another plant of the same the second parent. species self it and all progeny are white also. When making a cross, understanding Cross any of the first set of seedlings with the breeding of the parents can help but any one of the second set and all progeny wrong registration or incorrectly labelled are coloured lavender-blue. Two things can plants can cause problems. Look for exam- be learnt from this. Firstly same species ple, Neo. ‘Chirripo’ has one form, found don’t all have the same genotype. Two, you in collections which is heavily spotted. It need two different genes to be present to is registered as a primary cross between develop colour. For the plants mentioned Neo. carolinae and Neo. concentrica. I above each of the original plants had two believe the plant shown on fcbs without sets of one of the two sets required for col- spots (photo by Skotak the breeder) has to our production. Knowing this I can never be the true ‘Chirripo ‘, and is not the same understand why bromeliad taxonomists as the spotted ‘Chirripo’ in many of our insist on using flower colours to separate collections. The spotted form I believe some species. would have the same parentage as Neoregelia ‘Hugo’ Neo.‘Cherry Jam’ i.e . Neo. carolinae x This stunning plant precipitated my Bromeliaceae 21 NOV/DEC 2005 writing of this article. This is the most beau- biguous for current hybridists to use. It does tiful clone of Neo. concentrica that I have not tell us what cross was actually done. seen. Note the sharp markings and the wide Most people think it just means selfing. The flat blades. In the north unfortunately it is easiest thing for me to do is give examples. a bit of a collectors item. I don’t think it is Let me define P1 as the single parent well known outside the north. (used in the selfing) as being Neo. ‘Lost in Neoregelia ‘Decora’ 1 Space’ see above. This selfing of Neo. ‘Lost This is a primary hybrid between Neo. in Space’ delivered four interesting plants concentrica and Neo. princeps, the latter which I have kept. This is the F 1 genera- is the usual source of lavender genes. Neo. tion. One of these is Neo. Champers. Now ‘Decora’ has been grown for years in say I breed on with this and record my new

Townsville and always was seen as a con- plant as Neo. Champers F 2. What cross colour lavender after the ilk of princeps. I have I actually done ? The possibilities are: shocked everyone after realizing it was a #1 Neo.. Champers x Neo Champers concentrica hybrid and grew this delicate #2 Neo. Champers x Neo. Iris plant in full sun. It became a very strongly #3 Neo. Champers x Unnamed sibling #1 barred plant. My photo on fcbs shows bars #4 Neo. Champers x Unnamed sibling #2 just starting to form. Confused? Some authors even accept 1 1 Neo. Lost in Space , Neo. Champers a back cross to the parent/s as an F 2 cross. and Neo Iris #5 Neo. Champers x Neo. Lost in space Neo. carolinae x concentrica xx Paint- #6 Neo. Champers x (a second parent if it ed Lady xxx self is the formula for the last had one) two. I have registered the parent of these I have seen even broader interpretation two as Neoregelia ‘Lost in Space’ and the than this but I won’t take you down this two selfings are Neo. ‘Champers’ and Neo. road other than to say it allows Neo. Cham- ‘Iris’ as indicated. Wonder of wonders, I pers x unknown to be included. Note an- can say I have bred ‘Iris’ one of the best other important feature, I have stated my neos I have ever seen. By diluting the con- P parent. How many times before have you centrica with small amounts of foreign col- seen an F 2 assignment with its P assign- oured species like Neo. farinosa, Neo. chlo- ment given? I would guess never. This rosticta and Neo. johannis, the concentric means that I could have registered my cross bars have been reinforced and these are not as present in an unbelievably symmetric, Neo. Champers F2 but as Neo. Cham- sharp and narrow form. Lovely pink mark- pers F3 with P1 and P2 being the parents of ings have also appeared. Neo. Lost in Space. I would like to diverge here and make a Please give up this practice. Confused plea for growers to stop referring to F 2 enough ? There is more. Do we read into crosses. This terminology is one of my pet Neo. Champers F2 as being a member of hates. You will have clearly noticed I said the second filial population of Neo. Cham- ‘selfing’ above. Why is this so difficult to pers or is it as being a member of the sec- write? F 2 jargon is most useful for simpli- ond filial generation on Neo. ‘Lost in fying explanation of Mendel’s ground Space’. You may or may not be surprised breaking studies in genetics but is too am- to know that it is usually the latter. Bromeliaceae 22 NOV/DEC 2005 While I have my technical hat on let #2 Lumping your crosses with nominal- me discuss the terms “grex” and “cross” ly the same cross done by others. using examples. People who have grown a) still called a “cross” if clones are orchids and then broms get these terribly used exclusively. messed up. Orchids are named by their b) called a ‘grex’ if species (not regis- grex while broms are named by their clone. tered as clones) are used. I won’t confuse you further with this but #3 If in doubt call it a “cross”. You will show by examples. You cross a plant in more than likely be right. “Grex” is often your yard and it is called a “cross”. A per- just fancy talk anyway. son in England crosses two plants and they After all that some people will say that have done a “cross”. If both people were the term “grex” is just a collective term for using the same plants with the same clonal the term “cross”. I say why use it where it names there is no difference to doing the means nothing different to ‘cross’? same cross a second time on your plant or Neo Beetroot doing it in England so crossing clones you Neo. concentrica x Neo. carolinae x x always have a “cross”. We usually sow concentrica x ( melanodonta x concentri- more than one pod in the tray anyway. ca) this cross is very close to that of Neo. Confused? Well now say you were both ‘Flesh’ 1. All we would have to do to make crossing the plants with one or both par- it into Neo. ‘Flesh’ is to replace melano- ents existing as a species, everything stays donta with concentrica. Has anyone been the same except for the last step above. able to tell the difference between concen- The combination of your seedlings and trica and melanodonta? I can’t but I have the overseas seedlings form a swarm which heard it said our (Aussie) melanodonta is now correctly known as a “grex”. Why plants are just dark concentricas. the difference? Clones of the same plant There is a song ‘What a difference a day all have the same genotype while species makes’ well a few different genes has make are a cluster of closely related individuals a world of difference here. I have registered of different genotypes which are distinct four plants of the stated melanodonta cross. from any other species. So, the species in These are Neo. ‘Beetroot’ ( having none to England, though having the same name is few variegations) and its sport Neo. ‘Ser- different enough to give off springs which endipity Girl’ (wide central band of varie- you can’t match with your crossing. So gations), Neo. ‘Screw Ball’ and Neo. ‘Cord- speaking collectively we have two differ- ite’. These are massive and strikingly high- ent limitations on plant populations and ly marked plants not a bit like the green and so this collective equivalent of ‘cross’ is white Neo. ‘ Flesh’. ‘grex’. The two “crosses” now are collec- Neoregelia ‘Stars and Bars’ tively called a “grex”. Note: species like Neo. concentrica x cruenta This is an Neo. concentrica ‘Hugo’ are registered as excellent plant looks good, bars strong and clones and the correct name is Neo. pups like mad. Beginners, take note as it is ‘Hugo’. They follow the clone rules. Pre- a better option than waiting for ever for fer some rules!? Neoregelia ‘Hugo’. #1 Any individual cross stays as Neo. ‘Gee Whiz’: You may well ask, “cross”. ‘Where do the bars come from?’ There is Bromeliaceae 23 NOV/DEC 2005 Neoregelia 'Roy's Special' Neoregelia 'Proud Flesh' RSm Bromeliaceae 24 NOV/DEC 2005 no Neo. concentrica in its formula. I’m not ish plant which is Neo. ‘DeRolf’. going to suggest it is coming from the bar- Neoregelia ‘Camelot’ ring found on the reverse side of the leaf in One to sneak in. I would not consider all three of its registered ancestors namely this a large growing plant but I will show it Neo cruenta, Neo spectabilis and Neo fos- because something unusual happens. teriana. Grown in the shade it grows broadly barred My argument is that Neo. cruenta is as shown but something relatively usual such a dominant parent that many of its happens. Up here in the tropics, with high hybrids look near identical to cruenta and light intensity these unusually thick bars could be mistaken as cruenta by the hybri- disappear. The plant reverts to look like its dist. I have a Neo. cruenta?— that looks second parent, the usually concolour red like all the others but close inspection Neo. ‘Avalon’. I am cheating a bit here as shows spotting on the underside. This may- N. ‘Avalon’ does behave similarly as does be why no one has registered the obvious Neo. ‘Bob and Grace’ as well as Neo. ‘Lam- Neo. cruenta x marmorata cross. bert’s Pride’. There are a great number of Neo. cruen- This ability to turn the genes on and off ta clones around. One I saw recently which depending on the environment, though I was told has been widely used in hybrid- common with broms I have only experi- izing is obviously a hybrid with Neo. con- enced it once before with other plant fami- centrica. So maybe we should not base too lies. I had an orchid named Phal. Pago Pago much on the hybrid’s formula. Let us now that had yellowish flowers when flowering keep looking at pictures where make up of at the time of its yellow parent’s flowering the plants is uncertain. time and pinkish when flowering at its pink Neoregelia ‘Roy’s Special’ parents flowering time. Try growing Neo. Neo. ‘Meyendorffii’ x concentrica. ‘Marble Snow’ in full sun. I accidentally One of our gems. It has Neo. concentrica put mine on the sales table as Neo. ‘Mar- shape and size but blushes with the Mey- ble Throat’ (a diminutive parent). Had to endorffii influence. The bars are nearly claim it back quickly as then it was rare and washed out. Look closely at the centre. a treasured gift from a friend. Neo. ‘Two Tone’ x ‘Perfection’ Finally a list of other barred ‘you This is a seedling from Allan Freeman’s beauts’ in my garden. stable, just starting to colour up and as yet Neo. ‘Teine Samoa’ , Neo.. ‘Samoan not named but is showing promise. Chief’, Neo. ‘A Perfect Ten’, Neo. ‘Two Neoregelia ‘Isabel’ (sport) Tone’ and Neo. ‘Cliff Siverd’. Another beauty. Though the parents are I will concluded by saying that I am not known the geniality of the parents is not trying to suggest all Neo. concentrica hy- clear but I would assume N. concentrica brids are all banded. When you cross them was in there somewhere. with dominant plants like Neo. ‘Fireball’ The Hot Shots: bands may not be obvious. Worth a try in This is what I call my group of very large full sun though. How many plants will neoregelias (see photo). They all are over behave like Neo. ‘Decora’ I could not guess 70 cm across. These are all concentrica or ? concentrica’s hybrids except for the green- 1. http://fcbs.org/pictures.htm Bromeliaceae 25 NOV/DEC 2005 Neo. ‘Pink Floss’ DU Neo. ‘Movie Star’ DU

