Atlanta Orchid Society Newsletter Submissions

The Atlanta Affiliated with the American Orchid Orchid Society, the Orchid Digest Corporation and the Mid-America Orchid Congress. Society 2001 Recipient of the American Orchid Society’s Distinguished Affiliated Bulletin Societies Service Award

Newsletter Editor: Danny Lentz

Volume 46: Number 11 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

NOVEMBER EVENTS

The Meeting: 8:00 Monday, November 14 at Atlanta Botanical Garden Linda Wilhelm, Woodland Orchids Oncidium Culture

Our November speaker will be Linda Wilhelm of Woodland Orchids. The company web site is at http://www.woodlandorchids.com

During the business portion of the meeting we will conduct our election of officers and directors for 2006. See the minutes of the October meeting on page 3 for the slate presented by the nominating committee.

Orchid Clinic: Before the meeting we will have someone available to answer questions on orchid growing from 7:15-7:45. If you bring a diseased or infested plant to ask questions about, please have it in a bag so that pests and fungal spores don’t spread to other plants at the meeting.

Atlanta and South Metro Orchid Societies Fall Show and Sale Location: Atlanta Botanical Garden, Day Hall Friday, November 11 to Sunday, November 13. Show setup is on Thursday, November 10. Bring your plants, bring your friends, help make our show a success! See details on pages 4-6.

Inside This Issue

Atlanta Orchid Society 2005 Officers…………………………………………..….…………… Page 2

Collector’s Item……Peristeria elata Hook. …by Ron McHatton…..……………………….... Page 2 Events Out and About………………Dates for your Calendar…………...……….…….……… Page 3 Minutes of the October Meeting ….…….…...……….………….…………..………...….… Page 3 The AtOS & SMOS Fall Show………………………………….………..………..…………... Page 4 Recent Blooms at the Atlanta Botanical Garden……………………………………………….. Page 6 The October Exhibition Table ………………………………….………..………..…………... Page 7 Notes from Art Chadwick’s presentation at the October meeting…………………………….. Page 9 Recent Awards from the Atlanta Judging Center……….……………………………………… Page 12

All contents © Atlanta Orchid Society unless otherwise noted.

Page 2 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

THE ATLANTA ORCHID SOCIETY COLLECTOR’S ITEM

Officers Peristeria elata Hook. Per-is-TER-ee-ah ee-LAY-tah President - David Mellard Tribe: Cymbidieae 3409 Regalwoods Drive Doraville, GA 30340 Subtribe: Stanhopeinae 770-270-5758 Etymology: Peristeria – Greek peristerion, meaning little dove; in allusion to the [email protected] similarity of the column, anther, and lateral lobes of the lip to a dove with wings spread Vice-President/Programs - elata – stately or handsome Richard Hallberg

152 Sloan St. Roswell, GA 30075 The genus Peristeria comprises some 11 species distributed from 770-587-5827 Trinidad through southern Central America southward to Brazil. All species [email protected] so far described are epiphytes or terrestrials at elevations from 600 to 1,200

Secretary - Sandy Phillips meters. These plants prefer open grassy areas in wet forests. The plants, 870 Virginia Circle NE superficially similar to many species of Phaius, are characterized by large, Atlanta, GA 30306 ovoid pseudobulbs with several internodes and two or three apical, thin, 404-874-1417 heavily veined leaves. Inflorescences, usually produced with the new [email protected] growth, appear from the base of the pseudobulb and are pendent in all but Treasurer - Reba Herzfeld one species, making basket culture the best option. Peristeria elata, the 4798 Summerset Lane exception in the genus, produces an upright inflorescence and can be Dunwoody, GA 30338 770-394-3731 accommodated in a pot rather well. All species do well under intermediate [email protected] conditions with abundant water and fertilizer throughout the year.

Immediate Past President - Peristeria elata, commonly called the “Dove Orchid” is the state flower Evan Dessasau III of Panama. The species occurs from Costa Rica to Colombia and Venezuela. 404-241-4819 The plants produce very large pseudobulbs and the erect inflorescence can [email protected] reach over 6 feet tall in well grown plants. Flowering typically occurs in

Directors (year term expires) July and August. The cup shaped flowers, up to 25 on the inflorescence,

Mark Reinke (2005) open successively over a long period of time and can reach up to 5cm in 864-718-0152 diameter. The waxy, bone white flowers, vary little in the amount and [email protected] distribution red markings on the sepals and petals. Jeff Whitfield (2005) 770-634-6153 [email protected] Sondra Nierenberg (2006) 770-579-3376 [email protected] Fred Missbach (2006) 404-237-1694 [email protected] Mikie Emerson (2007) 404-289-3684 [email protected] Danny Lentz (2007) 770-640-0112 [email protected]

Other Volunteers Newsletter Editor/Greengrowers Danny Lentz

Webmaster - Tom Kaschak [email protected]

