Selected Species from NMQOC Species Appreciation Group 16 th April 2011 Photos courtesy of Graham Corbin Orchid commentary courtesy of Roger & Dorothy Finn
Bulbophyllum schillerianum • North East Queensland to Central New South Wales – Cooktown to Newcastle. • Pendulous epiphyte; grows on a variety of trees along streams and watercourses, near swamps. Likes a moist, humid, airy habitat. Prefers a shady site. • Easy to grow on cork or Callistemon. Water well in summer and sparingly in winter. Fertilize with low nitrogen during warmer weather. Grown in bush house in a shady location.
Sarcochilus hirticalcar • Endemic to North East Queensland – McIlwraith Range • Usually a small epiphyte growing on open vegetation along creeks and rivers and on floodplains in moist areas. Flowers are long lasting. • Grown on cork or hardwood in a fairly shady spot. Fertilize with low nitrogen in the warmer months and water copiously in summer and sparingly in winter.
Bulbophyllum macphersonii • Endemic to North Queensland – Cooktown to Rockhampton • Epiphyte. Found in rain forests above 500m altitude. Grows in sheltered, humid situations. • Flowers in the cooler months of the year March to August. Flowers are small but quite colourful. • Culture – on slab, require warm, humid situation with good air. Watered daily in summer and less in winter. Fertilised with low nitrogen in summer.
Brassavola nodosa • Central America, West Indies, Colombia, Venezuela • Epiphyte. Grows at low altitude – often in dry conditions. • Flowers periodically throughout the year with up to seven flowers on each inflorescence. Flowers are long lasting and are fragrant at night. • Culture – grown in pot of medium bark watered twice weekly in warmer months; even more often in very hot weather; weekly in winter. Fertilized – three weeks with high nitrogen and one week with low nitrogen. Low nitrogen in winter every fortnight. Cattleya bowringiana • Central America – Honduras, Guatemala, Belize. • Epiphyte, lithophyte. Along streams and on cliffs often in full sun. • Requires bright light and humid conditions. • Cultivation, In pot. Medium bark but with good drainage. Water twice a week in the warmer months and once every ten days in the cooler months. Fertilize with high nitrogen three consecutive weeks and with low nitrogen the fourth week. Flower booster in January and February does help. Luisia teretifolia • North East Queensland – Bamaga to Daintree River, Northern Northern Territory, New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia. • Grows on mangroves, rainforests, humid coastal scrubs on trees with scaly bark. Likes bright light. • Flowers in summer. Small clusters up to ten per stem • Cultivation – Needs warm humid conditions in bright light. Needs to be watered throughout year. Grown on slab. Fertilized with low nitrogen in Warmer months. Dockrillia bowmanii • East Coast of Australia from Atherton Tableland to Clarence River. • Coastal scrubs, drier edges of rain forests, open country. • Flowers sporadically with flushes in spring and autumn. All plants in a region flower at the same time –synchronous flowering.
• Cultivation – On slab. Good air. At least 50% shade. Fertilize with low nitrogen in warmer months.
Dendrobium toressae • East Coast of Australia from Cairns to Innisfail • Epiphyte and lithophyte. From Sea Level to 1000m. Can grow in full sun. • Quite hardy. Forms extensive mats. • Cultivation – On slab. Copious water in summer but less in winter. Grow under 50% shade. • Fertilizer – low nitrogen in warmer months.
Dendrobium lichenastrum • Endemic to North East Queensland – Cairns to Mackay • Epiphyte, lithophyte; found in rainforests and humid situations in open forests; usually above 500m. It prefers dappled sunlight but will grow in full sun. Will form huge colonies. • Grown on cork or Callistemon in bush house. Watered daily in summer and less in winter. Fertilised with low nitrogen in summer.
Dendrobium bigibbum var . bigibbum • Eastern side of Cape York Peninsular from north of Cooktown to Mt. Molloy. • Epiphyte, coastal scrubs, littoral forests, by swamps and gullies in more open forests. • Lilac-purple in colour. Larger, flatter. Opens widely • 2 Colour variants – white and blue. • Cultivation: water copiously in summer and refrain from watering in winter. Fertilise with high nitrogen from September until New Year. Then low nitrogen until end of flowering. Needs good air and good drainage. Grow under 50% shade.
Dendrobium bigibbum var. superbum
Dendrobium bigibbum var. superbum
Dendrobium bigibbum var. superbum
Aerides lawrenceae
Coelogyne ochracea
Dendrobium kanburiense
Coelogyne rochusseni Bulbophyllum crassipes
Kingidium decumbens
Phalaenopsis fasciata
Maxillaria valenzuelana
Dendrobium johannis
Spathoglottis petri
Cadetia taylorii
Laelia anceps Brassavola martiana
Oncidium incurvum
Dendrobium helix var . Mushroom Pink
Maxillaria valenzuelana
Doritis pulcherrima
Doritis pulcherrima var . buysonniana
Spathoglottis plicata