Neo. ‘Movie Star’ DU Neo. ‘Kings Ransom’ DU

Neo. 'Tossed Salad' DU Neo. 'Sister Grace' DU

Bromeliaceae 26 NOV/DEC 2005 Neo. ‘One & Only’ DU

U Neo. ‘Sam Smith’ DU

Neo. 'Bobby Dazzler' DU

Bromeliaceae 27 NOV/DEC 2005 Sarlon) produced a disappointing show of T. punctulata Schltdl. & bract colour; and was castigated by the Cham. judge at the BSQ meeting. Despite the col- by Peter Paroz lections being recorded from ‘shady’ are- as, the plant in the photo has been acclima- Tillandsia punctulata is a small green tised to full sun to maximise bract colour leafed species occurring in cool, shady, for this clone. This clump has been grown moist areas in Central America with collec- in full sun for the last three years - approx tions reported from Costa Rica, Belize eight hours in summer and five in winter; ,Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Pana- with bright shade for the remainder of the ma. The numerous offsets grow on short day. stolons to about 4cm. The plant forms Photos available on the net show only clumps readily and rarely flowers as a sin- a little variation in the plant colours at the gle specimen. The flower head is spectacu- time of flowering lar; a simple or branched, inflated spike, A hybrid with T. standleyii seems to re- with red primary bracts, secondary bracts tain most of the punctulata colour in the green in colour, with purple petals white flower head. The rachis appears intermedi- tipped, the stigma and anthers exerted. ate between the parents and semi recurved. The plant shown was growing in a Other plant characteristics were not appar- flat 80 x 300 mm terracotta dish. The ‘grow- ent from the photo. ing’ medium was diatomite* granules (un- (* Diatomite is the soft porous rock graded approx 4 to 12 mm). I have exper- composed of the silica skeletons of diatoms imented with this as a growing medium for growing in fresh water lakes millions of a number of bromeliads especially epi- years ago) phytes where root aeration over an extend- Shortly after the photos were tak- ed time is important. Since the diatomite en, the plant ‘fell apart’. The old stolons provides no nutrients (silicon is yet to be had decayed; the flower heads made the proven to be an essential element for bro- plants top-heavy and a little vibration in meliads), I make a regular application at low transport was the last straw. The centre of strength of a liquid fertilizer. The pot is the clump showed a lot of decaying leaves soaked in a bucket to allow absorption by indicating that these plants were not dry- the granules; supplemented by a light spray ing out between waterings. This is a prob- over the foliage. The fertilizer I am current- lem in trying to grow super large specimen ly using is Phostrogen, 14:4.6:22.5:0.5:1.3 clumps. I had the same situation many (N. P. K. Ca. Mg); with an occasional boost years ago with a very large clump (40+ in- of the calcium and magnesium content. florescences) of Tillandsia stricta. This latter may well be unnecessary as Bris- Punctulata: Minutely spotted; spotted. bane town water regularly has adequate Stolon: A shoot that bends to the ground amounts of these elements. and takes root; more commonly, a horizon- T. punctulata will grow readily in a tal stem at or below the surface of the shade house but if grown too shady, the ground that gives rise of a new plant at its bract colour may not develop fully. An ear- tip lier single flowering in a bush house (50% Stricta: Upright; Erect; very straight. Bromeliaceae 28 NOV/DEC 2005 Tillandsia punctulata DU