Librarians - Mikie Emerson and Karen Chandler

Show Chair – David Mellard Plants grown by Atlanta Botanical Garden. Photos © Danny Lentz

Page 3 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

Events Out and About MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER MEETING

November • The Atlanta Orchid Society meeting was brought to order by Saturday, 11/5. 8th Annual Slipper President David Mellard. The minutes from the last meeting Symposium in Kissimmee, FL. Contact: were approved as written. Jamie Lawson, 888-619-7687. • The Birmingham Orchid Show was a success: sales were [email protected] good. Members of the Atlanta Orchid Society took 15-20 http://home.cfl.rr.com/slipperorchids ribbons. Thanks to all who donated plants and who helped with our exhibit at the show: Karen Chandler, Judy Demery, Mikie Friday-Sunday, 11/11-13. Atlanta and Emerson, Roy Harrow, Geni Smith and others. South Metro Orchid Societies Fall Show • Many plants were bought to the orchid clinic, which begins and Sale, ABG, Day Hall. Contact: David at 7:15 before each meeting. Mellard, 404-498-0443 or 770-270-5758, • Tom Kaschak has served well in the capacity of web master [email protected] . the last three years and is ready to give up the position. If you can support the society by volunteering to maintain our web site, Saturday, 11/12. American Orchid Society please let David Mellard know. monthly judging, Atlanta Judging Center, 2 pm, ABG basement workshop. If entering • The speaker at the next meeting may be a vendor as the plants, please arrive before 1:30 pm to allow scheduled speaker, David Mellard, will may have to go out of time for research and paperwork. town on business. • Our silent auction item tonight was a set of orchid note cards Monday, 11/14. Atlanta Orchid Society drawn by AtlOS member Bill Frye. An excellent article written monthly meeting, ABG, Day Hall, 8 p.m. by Bill will be published in the AOS magazine early next year. Speaker: David Mellard will speak on • Elaine Jacobson announced the nominating committee “Using the Right Fertilizer Based on Water selection for the 2006 slate of officers and trustees as follows. Quality”. o President: Richard Hallberg o Vice President: Mark Reinke December o Secretary: Sandy Phillips

Saturday, 12/10. American Orchid Society o Treasurer: Reba Herzfeld monthly judging, Atlanta Judging Center, 2 o Trustees for 3 year period: Barbara Dampog pm, ABG basement workshop. If entering and Rob Rinn plants, please arrive before 1:30 pm to allow • Flyers for the Orchid Show are available to put into local time for research and paperwork. shops as advertisements. David will send an email, featuring info about the show, to us that it can be forwarded to those we Monday, 12/12. Atlanta Orchid Society know, as another way to bolster attendance. Sign up sheets are monthly meeting, ABG, Day Hall, 8 p.m. available for openings to man vendor booths, while vendors give Holiday party. Please bring a covered dish talks to judges and individuals to help serve food. Show up on and an orchid-related gift. Thurs., November 10th beginning at 9am to help with show set up. Paul could use some help with the exhibit, as well. • The speaker, Art Chadwick, Jr. presented an interesting JOIN THE ORCHID DIGEST program about large-flowered Cattleyas. CORPORATION • Our thanks to our orchid judges: Bob Grzesik, Richard Don’t let the name fool you, the Orchid Hallberg, Sondra Nierenberg, Bill Smith, Jeff Whitfield, Jeffrey Digest is a non-profit membership-based Wolf. organization dedicated to orchids. Designed • Our thanks to those who donated plants to the raffle table: to appeal to the mid-range to advanced Roy Harrow, Fred Missbach, Rob Rinn, Helen Weil and others. grower nothing beats the Orchid Digest. For Our thanks to those who brought refreshments: Cathy Caine, just $32/year you get 4 issues of full-color, Barbara Dampog, Carolyn and Mike Dufano, Rita Goldstein, in-depth articles about orchids. The Bob Grzesik and Terry, Sandy Phillips, Mary Helen Reinhard, magazine is large format and the fourth issue of the year is always an extra-special issue Geni Smith and others.

devoted to a single genus. For membership The meeting was adjourned. application forms contact Fred Missbach (404-237-1694) Respectfully submitted, Sandy Phillips

Page 4 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

The Atlanta and South Metro Orchid Societies Fall Show and Sale November 11 and 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. November 13, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Atlanta Botanical Garden, Day Hall

Hi Atlanta Orchid Society Members,

Most of you have heard by now about our orchid show in November at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. I thought I would put a few things about the show in the newsletter in case you’ve missed something at our meetings. The most important thing is that we make the show a society event and that the show is fun.

■ Your society needs your help in putting on the show. If you find yourself at the show with nothing to do, ask the show chair (David Mellard) what needs to be done.