Tillandsia punctulata RS Tillandsia punctulata RS Bromeliaceae 29 NOV/DEC 2005 Continued from page 5 The Olive Branch had a very colourful They were surrounded by many brightly- display of flowering vrieseas and coloured neoregelias, a large number of guzmanias, interspersed with brightly col- which were new hybrids. oured neoregelias and billbergias. Its cen- Gwen and Doug Parkinson’s display trepiece was a large bowl of vriesea and had a strong water/frog theme. This theme guzmania infloresences, surrounded by was supported by flowering guzmanias, miniature variegated neoregelias. vrieseas and aechmeas, while tillandsias Robert and Melissa Dilling’s display “framed” two sculptures with a frog “ori- featured many beautifully grown plants, entation”. contrasted “against” a layer of black and There were wall poster “displays” from white pebbles. The display’s centrepiece Totara Waters and the Northern Territory was an Alcantarea imperalis ‘rubra’. Bromeliad Study Group. The Brisbane Bromeliad Centre had a The Gold Coast Succulent and Brome- nice display of flowering guzmanias, liad Society’s display had a wide range of framed by clumps of neoregelias and Vrie- well grown plants from many genera. sea racinae. Well established clumps of Plants which impressed me included: Dyc- tillandsias e.g. latifolia, ionantha and kia brevifolia, ‘Warren’ (chocolate); tectorum, were secured to a “rock” back- Encholirium sp.; Pitcairnia andreana; drop. An impressive audio/slide presenta- Nidumea ‘Midnight’; Neoregelia ‘Zulu’, tion completed their display. ‘Blushing Tiger; and Hechtia The plant competition was well sup- tillandsioidies. ported and is covered in a separate article. The centrepiece of the Bromeliad Soci- Over ten sellers provided a wide range ety of Queensland’s display was a steel of plants for people to purchase. Many of “tree” with arching limbs and “flower these plants are not seen at Society shows pods” which had plants of Vriesea or monthly meetings. Most people went fosteriana in them. Spanish moss draped away from the conference with new, prized, over the tree, provided an effective contrast additions to their collections. to the tree’s black colouration. Underneath The conference concluded with a pres- the tree was a sea of large vrieseas, alcantar- entation by the hosts of the Bromeliad XIV eas, and flowering guzmanias. In the front conference. It will be hosted by the Bro- of the display were brightly coloured ne- meliad Society of Australia in Sydney in oregelias, with the centrepiece being a large November 2007. The Bromeliad Society clump of Quesnelia ‘Tim Plowman’. Once of Queensland made a $500 donation to again, Bob Cross and his helpers had ex- assist with fundraising for that event. celled themselves. 8 December Society’s Christmas Alcantareas and a Werauhia party. There will be a free barbecue and sanguinolenta var. rubra plant formed the monster bromeliad raffle. Join with centrepiece of the Sunshine Coast Brome- other Society members in celebrating liad Society’s display. They were sur- the festive season. Commences 7pm, rounded by neoregelias, guzmanias and at Uniting Church Hall, 52 Merthyr vrieseas. An impressive plant was an Road, New Farm. Alcantarea glaziouna coming into flower. Bromeliaceae 30 NOV/DEC 2005 Continued from page 4 sult is dirty-brown flowers i.e. with are quite dominant in the progeny. In two T.stricta….” Dimmitt (1990) p.121 crosses with species in other subgenera (T. mallemontii. contributes its growth meridonalis and T.gardneri) the plants habit, but not necessarily its size. have been very beautiful, but the inflores- pseudobaileyi. “….like T.bulbosa, is cences have been abortive and without heavily dominant. Hybrids have bulbous flowers. Hybrids with T.stricta produce bases, twisted awl-shaped leaves, and fre- small, few-branched spikes with some color quently faint striations on the foliage. It in the flower bracts, and small, dark blue contributes a large, branched inflores- flowers. A few clones have very large , cence….” Dimmitt (1990) p.121 many-branched inflorescences with small recurvifolia.(Following are Dimmitt’s but deep purple flower bracts. A cross with comments for meridonalis which is a syno- T.cacticola looks like a giant succulent nym for recurvifolia) “….contributes stiff, cacticola; the first spikes are appearing and lepidote leaves and fairly vigorous growth, are very large….” (p.121) through not as fast as T.stricta. The white edithae. does not appear to be a domi- flower color dilutes the color of the other nant parent in its hybrids parent in the progeny….” Dimmittt (1990) exserta. typically contributes the size p.122 and shape of its inflorescence rothii contributes the shape and col- fasiculata will often contribute its nu- ouration of its inflorescence and the red merous-leaved habit, multi-branched inflo- “hue” which its leaves assume at flower- rescence, and relatively vigorous ing e.g. see Belli (rothii x exserta). “pupping,” traits. schiediana often contributes its “two flabellata. contributes its size, growth tone” petal colour to its progeny’s flowers. habit and inflorescence size/shape streptocarpa. contributes its growth intermedia. contributes its elongated habit (but not necessarily its size), inflores- form, and few leaves to most of its hybrids. cence shape/size and petal colours. ionantha. “….dwarfs the size of its streptophylla. “….transmits its large hybrids and greatly shortens or, more of- size and very large , well branched spike to ten eliminates the elongated spike of the almost all of its hybrids. Some hybrid prog- other parent. The red leaves at maturity do eny also have twisted leaves….” Dimmitt not come through unless the other parent (1990) p 122. However from my observa- had the same trait….” Dimmitt (1990) tions streptophyllou usually imparts its p.121. However the ionantha cultivar form to its progeny. known as “Druid” does not appear to trans- stricta. “….contributes its rapid growth mit its inflorescence/petal colour to its off- more than anything else, including its short- spring. lived blooming habit. The pink flower bracts ixioides. “….contributes stiff, lepidote and blue flower colour are greatly sup- leaves. The green flower bract colour is very pressed when crossing with green-bracted dominant. The yellow flower colour is or white flowered species….” Dimmitt transmitted if the other parent has white (1990) p.122. However stricta also appears flowers. Crossed with blue flowers, the re- to often transmit its growth habit and size Continued on page 38 Bromeliaceae 31 NOV/DEC 2005 ed bark to form this potting mixture; SOME MEDIUM-SIZED • A mixture of 2 parts Peatmoss or NEOREGELIAS Cocopeat combined with 1 part coarse (by Bob Reilly) sand. Add Nutricote or Osmocote to this mixture. Neoregelias are probably the most pop- Care should be taken in applying liquid ular bromeliads amongst Queensland col- fertiliser, as excessive fertilisation results in lectors. In this article, 40 medium size ne- the plants losing their symmetrical shape oregelias are described, although there are, and, to some extent, their colouration. If literally, hundreds more to choose from. applying liquid fertilisers, a brand such as For the purposes of this article, I have used Phostrogen ( N:P:K ratio is 14 : 4.4 : 22.5), a plant width, at maturity, of 30 to 70cm to which has relatively low amounts of nitro- define a “medium sized” neoregelia. gen in it, may give the best results. The plants are mainly grown for their These plants grow well under 50% foliage, as the inflorescence usually consists “density” shadecloth in Autumn, Winter, of a cluster of blue or white petalled flow- and early Spring and 75% shadecloth for ers, in the middle of the plant’s “tank”. The the remainder of the year. Alternatively, tanks are formed by the plants’ central they will grow quite well in shaded posi- leaves. They store water which helps the tions in the garden, but it is important to plants to meet their moisture requirements. avoid locations which receive the full af- Neoregelias typically have a flat rosette ternoon sun (especially in summer). Ne- formed by 15 to 30 leaves, all of which have oregelias look very attractive in massed small spines on their margins. Many of the plantings and, as such, make good land- neoregelias grown today have attractively scaping plants provided their shade and – marked and coloured foliage throughout water requirements are met. The plants like their life. This colouration often becomes air movement around them. So, if practi- more intense at flowering, when the plant’s cal, space plants so the edges of their outer central portion often “colours up” in shades leaves are only just touching. of pink, purple, or red. The only pest likely to cause some prob- Neoregelias grow well in pots, or small lems is scale. This can be treated by using buckets. The containers should have a di- an insecticide such as Folimat. Avoid spray- ameter of 150 to 200mm. Potting mixtures ing the plants when the temperature ex- used successfully include: ceeds 30 degrees Celsius, otherwise leaf • Well composted pine bark to which “burning” may occur (although such inci- a continuous release, over a period of nine dents are rare). months or more, fertiliser such as Nutricote These plants readily produce pups or Osmocote is added when the plants/pups which will produce flowering plants in 12 are potted; to 24 months time. • Pine bark chunks, (such as those Pups can be potted straight into any of used to grow cymbidium orchids in), treat- the potting mixtures described previously. ed with a special type of fertiliser available Ensure the mixture holds the pups firmly from the Bromeliad Society of Queensland. in position, as this helps promote rapid Combine 1 part charcoal with 7 parts treat- growth. Bromeliaceae 32 NOV/DEC 2005 Neo. ‘Aussie Dream’ DU

Neo. ‘Gee Whiz’ DU

Neo. ‘Phyllis’ DU

Bromeliaceae 33 NOV/DEC 2005 Most of the plants described below are flat, compact rosette. The green leaves have readily available from bromeliad nurseries thin white margins, and pronounced pur- and Society members. Also there are many ple tips. At flowering, the centre flushes a other fine neoregelias which, due to space pink-purple. constraints, I have not described here. ‘Aussie Dream’ “Superba” – About The plant descriptions, and photo- fifteen 7cm.-wide leaves form a 50cm wide graphs used to illustrate some of them, are flat rosette. The leaves’ centres have a large based on flowering southern Queensland number of creamy stripes of varying plants grown in southern Queensland un- widths. The leaves’ margins are green. At der the conditions outlined in the earlier part flowering, the plant’s centre becomes a dark of this article. The amount of light received pink-purple, while the upper leaves acquire in different parts of Australia can vary con- a light pink shading. siderably. For example, certain neoregeli- ‘Bobby Dazzler’ – About twenty 8cm.- as grown in North Queensland under 70% wide leaves form a 60cm wide flat, open shadecloth can look quite different to the rosette. The leaves are red-brown in col- same plant grown in southern Queensland. our with green splotches, especially to- The naming of neoregelias, particularly wards the plants centre. hybrids, can be something of a vexed top- carolinae v tricolor ‘Perfecta’ - Per- ic. This arises as many hybrids in particu- haps the best of the carolinae v tricolor lar, have not been formally registered or, in cultivars. About twenty 5cm.-wide, leaves some cases, appear to have been registered for a flat, open rosette about 60cm across. under two different names. While people The green leaves, which have a pinkish hue such as Derek Butcher, the Bromeliad So- in good light, have central, white stripes of ciety International’s Cultivar Registrar, are varying widths. The centre flushes a bright endeavouring to rectify this situation, it will pink-red at flowering. continue for some time. So, the approach ‘Charm’ – About twenty 8cm.-wide, I have adopted in this article, is to use the leaves form a compact rosette about 70cm name under which the particular plant is across. The red leaves have a large number generally sold in southern Queensland. of small, green spots which can “fade” and ‘American Stars and Bars’ – About disappear when the plant is exposed to fifteen 10cm.-wide leaves form a 45cm strong light. The leaves’ tips are a pro- wide, flat rosette. The green leaves have nounced maroon colour. dark purple barring and splotches of vary- ‘Cherry Jam’ – About fifteen 8cm.- ing sizes. At flowering, the centre becomes wide leaves form a 50cm.-wide flat, open dark pink-purple in colour. rosette. The leaves’ margins are green, with ‘Aussie Dream’ - About twenty 4cm.- the balance largely composed of cream wide leaves form a flat rosette about 40cm stripes of varying widths. At flowering, the wide. The green leaves, which have white centre flushes a deep purple. stripes of varying widths, colour orange in ‘Colour Parade’ – About twenty 6cm.- good light. The plant’s centre flushes a wide leaves form a semi-erect rosette about bright orange-red at flowering. 50cm. wide. The predominantly yellow- ‘Aussie Dream’ “April” - About green leaves have reddish brown bands of twenty 7cm.-wide leaves form a 40cm wide, vary ing widths. These bands have green Bromeliaceae 34 NOV/DEC 2005 Neo. ‘Gunpowder’ DU