■ Set up for the show is Thursday, November 10, starting at 9 a.m. By afternoon, everything is in full swing with societies and vendors putting in their exhibits and vendors setting up their sales tables. This is often the best time to put some orchids aside and pay the vendors later once they’ve finished setting up. Quite often you can just put your name on an orchid and talk to the vendor later when things are less hectic. Please be mindful that on Thursday vendors are putting in exhibits and setting up their sales tables so they might not have time to talk to you at great lengths about their orchids. Vendors often can use some help in bringing in their plants.

■ If you are entering orchids in the Atlanta exhibit, please try to bring them by 4 p.m. on Thursday. There is an entry process for orchids, which you need to follow. If you are not familiar with entering an orchid, other society members will be around to help you.

■ There are quite a few things that you can do on Thursday. They include: → help with AtOS’s exhibit, → help with hospitality, → help register orchids, → help vendors bring in orchids, and → run errands.

■ On Friday, November 11, ribbon judging starts at 9 a.m. If you’re a clerk, please be at Day Hall by 8:00 a.m. The society will need your help at 1 p.m. to take orchids from the exhibits to the basement classroom for those orchids that will be judged by AOS standards.

■ If you find yourself at the show on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday with nothing to do, please help out at the societies’ table. You can talk to newcomers about the American Orchid Society, Orchid Digest, and the Atlanta Orchid Society, talk about orchids, and more.

■ Please remember to sign up for specific items that are needed for hospitality. A sign-up sheet is available at the society’s monthly meetings. You also can call Reba Herzfeld (770-394-3731).

■ If you bring a hot dish, please bring it ready to serve or use the kitchen facilities to warm it up. Please note that you will be responsible for warming the dish you bring. The society will provide a ham and turkey. If you bring a hot dish, please bring it only on Saturday.

■ Show breakdown starts on Sunday, November 13 at 4 p.m. The room is clean in about 2 hours. Please help out since clean up goes faster with a lot of people helping.

And one last thing, just know that the show committee appreciates your help at the show. Page 5 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

Show Vendors AtOS & SMOS Fall Show Schedule of Events Andy’s Orchids Atlanta Botanical Garden, Day Hall Andy & Harry Phillips 734 Ocean View Avenue Wednesday -- November 9 Encinitas, CA Room Preparation – hang banners Noon 760-436-4239 Room Preparation – setup tables and skirting 3 p.m. www.andysorchids.com

Carolina Orchids Thursday -- November 10 Tom Nasser Setup for exhibits and vendors 9 a.m.- 10 p.m. 3637 Pleasant Road Hospitality room open Noon - 7 p.m. Fort Mill, SC 29708 Orchid registration 2 p.m. - 9 p.m. 803-548-1682 www.carolinaorch.com Friday -- November 11

Elmore Orchids Hospitality room open for vendors and show workers 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Jim Elmore Judges’ briefing and clerk assignments 8:30 a.m. 325 Elmore Lane Ribbon judging in Exhibition Hall 9 a.m. - Noon Knoxville, TN 37922 Luncheon setup (ABG, basement workshop) 10 a.m. - Noon 865-966-5294 Judges’/clerks’ luncheon (ABG, basement workshop) Noon - 1 p.m. www.elmoreorchids.com AOS judging (ABG, basement workshop) 1:00 p.m.

Hoosier Orchids nd Sales area in Day Hall open to public 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 8440 W. 82 Street Orchid exhibits open to public Noon - 5 p.m. Indianapolis, IN 46278 317-291-6269 Saturday -- November 12 www.hoosierorchid.com Show and sales open to public 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Marble Branch Farms Hospitality room open for vendors and show workers 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Gary Collier & Mark Reinke Monthly AOS judging (ABG, basement classroom) 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. 155 Marble Branch Trail (Note: Plants entered in the show are not eligible for Walhalla, SC 26961 Saturday’s AOS judging unless they were marked store.marblebranchfarms.com “Not for AOS judging” during ribbon judging on November 11) Marriott Orchids Hadley Cash Sunday -- November 13 1039 Fairweather Drive Show and sales open to public 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Kernersville, NC 27284 Hospitality room opens for vendors and show workers 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 336-655-5883 Judges’ training (ABG, basement workshop) 8 a.m. - Noon www.marriottorchids.com Show Breakdown 4 p.m. Mountain View Orchids Kurt Studier

900 Pendleton Street Orchid Inn, Ltd. Silk Synergy Greenville, SC 29601 Sam Tsui Julie Jennings www.mountainvieworchids.com 19785 Wesley Street 678-475-1617 Nature Glassworks Downs, IL 61736 768-575-1178 cell after 3:30 Larry & Linda Mayse 309-378-2531 www.silksynergy.com P.O. Box 998 www.orchidinnusa.com Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-442-8190 Peach State Orchids Woodland Orchids www.natureglass.com Bill Ellenberg Rolf & Linda Wilhelm 920 Homer Rd 1816 Hart Road Wenzel Orchids Woodstock, GA 30188 Charlotte, NC 28214 Cesar Wenzel 770-571-8770 704-394-6530 www.wenzelorchids.com.br www.peachstateorchids.com www.woodlandorchids.com [email protected] Page 6 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