Neo ‘Waipio Valley’ DU

Neo. ‘Cherry Jam’ DU

Bromeliaceae 35 NOV/DEC 2005 spots and splotches in them. ‘Grace’ x ‘Passion’ – About twenty concentrica v albomarginata – About 7cm.-wide leaves form a flat rosette about fifteen, 7cm.-wide leaves form a 40cm.- 40cm across. The bronze-green leaves turn wide flat rosette. The green leaves have a deeper shade of bronze at flowering, while thin, white margins and purple splotches. the plant’s centre flushes a bright pink-pur- At flowering, the centre flushes a violet-pur- ple. ple ‘Gunpowder’ - About twenty 7cm.- concentrica x ‘Avalon’ - About thirty wide leaves form a 60cm wide rosette. The 5cm .-wide leaves form a semi-erect rosette leaves’ margins are green, with the balance about 60cm across. The reddish-brown having cream stripes of varying widths. At leaves have green splotches scattered along flowering, the plants upper leaves are suf- them. Greenish bands, of varying widths, fused with violet-purple, while the centre are evident towards the plant’s centre. flushes a deeper violet-purple. ‘Dantes Peak’ – About fifteen 9cm.- ‘Heck’ – About thirty 5cm.-wide leaves wide, leaves form a 40cm.-wide flat rosette. form a flat compact rosette about 30cm The green leaves have a large number of wide. The bronze-green leaves have 1cm thin, irregular, purple bands. At flowering, wide, white margins. At flowering, the the central “half” of the plant flushes a deep plant’s centre flushes red, and a reddish violet-purple. tinge becomes evident in the leaves’ white ‘Enchantment’ “vareigata” – About margins. twenty 7cm.-wide leaves form a 60cm.- ‘Impressor’ – About twenty 6cm.-wide wide flat rosette. The central portions of leaves form a semi-erect rosette around the pink flushed leaves have cream stripes 55cm. across. The white margined, green of varying widths. Small, white spots are leaves have an “overlay” of reddish blotch- scattered over the leaves. At flowering, the es and fragmented bands. At flowering the plant’s centre flushes red. reddish markings become more pro- ‘Fosperior’s Perfection’ - This is a var- nounced, particularly in the plants centre. iegated form of N. ‘Fosperior’. About fif- ‘King’s Ransom’ – About twenty-five teen 5cm wide leaves form an open, 70cm.- leaves form a compact rosette about 50cm wide rosette. In good light, the leaves are across. At flowering, the plan’s centre is a light crimson in colour, tending towards bright red, progressing through pink and green in shady conditions. At flowering, then bronze – green colours, as one moves the crimson leaf colouration becomes more towards the leaves’ tips. intense, while the plant’s centre turns a ‘Lambert’s Pride’ – About twenty bright red. 6cm.-wide, leaves form a compact rosette ‘Gee Whiz’ – About fifteen 10cm.- wide about 50cm. across. The red-brown leaves leaves form a flat rosette about 60cm. have green bands of varying widths. A light across. The leaves have dark purple spots reddish flush appears in the plant’s centre and fragmented banding. The ends of the at flowering. leaves are red-purple, with a pronounced ‘Len’s Choice’ – About fifteen 6cm.- purple spot at each leaf’s tip. At flowering, wide leaves form a flat, open rosette about the plant’s centre flushes pink-purple in col- 70cm. across. The green leaves have irreg- our. ular purple markings, and faintly flush pur- Bromeliaceae 36 NOV/DEC 2005 ple in good light. The leaves’ margins are 8cm.-wide, strap-like leaves form a 60cm.- white, while white longitudinal stripes in the wide flat rosette. The green leaves have centre of some leaves also occurs. At flow- dark purple markings, particularly towards ering, the plant’s centre turns crimson red. the plant’s centre. At flowering, the centre ‘Mauve Star’ – About fifteen 7cm .- flushes pink-purple. wide leaves form a 40cm wide flat rosette. ‘Phyllis’ – About twenty 8cm.-wide The leaves have a broad, cream central leaves form a semi-erect rosette about 60cm stripe, with green margins. Irregular, nar- across. The light, pink red leaves have pink row, purple bands and spots mark the tips. At flowering, the centre flushes a leaves. At flowering, the centre flushes a bright pink, with the remainder of the plant violet-purple. assuming a deeper pink colour. ‘Morado’ – About fifteen 8cm.-wide ‘Pink Floss’ – About twenty 6cm.-wide leaves form a flat rosette around 40cm. leaves form a 40cm.-wide flat rosette. The across. The predominantly green leaves leaves are yellow-green with faint pink-pur- have variable, approximately 2cm. wide ple spotting and narrow banding. At flow- white margins, with irregular purple spot- ering, the centre flushes a bright pink-pur- ting. At flowering, the plant’s centre be- ple, and the leaves’ banding becomes a comes purple. more intense colour. ‘Muscat’ – About twenty 7cm.-wide ‘Predator’ – About twenty 6cm.-wide leaves form a 50cm. wide flat rosette. The leaves form a 40cm.-wide rosette. The green leaves are edged with cream stripes green leaves have 1cm wide cram margins. of varying widths, as well as fainter longi- A pink-red “overlay” covers most of the tudinal cream stripes in the leaves’ centre. leaves’ surface, especially in bright light. Horizontal, irregular, band of purple mark- princeps hybrid – This plant has been ings also occur on the leaves. The plant’s in Australia for over 40 years. You may find centre flushes a violet-purple at flowering. plants (incorrectly) labelled as N. princeps. nivea – About twenty 4cm.-wide pale About fifteen 4cm.-wide, leaves form an green leaves form a 40cm. wide semi-erect open rosette around 50cm. across. At flow- rosette. At flowering, the plant’s centre ering, the plant’s centre flushes an irides- turns white. cent light purple, with the remaining por- ‘Odean Head’ – About fifteen 10cm.- tion of the leaves becoming purple-bronze wide leaves form a flat rosette about 50cm. in colour. across. The leaves are “burnt orange” in ‘Royal Cordovan’ – About fifteen colour, with black/purple markings. 6cm.-wide leaves form an open, 60cm.- ‘One and Only’ – About twenty 6cm.- wide rosette. In good light, the leaves are wide leaves form a flat, compact rosette light crimson in colour, tending towards about 30cm. across. At flowering, the green in shady conditions. At flowering, plants centre flushes a bright red, with the the crimson leaf colouration becomes more remainder largely being dark red. The intense, while the plant’s centre turns a leaves’ tips are bright red. The central clus- bright red. ter of flowers is unusual for neoregelias, as ‘Sam Smith’ – About thirty 5cm.-wide they are raised above the plant’s centre. leaves form a flat, compact rosette about ‘Painted Delight’ – About twenty 40cm. across. At flowering, the plant’s cen- Bromeliaceae 37 NOV/DEC 2005 tre becomes a bright red, with the remain- ours pink-purple, which contrasts with the der being bronze-red. bronze colour of the leaves’ remaining por- ‘Sister Grace’– About fifteen 6cm.- tions. wide leaves form a 40cm.-wide flat rosette. ‘Waipio Valley’ – About forty 5cm.- At flowering, most of each leaf flushes red- wide leaves form a 50cm.-wide flat rosette. purple, while longitudinal red-purple strip The bronze red leaves form a distinct point ing occurs through the remaining portion, at their tips. At flowering the plant’s flush- which is bronze-green in colour, of each es a deeper red. leaf. Acknowledgements: ‘Tangerine’ – About fifteen 5cm.-wide I thank Doug Upton for taking the leaves form a 35cm.-wide rosette. At flow- photographs used to illustrate this arti- ering, the plant’s centre colours bright red, cle. with the balance of the leaves having a Author contact details bronze-green colouration. [email protected] phone: (07) ‘Termite’ – About twenty 6cm.-wide, 3870 8029 leaves form a 50cm.-wide rosette. The green leaves have white margins of vary- Continued from page 31 ing widths. Purple spots and irregular to its offspring, although this outcome isn’t bands occur throughout the leaves. These always evident. markings become more intense in colour tenuifolia. contributes its caulescent at flowering, while the plant’s centre flush- growth habit. es a light purple at that time. xerographica typically contributes its ‘Tossed Salad’ – About twenty 8cm.- wide, greyish-succulent looking leaves and wide leaves form a 40cm.-wide semi-erect its multi-branched inflorescence. rosette. The bronze-green leaves have pur- xiphioides “….usually transmits its ple-red banding and spots, especially to- very slow growth rate. The only hybrids yet wards their tips. At flowering, the plant’s to flower has been with T.stricta. The green centre flushes a pink-purple colour. flower bracts washed out the pink of the ‘Two Tone’ – About twenty 8cm.-wide other parent. The large flower size did not leaves form a flat 70cm.-wide rosette. The come through well, the hybrid’s flowers leaves are light purple/green in colour, were about twice the size of T.stricta and while the plant’s centre flushes violet – lav- less than one-quarter of T.xiphioides….” ender at flowering. Dimmitt (1990) p.123 ‘Van Dorme’ – About fifteen 5cm.- Concluding comments wide leaves form a 40 cm.-wide flat rosette. Some concluding observations, in no The dark green leaves have thin white mar- particular order, on this topic are: gins, and narrow, white striping elsewhere. (a) It usually takes 2 or 3 generations In good light, the plant’s leaves become before one can be confident as to the final flushed with pink. At flowering, the plant’s characteristics e.g. size, inflorescence, of a centre colours a bright red. particular hybrid. ‘Victoria’ “Pink” – About fifteen (b) There appears to be little informa- 5cm.-wide, leaves form a 30cm.-wide flat tion available on the extent to which differ- rosette. At flowering, the plant’s centre col- Continued on page 44 Bromeliaceae 38 NOV/DEC 2005 Neo. ‘Heck’ DU

Neo. 'Victoria Pink' DU

Neo. 'Van Dorme' DU

Bromeliaceae 39 NOV/DEC 2005 There is a final stage of the maturing of Aechmea ‘Perez’ the ovaries which I have not shown in the by Ross Stenhouse photographic sequence. In this stage, the flowers close up and become thin stalk-like In 1945, Mulford Foster crossed Aech- with a deep red colour matching the leaves. mea racinae with Aechmea victoriana var The ovaries become an extremely deep discolor to produce Aechmea ‘Fosters Fa- dark red colour. This form seems to last for vorite’. This original crossing has produced a considerable time. Visually this form is a profusion of cultivars and hybrids, both not particularly interesting. by Foster and others. One of these hybrids The breeding from Aechmea victoriana is Aechmea ‘Perez’ and is the subject of the var discolor is very obvious in the mature photographic series on the page opposite. ovaries. The pendant nature in the inflores- Aechmea ‘Perez’ has the inflorescence cence appears to come from Aechmea rac- pendant (hanging down from its support) inae. and the leaves are a all over deep red. This I particularly liked the flower with it’s changes slightly as the leaves age; they get three petals. The strappy nature of the traces of green appearing in them. leaves in my specimen initially hid from me Other hybrids produced from that orig- the interest of the inflorescence. It’s a plant inal crossing (or by people repeating it) are that needs to be grown in a cluster for best Aechmea ‘Black Jack’ and Aechmea ‘Fos- effect and it’s deep red colour adds con- ters Favorite Favorite’ and Aechmea ‘Red trast in a see of green. Had I had a cluster I Ribbon’. “Black Jack’ and ‘Perez’ appear would have preferred to use it in my illus- to be very similar and I would be interest- tration photo. ed if someone would contact me and point More on Aechmea ‘Perez’ may be out the difference. Aechmea ‘Fosters Fa- found in an article published by Derek vorite Favorite’ is a variegated plant and Butcher under “Uncle Derek Says “ on the from the photographs I have seen, the ova- following URL http://fcbs.org/butcher/ ries appear to have retained, through to ma- A_Fosters_Favorite.htm. turity, the yellow as seen in the immature ovaries of ‘Perez’. The petals seem to be Wanted: Photographs of the same colour as in ‘Perez’. your Shadehouse What I found interesting about grow- ing this plant is the way the ovaries on in- A good photograph showing off your florescence change colour during the ma- bromeliad collection in your shade house turing process. They start out tightly clus- is wanted for the society’s web site. The tered and are a very strong yellow and keep aim is to publish on the site a collection of this form for about two weeks. They then shadehouse photographs in order to show become loosely clustered change to a bright to the world what is happening in Australia red and finally to a dull red and maintain with regards to Bromeliads and shadehous- this form for a considerable amount of time. es. The flowers are fairly small with three pet- From what I have been hearing lately, als. The petals have a strong blue colour shadehouses are an Australian invention so with a thin light grey edge. let’s show the world how we do it! Bromeliaceae 40 NOV/DEC 2005 1 2

Photographic sequence of an Aechmea ‘Perez’ - note the change in colour and shape of the ovaries as they develop into flowers RS

4 3

Bromeliaceae 41 NOV/DEC 2005 actually Neo. ‘Yellow Devil’. For Competitors and Now something interesting happened. Judges As a result of collecting data to convince by Rob Smythe MSc Derek I found that: [email protected] 1. In the tropics neos grow with both a clockwise whorl or an anti-clockwise Well, I am neither of the above so you whorl. may well ask what am I doing writing about 2. The plants can have one type of this topic. How often do successful re- whorl then change to the other type. searchers set about a task and come up with 3. Plants on the northern side of my something of interest which is quite periph- house had predominantly anticlockwise eral to where they were heading? That is whorls. my reason for this note. In my profession- 4. Plants on the southern side had al career I found research dull and loved clockwise whorls. teaching. I felt since I only had one life I 5. The number of leaves to a whorl is was not going up blind alleys for most of it of interest also, details later. (research). Now I am retired there are no These observations were taken both shackles and playing at research is much with plants from the one batch of seedlings more fun. (Neo. ‘Roy’s Rogue’ x self), split between An interest for some time has been a the two yards and other plants in general. neo known as Neo. Corcia x Cruenta 1. What do I mean by ‘whorl’ you may This is around under many other names and well ask? When you stand over your bro- as Derek Butcher will point out in another meliad and look down at it you will notice paper 2. This probably means that the name that the plant is growing upwards either in on your plant is incorrect. If you have plants a clockwise manner or an anti clockwise with any of the following names you need manner. How did I come to check on such to concern yourself as to its correctness, a weird statistic? Preparing my case to con- Neo. Corcia x Cruenta, Neo. ‘Sun vince Derek of course. I compiled the data King’, Neo. cruenta ‘Sun King’, Neo. ‘Yel- originally from my photos and those found low Devil’. Neo. ‘Lucky Strike’, Neo.’ Bo- on the internet. Yes, the whorls of the north- nanza’, Neo. ‘Eureka’, Neo. Golden Nug- ern hemisphere plants went a different way get, Neo. cruenta x coreacae, Neo. ‘Sun to mine. I lived in the UK and in the USA King’ x kautskyi or Neo. ‘Gold Dust’ . and forgot to check if water really did ro- After my years of discussion with grow- tate in the opposite direction to the south- ers and Derek Butcher, Derek seems to have ern hemisphere when it went down the plug come up with a reason for the confusion2. I hole, though on a bigger scale, realistically, was left with my plant actually being either I remembered that cyclones and hurricanes Neo. ‘Yellow Devil’ or Neo. ‘Lucky Strike’. spin in opposite directions due to earth’s Derek is as pig headed as I am about tax- rotation. onomy. To convince him I had to do some- This bit of trivia came to mind so I thing more scientific( a little research) than thought I would check it out with broms the usual. I think I have convinced him that and beggared some of my argument in do- my plant, imported by a NSW grower is ing so. Realize at this point that I live in Bromeliaceae 42 NOV/DEC 2005 Townsville which is in the tropics so some- shading, artificially create what in effect is time the sun moves across the sky to the sun from the south and the whorl will south like what occurs in the northern hem- change upsetting the conformation of your isphere. Don’t feel put out, I have known plant and it will be distorted. Judges will parochial Brisbane folk who did not know say, “Tut tut— sorry”. where Townsville was and I also lived in I’ll explain what appears to happen. America and found out that some even This is from my inspection of my own trop- believed India was on the American conti- ical plants. Looking down at your broms nent somewhere. I found two pups one and looking back from your youngest leaf advanced and one younger on the same the second youngest is usually just less than plant but having reversed whorls so it is not a third of the way round. By the time you a useful taxonomical feature. Thinking come round to where the first leaf is point- about this topic I looked deeper and found ing you are nearly exactly half way between lower leaves with the whorl reversed. third and fourth leaf and so new leaf nicely My conclusion is that the whorl direc- fills the gap. Looking at my plants that tion is a result of the sun (or light) travers- changed whorls, or about to change, the ing to the North or to the South of the plant. second leaf is way around the other side This may be due to which hemisphere you (180 degrees) then whorls back in the oth- are in or which side your shade comes from. er direction. Judges might note this irregu- I am saying that half the broms inner leaves larity as bad conformation. So rule two are in more shade than the other (except at should be times in the tropics ) and the exposed side “don’t change the orientation of the is dictating whorl growth, following the light if you move your plant” suns direction of movement. Something If you grow broms in the ground and like the sunflower but much slower and not not near shade and you live in the south let reversing. me know if yours are all the same whorl So What? type. After knowing all that it might be con- Visitors from the south always com- sidered as important as knowing the sex life ment that our plants in the tropics are big- of a garden worm in detail. As I don’t be- ger plants with more leaves but there is al- lieve in competitive growing (causes divi- ways an appended comment that our plants sion) my interest was about that proposed down south have one of the following, a for the worm. What if you do competition much tidier, nicer, regular or more compact growing? growth. Feel sorry for these folk now as What is the first rule you are told? they will now have to endure the details of “ Keep rotating the plant” whorls in my long winded answer. This now reasons as good advice as this Breeding: won’t change the whorl character. I was also interested in calculating the To keep leaves of balanced length you number of leaves to a whorl in each of my may be considering either putting plants very young seedlings. This way I thought I into more shaded areas or moving them out could predict that those with the larger nu- into more sun. Now you growers living in merical value would have the densest ro- more southern areas may, using vertical sette. It has limited usefulness in the trop- Bromeliaceae 43 NOV/DEC 2005 ics due to whorl variability but I made the Continued from page 38 following observations which may be of ent clones, of a given species, produce hy- more use to serious breeders living outside brids with dissimilar traits of the tropics. (c) The comments in the first part of this 1) The most common whorl size is paper are based on primary crosses (F1) around three and a half leaves. between species. There is little experience 2) Plants with whorls of three and a half, with F2 crosses. as defined above, were very open plants (d) While relatively little information is having five stacks of leaves with gaps be- available on the traits which “strong” tween the stacks eg Neo. ‘Solar Flare’. (dominant) parents such as durattii, These will never win a competition. bulbosa transmit to their offspring, there is 3) Neoregelias with a whorl of three or even less available on which species do not four would also have stacks of leaves and transmit their characteristics. Yet this infor- would never win anything as they would mation is just as important if future have holes you could drive buses through hybridists are not to repeat the “mistakes” with just two or three stacks of leaves. These of the past. would be very inefficient absorbers of ra- (e) Crossing two similar species e.g. diation and so I can say that I have never recurvata and stricta often results in off- seen these configurations with neoregelias spring displaying hybrid vigour e.g. larger though I have seen a couple of species with inflorescences than either parent (Dimmitt, a whorl of three eg Quesnalia marmorata. 1990). The converse is also often true. Per- These are plants with a few tubular long haps there is a case to concentrate on cross- leaves. Second leaf is 180 degrees on and ing species within a given subgenus. the third leaf is back with the first leaf. (f) While a matter of personal prefer- 4) The better reliable show plants (e.g. ence, I’ve found hybrids with albertiana, N. Roy’s Special) have whorls greater than duratti, fasiculata, streptophylla and three and a half and less than four, result- xerographica as a parent to be well worth ing in no close leaf stacking at all. growing. 5) I don’t have any of those cork screw REFERENCES: type plants so I don’t know what is going Dimmitt, M.A. (1990) Additional notes on there. I expect the whorl number is not on breeding superior tillandsias. BSI three and a half, but very close to it. Journal v.40 (3) 118-123. 6) If I was looking at seedlings for fu- In the Jan/Feb 2006 edition of Brome- ture show purposes I think I would be look- liaceae, a number of photographs support- ing for whorls around the three and three ing this article will be published which quarter mark. If I found more than one I augment this article.- Ed. would then concentrate on the one with the widest leaf. REFERENCES: 1. Shane Zaghini Bromeliads: A guide to the Beautiful Neoregelias p6 2. Derek Butcher - Bromeliaceae - 2005