Parking at ABG during the orchid show

The society has made arrangement with the garden to reserve a certain number of parking spaces for people working the orchid show. These spaces are reserved for vendors, judges, and society members who are working the show. When you arrive, let the guards know that you are WORKING the orchid show. If space is available, you will be allowed to park in the parking lot at the garden. Please use these spaces only if you are working the show (e.g., set-up on Thursday , clerking on Friday, working hospitality, working the society's table on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday ). Spaces are more likely to be available early in the morning rather than late morning or afternoon. Once the garden runs out of spaces in the parking lot and driveway you will just have to find street parking somewhere. The garden is not running shuttles from any remote parking lots.

If you are entering plants on Thursday and a parking space is not available, politely let the guards know that you are dropping off plants. They should let you drive up to the circle and bring your plants in before parking your car.

Sometimes the word doesn't always get to every parking attendant so if a guard does not know what you are talking about, please let me know so I can talk to ABG staff.

-David Mellard

Recent Blooms at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, October 2005

Photos © Danny Lentz

Angraecum birrimense Lepanthes sp. Scaphosepalum decorum Photos © Danny Lentz

Phal. violacea fma. albescens Masdevallia erinacea Coryhopea bud Page 7 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

OCTOBER 2005 EXHIBITION TABLE AWARDS with notes by Mark Reinke

CLASS 1: CATTLEYA ALLIANCE Blue Laelia dayana ‘Hartford’, AM/AOS Harrow Blue Potinara (Susan Fender ‘Cover Girl’ x Slc. Final Touch ‘Golden Fleece’) Collier/Reinke Red Potinara Little Toshie ‘Golden Fantasy,’ HCC/AOS Collier/Reinke White Slc. Barefoot Mailman ‘H&R’ Collier/Reinke

(Blue) Laelia dayana ‘Hartford’, AM/AOS : Although entered as Laelia praestans, this plant is

Pot. (Susan Fender x Slc. Final Touch) clearly the closely related species Laelia dayana. Both are also very closely related to a third species, Laelia pumila. All are dwarf growing Brazilian orchids which, out of flower, are really impossible to tell apart. Laelia dayana flowers, however, are clearly distinguished by a more boldly marked lip – intense purple with a white throat distinctly veined in the same shade of purple. The ‘Hartford’ clone shows better form than is typical for this species, which usually exhibits distinctly reflexed sepals and petals. They grow on moss and lichen covered trees in the tropical forest on the slopes of the Organ Mountains in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and in culture, do best with somewhat less light, high humidity, adequate water and good drainage. The plant exhibited was growing very happily in a moss filled basket. The flowers are borne one, or very rarely two, to a stem without a sheath on newly developing growths in summer though fall. They are large in relation to the plant size, and the clones such as ‘Hartford,’ AM/AOS, with their better form, offer some new promise that quality miniature Laelia dayana ‘Hartford’ hybrids may yet still come from this charming species!

(Blue) unreg. Potinara (Susan Fender ‘Cover Girl’ x Slc. Final Touch ‘Golden Fleece’) : This cross was made by Carter & Holmes Orchids of Newberry, SC, who are famous for their breeding of spectacular large flowered cattleyas, especially in yellows and dark reds. Their intention with this particular cross was to maintain the form and character of these large hybrids, while scaling down the size a bit. They are calling this new direction in cattleya breeding ‘small standard.’ This particular plant is exactly the result they were looking for, growing about half the size of its larger cousins, but still exhibiting a full, flat flower with a high degree of ruffling on the edges of the petals and lip. These traits are frequently diminished in other compact hybrids. This plant received a provisional Award of Merit from the Atlanta Judging Center on October 8th of this year. It is provisional in that until the cross is registered by the breeder with the Royal Horticultural Society, and published in their list of new orchid hybrids, the award cannot be sent in by the judging center to be included in Awards Quarterly. It is only after appearing in an issue of this publication that an award by the American Orchid Society is considered official. Since this entire process could easily take 18 months or more, one can see that patience is a virtue when exhibiting plants for this special recognition!