Bromeliaceae 44 NOV/DEC 2005 Autumn Show Letters to the Editor Proudly Presented by the Bromeliad Dear Editor Society of Queensland Inc. Congratulations on the direction Bro- meliaceae is heading. Issue # 5 was full of interesting articles and you can’t beat the knowledge gained from personal experi- To be held at: Mt Coot-tha Gardens ence. Auditorium If I had known that looking after moth- er “was most important”, I might have had more than one pup from my Aechmea ‘En- Saturday - 4th March 8AM to 4PM sign’ before she bit the dust, still in her Sunday - 5th March 9AM to 3 PM smallish pot with original mix in the mis- taken belief that stressing causes the plant to panic thereby launching into reproduc- tive mode. In future I will happily try this • Spectular displays of bromeliads new device. • Over 500 varieties/hybrids of I wondered when I read about the man bromeliads on sale who exhibited his Aechmea ‘Rainbow’ • Refreshments available for purchase under the name Aechmea orlandiana, • Talks on how to grow bromeliads whether he may have had a similar experi- • Display of bromeliad photographs ence to me. A good while ago, I acquired • Monster bromeliad raffle some plants of Aechmea orlandiana ‘Dark • Large range of Bromeliad books Form’ from a life member of BSQ who on sale mentioned at the time that he couldn’t work • Plenty of free parking out why some pups they threw were very black and other pups were flushed with red. Over time I have found this to be true. The red ones grow into something that Admission: Adults $3.00 resembles Aechmea ‘Rainbow’ which I al- Children under 14 Free ready had, in fact I can’t tell the difference. Having been careful in my labelling the plants have never become confused. But I am reluctant to take it upon myself to call Public transport: BCC bus 471 from them ‘Rainbow’ as the parents were origi- city OR Great Circle bus 598 or 599 nally labelled ‘Dark Form’. Am I wrong? from various suburbs And finally can I echo the members plea for an updated BOOK form of the Brome- For further information: liad Cultivar Registry besides the Internet Ph (07) 3389 1061 version. There are far more of us that would like to see it in that form and we are not all of an advanced age. What could be better than sitting in the garden with a book. Beats Bromeliaceae 45 NOV/DEC 2005 sitting at a computer by far! Finally to Lynn’s comment about an- regards other printed Cultivar Register. I believe that Carmel Cullen the computer data base is the best since sliced bread because you can see photo- Hi Ross, first I must congratulate you graphs. The BSI have been wary about pub- on Bromeliaceae No.5 2005,n ow to a few lishing a new Register partially due to cost comments Curiousity may have killed the and a dwindling membership. It may be a cat but it is exciting stuff! I was pleased to project your Society may well wish to take see Lynn Hudson waving the ‘red’ flag and up. every story has a side story. In 1964 Derek Butcher Yamamoto crossed Aechmea fendleri with chantinii. In the mid 1970’s this plant was Dear Ross in demand in Florida and was variously sold Ever since I started bromeliads, I have under parentage or ‘Red Flamingo’. It was tried to stop myself using the word ‘pup. I not until 1979 that Yamamoto registered his cringe every time I let the word slip and hybrid as ‘Flamingo’ - note the dropping hope it is not too often. ‘Pupping’ sounds of the ‘Red’! Meanwhile it had been found even more childish and silly. While it is that Hummel also had named a ‘Red Fla- probably too much to expect members to mingo’ which was a different plant again! change their vocabulary and use ‘offset’, a Thanks to Lynn’s ferretting the records are determined effort should be made. now correct. The purpose of this letter is, however, If anyone wants to be a friendly ferret not to try and change what people say, but it costs nothing to join. and now to that four to plead for a change in what is written. I letter word ‘grex’. This term still applies and count at least 38 times, pup, pups or pup- should be used by hybridists while seed- ping is used in the latest Bromeliaceae (Sep- lings are under their care. When these are Oct 05). This is, I would argue, unaccepta- adult and leave home they should have a ble , belittles our magazine and against any cultivar name as identity. Parentage is cap- publishing convention. tured when this cultivar name is put on the If we can get rid of ‘Pup’ then perhaps Register. Now to the super-duper data base we can start looking at ‘mother’ and ‘old I mentioned in my article. mother’. You can search on anything recorded Yours faithfully or any combination of anything recorded. Mike Symmons So Andrew can enter parentage, if he wants, to see which cultivars are related. If Ross To the Editor, had been curious, and used the same tech- I have just returned from a trip to Peru, nique, he would have found that the plant trekking the Inca trail. Along the way I was featured on the rear cover is called Neorege- delighted to see the abundance and ease lia ‘Purple Princess’ . that various bromeliads grew from seem- While talking of quasi grex names you ingly every nook and cranny. Sheer 500 m may not realise that there is no Neoregelia cliff covered with what I assumed to be ‘Aussie Dream’ as such. For the inquisi- Aechmea Blanchetiana and trees laden tive, detail is on the cultivar data base. with neos. It was a bromeliad lovers visual