CLASS 2: CYMBIDIUM : No Entries

CLASS 3: DENDROBIUM Blue Dendrobium Darlin Imp Brinton/Park Red Dendrobium hybrid Weil

(Blue) Dendrobium Darlin Imp : Dendrobium Darlin Imp is seven eighths Dendrobium bigibbum ssp. compactum and perfectly exhibits the desirable traits of this species, which is also considered a part of the Dendrobium phalenopsis complex. They come from the eastern side of the Cape York Peninsula of Australia and grow in fairly exposed and harsh conditions in the wild. Many hobbyists shy away from this group of orchids because they Dendrobium Darlin Imp have a reputation for being difficult or inconsistent growers. They can do quite well, and will flower often, producing very long lasting spikes of two-inch flowers and specimen sized plants if a few necessary cultural requirements are met. Grow them bright and airy, either on a cork slab, or under potted with open mix in a clay pot. They need to dry out quickly, and should be only very lightly fed with fertilizer that has a low nitrogen content. They can be watered often in active growth, but should be more lightly watered in the cooler months when they experience little rainfall in the wild. It is still important to keep the ambient humidity up during this period however, to avoid shriveling of the canes.

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CLASS 4: EPIDENDRUM Blue Epidendrum floribundum Collier/Reinke

(Blue) Epidendrum floribundum : There remains a great deal of taxonomic confusion among the reed stemmed Epidendrums! Most plants in the trade sold as Epidendrum floribundum match the look of the exhibited plant. Many sources make this species synonymous with Epidendrum paniculatum which is described as a large growing variable species found in wet tropical forests in widely disjunctive areas in South America. The exhibited plant, however, displays more compact growth, and more upright and stiffly arrange branched spikes that don’t match the descriptions of Epi. paniculatum particularly well. It will take someone with an extreme amount of commitment a very long time to thoroughly untangle the Epidendrum genus, so we may never see a definitive work that sorts out what appears to be a number of quite variable Epidendrum floribundum species. This particular plant is easily grown under normal bright conditions and carries a light, but sweet fragrance in its very long lasting flowers.

CLASS 5: ONCIDIUM ALLIANCE Blue Oncidium Autumn Splash Rinn Red Aliceara Chase Yagar Rinn White Beallara Marfitch ‘Howard’s Dream’ AM/AOS Rinn

(Blue) Oncidium Autumn Splash : This recent cross was registered by Woodland Orchids in 2004. It is a hybrid between Oncidium Cloud Ears ‘Mocha Delight’ and Oncidium forbesii. The hybrid parent also contains Ocidium forbesii as an ancestor, giving this cross a double dose of that species. Both parents have received a number of AOS flower quality and culture awards, so I would expect the same for this grex in the future. As Richard Hallberg pointed out at the meeting, Oncidium forbesii is considered a more difficult grower, hailing from the coastal tropical forests of Brazil and requiring good humidity at all times. But its glossy, brownish flowers with a Oncidium Autumn Splash lacey yellow border and wide segments are coveted by lovers of the Ocidium alliance. This hybrid gives hobbyists flowers with these desirable traits on an easier growing plant.

(Red) Aliceara Chase Yagar : Entered under the parent’s names, this hybrid was also registered by Woodland Orchids in 2004. Aliceara = Brassia + Miltonia + Oncidium

CLASS 6: CYPRIPEDIUM ALLIANCE Blue Paph. Oberhausens Diament Whitfield Red Paph. purpuratum Mellard/Marino White Paph. Harrisianum Mellard/Marino Blue Phrag. Les Dirouilles Whitfield Red Phrag. Grande Rinn White Phrag. (Mem. Dick Clements x caricinum) Whitfield

(Blue) Paphiopedilum Oberhausens Diament : Entered under is parental names, this hybrid was registered in 1995 and has garnered two Awards of Merit from the AOS, one in 1998 and the other in 2000. The exhibited plant seemed to compare favorably with the awarded clones in shape, size and coloration. The cross is Paph. primulinum x sanderianum, a marriage of two multifloral, but otherwise quite dissimilar Paph. species! The pod parent (listed first in the cross) hails from the north side of Sumatra and carries small, Oberhausens sequentially opening flowers usually concolor pale greenish yellow. The pollen parent (listed second in the Diament cross) is from Borneo and bears up to 5 simultaneously opening, richly colored flowers with truly remarkable twisted petals than can exceed 3 feet in length! Obviously, the ability to pass this unusual trait along to its progeny is limited, and is been most successful when paired with other species or hybrids with fairly long petals. Both parents are found in the wild growing on limestone, so one would expect extra calcium, magnesium and iron to be essential for optimal growth in this hybrid.

(Blue) Phragmipedium Les Dirouilles : This hybrid is Phrag. Grande x Sorcerer’s Apprentice, registered in 1999 by the Eric Young Foundation. Phrag. longifolium is a grandparent on both sides of this cross, with Phrag. caudatum and Phrag. sargentianum rounding out its family tree. One should not expect a ‘windowsill orchid’ with these parents! There have been at least six flower quality awards granted to specific clones of this cross by the AOS to date, two of them bestowed just this year. The overall look and coloration of these is not too different from Phrag. Sorcerer’s Apprentice, except that the petals are slightly Page 9 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005 longer and droop under the influence of Phrag. Grande. All ‘Phrags’ do well under fairly bright conditions compared to many (but not all) of their ‘Paph’ cousins, and considerably more water. For those not yet initiated into the world of ‘Phrags,’ they are one of the few orchid groups that prefer to be very wet at all times, and will even grow in standing water as long as it is kept clean!

CLASS 7: PHALAENOPSIS ALLIANCE Blue Phal. violacea Grzesik Red Dtps. Kenneth Schubert Brinton/Park White Doritis pulcherrima fma. alba (peloric) Brinton/Park

(Blue) Phal. violacea : Perhaps the one species in this genus that has developed an almost ‘cult’ following, Phalaenopsis violacea, at first seems an unlikely source of such attention! Unlike the many flashy hybrids available in this group, P. violacea does not demand our attention with tall, arching inflorescences thickly clothed in large round flowers. Instead, she seduces those willing to step closer to examine her more subtle beauties. Smell the intoxicating perfume, rare in this genus. Marvel at the intricate and saturated colors in the small, star-shaped flowers which open one at a time in succession for up to several years on a short zig-zag stem. You may soon be a believer too! This plant displays the contrasting color patterns characterized by those plants of this species found on the island of Bornea. It grows near sea level there in warmth, deep shade, and high humidity, so consider these cultural requirements when P. violacea draws you under her spell!

CLASS 8: VANDACEOUS ALLIANCE Blue Aerangis distincta Mellard/Marino Red Neostylis Lou Sneary ‘Colorful Blue’ Brinton/Park White Angreacum (superbum x brongniartianum) Harrow

(Blue) Aerangis distincta : This very attractive species was just identified in 1987 and comes only from the East African nation of Malawi. Like many other members of the genus, the plants are fairly small and the leaves spread out like a fan on a single plane. This species is notable for having two to five proportionally large flowers on each spike (may grow several at once) accented by a nectar spur up to 8 inches long. They grow well mounted, with moderate shade and frequent watering to mimic their native environment on tree branches in trunks in tropical evergreen forests.

(White) Angreacum (superbum x brongniartianum) : Angraecum brongniartianum is Aerangis distincta sometimes listed as a subspecies of Angraecum eburneum, but more recently is being considered synonymous with Angraecum superbum. Following the most recent taxonomy, this plant would then be entered simply as Angraceum superbum.

CLASS 9:MISCELLANEOUS OTHER GENERA

Blue Cirr. Lovely Elizabeth ‘Marble Branch’ AM,CCM/AOS Collier/Reinke Blue Bulb. phalaenopsis Whitfield Red Cycnoches barthiorum Collier/Reinke Red Cirr. guttulatum Dampog White Bulb. grandiflorum? Geni Smith

(Blue) Cirrhopetalum Lovely Elizabeth ‘Marble Branch,’ AM/AOS, CCM/AOS : This plant has received the best qualities from its famous parent Cirrhopetalum Elizabeth Ann ‘Buckleberry,’ FCC/AOS. The cross combines this fine clone with one of its parents, Cirrhopetalum rothschildianum. However, the exceptional vigor of this particular plant seems to greatly exceed either of its parents, with all leads making two growths in the season, and many bulbs producing two spikes instead of one. If you are fortunate, as we were, to be able to choose a plant from among a number of first Cirrhopetalum Lovely Elizabeth blooming seedlings, it pays to make careful observations about both plant habit and the ‘Marble Branch’ quality of the blooms. In this case, not only were the flowers larger, with more distinct markings and intense colors than its siblings, but the foliage was neat and upright rather than lax like many others on the bench. It looked like a winner, and in just 4 years became the specimen that earned both and Award of Merit and a Certificate of Cultural Merit from the Atlanta Judging Center on October 8th! The two species involved in this hybrid are now being returned to the genus Bulbophyllum. They both require frequent watering and moderately bright light to flourish. Page 10 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

(Blue) Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis : This imminently fascinating species owes its name to the superficial resemblance of its leaves to those of a Phalaenopsis, though only Phal. gigantea could hope to match them in size! It is found at low elevations in New Guinea, and produces short clusters of fairly large ‘fuzzy’ purple flowers with a ‘fragrance’ meant to attract flies, its chief pollinator. If you didn’t get an opportunity for closer inspection at the show table, just think about the things flies are most attracted to, and you get the picture! Most cultural guides suggest growing this species very shady, with high humidity and good air circulation. However, the plant exhibited had obviously been grown in stronger light as evidenced by the reddish hue of the leaves and still flowered well!

(Red) Cycnoches barthiorum : This species was just described in 1999 and is a warm grower from low elevations in Colombia. It has already earned several AOS awards for the long showy spikes of male flowers it produces. All Cycnoches produce male and female flowers on separate spikes, sometimes on the same plant at the same time, but not typically. They are also truly deciduous orchids, shedding their leaves from the Cycnoches barthiorum current seasons growth as the drier winter months arrive. If kept in good humidity, they will require absolutely no water again until new growth is underway in the spring! Then, water and feed copiously to build strength for the next round of blooms.