Bromeliaceae 46 NOV/DEC 2005 orgy. Perhaps if you could identify for me Just one sighting and a grower usually the bromeliad growing on the thatched roof includes ‘Hallelujah’ on the “Wish List”. I below. It would greatly ease my curiosity. complained to Olive Trevor that I could not Many Regards keep up with demand and Olive advised me Andrew Tremelling “fertilize it”. I replied that she had taught Andrew - Great photos, see back cover. Ed. me not to fertilize billbergias and her an- swer was “If you want plenty, fertilize Dear Ross them.” I was obedient and a few months Aechmea blanchetiana down the track I phoned her and said, “My With reference to Rob Smythe’s inter- Hallelujahs are green”. Olive laughed and esting article in the last edition, I grow three replied, “I bet you have plenty, now wait forms of Aechmea blanchetiana – gold, for the next generation”. green and yellow. Last season these ma- This was a great learning curve as I jestic plants were a blaze of colour when found I could have a range of colours in all three were in flower with identical clas- the one plant, depending on the amount of sic blanchetiana inflorescences. light given to each plant. They range from The bronze or gold form came from the quite dark green, almost black, through wonderful garden of Grace Goode and deep purple to palest pink, all with spots keeps the golden colour in our “all day and dots of cream and white. sun”, even in our hottest season. The gold I have seen it listed as “Billbergia ‘Hal- grows to the largest size with leaves that lelujah’ dark form” in society show results can be one and a half metres long. but this is incorrect. Don made just one that The green form was a seedling from Dr. we can manipulate using light to attain var- Arden Deardon. This plant stays a rich ied effects. apple green then is slowly diffused with see you soon, regards yellow coinciding with the formation of the Lyn Hudson inflorescence. Our yellow form Rob mentions came Dear Ross from seed from George Stamatis, formerly I have been growing bromeliads for a of Scottsbrough in South Africa. George considerable time and as you are looking purchased his plant from Dennis Cathcart for contributions from club members , I am of Florida. This plant is yellow throughout sending you two photos. I hope you can its life cycle but does not grow as large as use the prints because I don’t have a digit- the gold form; even in South Africa it is al camera. smaller. Each of our seedlings flowered true with best wishes to blanchetiana form. Helmut Jesse Billbergia ‘Hallelujah’ PS will we ever see the Jan/Feb 06 is- Billbergia ‘Hallelujah’ is one of the sue? most beautiful bromeliads available and I No probs using the prints I have used can almost picture Don Beadle exclaiming, them, as for the Jan/Feb issue, I wasn’t the “Well, hallelujah, just look at that!” when editor back then, however there are tenta- he saw the developing colours, then finally tive plans to produce an issue of sorts to the outstanding inflorescence. keep faith with the members. Ed. Bromeliaceae 47 NOV/DEC 2005 CALENDAR OF EVENTS: NOV. 2005 – FEB. 2006 (compiled by Bob Reilly)

5-6 November Society’s Spring show and sale of bromeliads at Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens. Over 500 varieties/hybrids will be on sale. Saturday (5th) 8am-4pm, Sunday (6th) 9am-3pm. Admission: $3-adults, under 14- free if accompanied by an adult.

17 November Society general meeting. Venue: Uniting Church Hall, 52 Merthyr Road, New Farm. • Beginners’ class topic: Growing miniature neoregelias. Discussion led by Arnold James. Commences 7.30pm. • Main meeting topic: A South American trip. Presenter: Greg Aizlewood. • Popular vote: Any genus-species or hybrid. • Plant of the month: Ursulaea, Vriesea, Werauhia, Wittrockia.

8 December Society’s Christmas party. There will be a free barbecue and monster bromeliad raffle. Join with other Society members in celebrating the festive season. Commences 7pm, at Uniting Church Hall, 52 Merthyr Road, New Farm.

19 January 2006 Society general meeting. Venue: Uniting Church Hall 52 Merthyr Road, New Farm. • Beginners Class topic: Growing decorative foliage vrieseas. Discussion led by Olive Trevor. Commences 7.30pm. • Main meeting topic: Different forms of Tillandsia fasiculata, T. jalisco-monticola and their hybrids. Please bring along any of these plants you may have. Discus sion leader: Nev Ryan. • Mini Show Class 1 Aechmea, Class 2-Vriesea, Class 3-Dyckia, Class 4. Any other mature (flowering) bromeliad. Species and hybrids are eligible for entry in all classes. • Plant of the month: Species and hybrids from the following genera: Aechmea, Alcantarea, Ananas Androlepsis, Areococcus, Ayensua.

16 February 2006 Society Annual General Meeting. Venue: Uniting Church Hall 52 Merthyr Road, New Farm. • Beginners Class topic: Fertilising bromeliads. Discussion leader: Peter Paroz. Commences 7.30pm. • Main meeting topic: Society’s Annual General Meeting followed by a slide evening presented by Doug Upton. • Popular vote: Any genus: species or hybrid. • Plant of the month: species and hybrids from the following genera: Billbergia, Brewcaria, Brocchinia, Bromelia. MIDHURST BROMELIAD NURSERY

SPECIALIST GROWERS OF TILLANDSIA SEEDLINGS Hard grown to suit All Australian conditions Wholesale and Mail Order Only Write for a free price list of Tillandsia and other genera to: MIDHURST BROMELIAD NURSERY P. O. BOX 612 HURSTBRIDGE, 3099 PHONE (03) 9718 2887 FAX (03) 9718 2760 EMAIL : [email protected] M. J. PATERSON 212 SANDY CREEK ROAD, GYMPIE, Qld 4570

Large Range of Bromeliads For Sale Especially our own Hybrid Tillandsias and Neoregelias

DO CALL IN IF YOU ARE UP THIS WAY BUT PLEASE PHONE FIRST

PHONE / FAX (07) 5482 3308 EMAIL: [email protected] PINEGROVE BROMELIADS

Specialising in Neoregelias, Aechmeas, Tillandsias, Vrieseas Gusmanias, Rare Species and Hybrids VISITORS WELCOME PHONE (02) 6683 4188 OPEN 7 DAYS Opportunity to view over 8000 different species and hybrids SEND LARGE STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE FOR MAIL LIST JUNE BUCHANAN P. O. BOX 61 - PINE STREET - WARDELL, NSW, 2477 THE OLIVE BRANCH Len and Olive Trevor 232 Canvey Road, Ferny Grove, Qld 4053 Specialising in hybrid Vrieseas, Aechmeas, Variegated Neoregelias Skotak Hybrids, Aussie Dream and varieties, and other quality Bromeliads Phone (07) 3351 1203 Visitors welcome by appointment - Please Phone First FOREST DRIVE NURSERY Located at REPTON, South of Coffs Harbour, NSW Specialising in species and varieties from mostly imported stock

Tillandsias to Titillate even the most discerning fanciers Beautiful Vrieseas (including Silver species), Guzmanias, Aechmeas, Neoregelias, etc. Visitors Welcome, Please Phone First (02) 6655 4130 Mail Order List - Send SAE Peter Tristram, PO Box 55, Repton, NSW, 2454 BRISBANE BROMELIAD CENTRE 34 Hauton Road, Morayfield 4506 HUGE SELECTION of Aechmeas, Vrieseas, Guzmanias, Neoregelias Nidularium & Tillandsias together with a variety of rarer species and hydrids BARBARA and LORRAINE Phone (07) 5433 0303 VISITORS by APPOINTMENT BROM-MAD Large range of Bromeliads Neoregelias & other Varieties, Species and Hybrids Visitors Welcome by Appointment

Linda and Graham Percival 1 Purcell Road, Bells Bridge, via Gympie. Q.4570 Enquires Phone (07) 5483 1634 Web Page http://www.brom-mad.netfirms.com BROMAGIC BROMELIAD NURSERY

421 Hunchy Rd, Palmwoods 4555 Open to the Public Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 – 4:30

A wide range of Bromeliads including first release Neoregelia hybrids

Web Site www.ozemail.com.au/~bromagic/ On-Site Sales: Bernd Ruta / Kirsty Kennedy 5478 8989 Wholesale: Keith Golinski - 54450441 SHADE HOUSES

Manufacturers of Orchid, Fern and Shade Houses since 1976

Ph: (07) 3207 2793 Fax: (07) 3822 2307 151 Railway Pde., Thornside, Q 4158 www.petersglen.com.au