(White) Bulbophyllum grandiflorum (?) : Entered as Bulbophyllum laciniatum, which it clearly is not, but probably Bulb. grandiflorum or a closely related species to it.

Thanks to Bill White for providing the pictures from the October show table.

A Few More Notes From Alan Koch

After seeing the October newsletter Alan had a couple comments to make. He wanted to reiterate that in his experience breeding with Laelia alaorii (he has made over a dozen crosses with it), he has found it to be color neutral and shape recessive in its crosses. Alan also said that the “Cattleya walkeriana ‘Kenny’” clone I showed a picture of last month is actually Cattleya Snow Blind, which is ((Little Angel x walkeriana) x walkeriana). Below are a couple pictures from Alan of Cattleya walkeriana clones.

Alan also had this to say about Epidendrum floribundum: “Hope I can shed some light on the plant going around as Epi. floribundum. As [Mark] pointed out it is a well known reed-stem that is grand in stature. All of the plants floating around came out of a clone from Carmela orchids, Epidendrum floribundum 'Miya.' This plant was widely distributed and resembled what you get when you cross a reed stem Epidendrum with an Encyclia. In fact the plant looked identical to a hybrid floating around Hawaii that Goodale Moir had used, Epidendrum Mabel Kanda a hybrid of Epi. floribundum and Enc. cordigera alba. This hybrid has been remade and looks just like the clone of floribundum floating around. I have tried three times to self the plant to see if it segregates out to the two species we believe it to be and the hybrid, but we have not been successful in getting a pod.” Photo provided by Alan Koch Photo provided by Alan Koch

C. walkeriana ‘Gold Country’ C. walkeriana ‘Welcome Back’ Page 11 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

A Few Notes from Art Chadwick Jr’s Talk About Large-flowered Cattleya Species David Mellard

1. Seventeen species make up the large-flowered Cattleya group. Art gave an overview of each of the large-flowered Cattleyas pointing out their bloom time, flower number, size, and most importantly flower longevity. 2. Historically, seven species played prominent rolls in creating hybrids for the cut-flower market: dowiana, gaskelliana, labiata, mossiae, percivaliana, schroderae, and trianiae. While this group produces great hybrids with good form and color, a major drawback is short-lived flowers, usually lasting only two or three weeks. 3. Chadwick and Son Nursery is focusing its breeding efforts to produce hybrids with long-lasting blooms that grow well in lower light conditions, bloom a couple of times a year, and produce multiple off-shoots. 4. Several species have longer lasting flowers. They include trianaei (6 weeks), perciviliana (4 weeks), eldorado (6 weeks), and rex (6 weeks). 5. Art then pointed out several characteristics of certain species that are important factors to consider when creating hybrids. a. C. trianaei and C. schroderae have great form and color variation and produce 2 leads per year. b. C. perciviliana is small growing, blooming around the December holidays. c. C. dowiana has short-lived flowers, often only a week, so should be avoided. d. Several species prefer warm nights, including eldorado, lawrenceana, and dowiana and so are more suitable for the southeast. e. C. luteola grows in low-light conditions. 6. The demise of the Cattleya cut-flower market occurred in the 1960s when Cymbidium breeding produced large flowers that lasted longer and shipped better. 7. The Chadwicks will publish a book on Cattleyas in spring 2006. 8. Art talked very little about culture but mentioned that he uses shredded Cypress mulch in clay pots to grow Cattleyas. He did not provide a list of ingredients in his mix.

Note: The September 2005 Orchids magazine has an article written by the Art Chadwick Sr. entitled, “A Review of Cattleyas.” It covers much of Art’s talk.

Cattleya percivaliana Cattleya trianae Cattleya schroderae Page 12 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE ATLANTA

JUDGING CENTER

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

Cycnoches Jean E. Monnier ‘Cygnet Pond’ HCC 76 pts ( barthiorum x cooperi ) Natural Spread: 6.2cm H x 5.5cm V Fifteen slightly cupped male flowers attractively displayed on one pendent inflorescence; sepals and petals chartreuse heavily overlaid and evenly spotted cocoa brown, darker on reverse; lip yellow, cocoa brown distally; column maroon; substance firm; texture waxy. Exhibitor: David R. Janvrin

Laeliocattleya Amphion ‘Ramona Lee’

HCC 78 pts ( Lc. S. J. Bracey x L. tenebrosa )

Natural Spread: 16.5cm H x 17.0cm V

Two striking flowers on one inflorescence; sepals and

petals rust, finely reticulated dark bronze, chartreuse

basally; lip royal purple, faint white vein centrally,

pleasingly ruffled; substance heavy; texture diamond dust.

Exhibitor: Fred Missbach

JOIN THE AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY

For $46.50/year, you reap the following benefits: © 2005 Danny Lentz • 12 issues of Orchids, the Society’s monthly full color magazine chock full of insightful articles and tempting ads for plants and supplies. Cynorkis uncinata ‘Mello Spirit’ AM 82 pts • 10% off on purchases from the Society’s Bookstore Natural Spread: 2.5cm H x 3.0cm V and Orchid Emporium. Reduced or free admission to Twenty full flowers and 16 buds evenly arranged in an participating botanical gardens. attractive umbel on one 30-cm upright inflorescence;

For a limited time, if you join for two years ($84) you will flowers uniformly pink; hooded dorsal sepal covers also get a $30 gift certificate (good on an order of $100 or column and minute petals; reflexed lateral sepals spotted more) at any one of 13 commercial growers who advertise maroon on proximal half; prominent lip with a vibrant fuchsia band centrally; substance soft; texture crystalline. in Orchids. JOIN TODAY. For information, contact Exhibitor: David Mellard & Sal Marino Evan Dessasau (404-241-4819) Page 13 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

Aerangis arachnopus ‘Mello Spirit’ CBR Natural Spread: 2.0cm H x 10.7cm V Two flowers on one pendent 20-cm inflorescence borne on a 15-cm © 2005 Danny Lentz diameter plant mounted on cork; leaves lanceolate to 2.4 x 15-cm, unequally and obtusely bilobed at the apex, dotted black on reverse; flowers white, fringed pink, all narrowly lanceolate and acuminate; 9.5-cm long spur olive green; 4.0-cm ovary olive green; substance firm; texture waxy; recognized for rarity in cultivation and educational value. Cattleya labiata fma. coerulea ‘Roberto’ Species native to Africa; identified by AM 84 pts ( ‘Junior’ x ‘Panelas’ ) Harold Koopowitz, PhD and Natural Spread: 15.1cm H x 16.3cm V confirmed by Joyce Stewart Four flat flowers well-presented on one inflorescence; September 20, 2005. flowers uniformly pale blue; lip midlobe deep blue- purple with light blue veins basally overlaid light Exhibitors: David Mellard & Sal

I’d like to thank Ron McHatton for all of the effort he has put F.Y.I. I found Deadline slug & snail killer into the newsletter over the past two years. After Ron ended his at the Pike Family Nurseries store in term as editor he kept providing content for us every month and Roswell. I think this is the first time I’ve made my job a whole lot easier. Due to time constraints Ron has seen it locally, we have purchased it from finally started handing off those duties. As you may have noticed Carter & Holmes in the past. already, Mark Reinke has taken over writing notes for the ribbon judging. I will take over the Collector’s Item column in January unless someone else would like to volunteer for the job.

Harvey Stinchcomb in Social Circle is If anyone else would like to help schedule Greengrowers outings trying to cut down his orchid collection they might occur more often, I’ll get around to scheduling and has many plants on sale, mostly another one eventually. Cattleyas. 770-464-3306 -danny lentz

Join the Atlanta Orchid Society Newsletter Submissions

Membership in the Atlanta Orchid Society is $30 for To submit material for the newsletter, or to sign up for the email individuals or $45 for households. Yearly membership version of the newsletter, please contact Danny Lentz. The deadline for submissions is the 20th of the previous month. runs January 1-December 31. Anyone joining in the third quarter will get a 50% discount on the current MAIL TO: Danny Lentz year’s membership. Anyone joining in the fourth quarter 1045 Wordsworth Dr. will purchase a membership for the following year. You Roswell, GA 30075 can join at one of our monthly meetings, or contact the EMAIL: [email protected] society’s Treasurer (see page 2) for a membership application. Advertising Advertising is now being accepted for our newsletter. The size For directions to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, please and number of ads may be limited at the discretion of the editor. visit their web site at www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org or Advertising Rates per issue are: ¼ page $10, ½ page $20, full contact one of our society’s officers listed on page 2. page $40.

Page 14 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org November 2005

Announcing the Grand Opening of our On-line Store!

www.marblebranchfarms.com

Gary Collier & Mark Reinke – General Partners

AtOS Member Special – Take 10% off your order and we will bring your plants to the next meeting, saving you shipping costs! To receive this discount DO NOT complete your purchase on line (you can still create a shopping cart to look at – but do not complete payment process). Instead email us your order and we will process it manually. You may still pay by Visa, Mastercard, Cash or Check! EMAIL TO: [email protected]

Marble Branch Farms 155 Marble Branch Trail Walhalla, SC 29691 (864) 718-0152

Please visit our web site at http://www.atlantaorchidsociety.org

The Atlanta Orchid Society web site contains recent newsletters and articles, cultural information for growing orchids in Atlanta, as well as a calendar of events and information about our annual shows. © 2005 Eric Hunt (www.orchidphotos.org)

Maxillaria elatior