NEWS East London LETTER Bromeliad Society September 2018 South Africa Established: 25 July 2009

Our aim is to promote and encourage awareness and interest in Bromeliads in East London and all of South Africa!

ELBS SA is an Affiliated Society of Bromeliad Society International

August Garden Visit and Meeting

In spite of a really awful windy and cold day, thirty five of us gathered at the home of Mike and Mandy Godfrey in Quenera Drive for the August meeting. They are not society members so we are very thankful they let us invade their lovely home and garden for the afternoon! Luckily we were able to hold the meeting in their pool area which was Our welcoming hosts for the afternoon, Mike sheltered. Those who and Mandy Godfrey. took a wander around the extensive gardens were treated to a vast bed of bromeliads, ducks and chickens in the background, a charming planting of spring annuals and a lovely serene outlook with a paddock and donkeys being very unsuccessfully herded Mavis Downey and Tracy Moss in one of the packed shade houses. by the sheepdog! Their garden was one of the Pam Golding Show Gardens last year and they are entering again this year. So those of you who have never been, do make the trip, it is too lovely to miss. It has taken Mike and Mandy 38 years of hard work, love and faith to

Next Meeting: Sunday 30 September - A travelling meeting! We meet from 2pm at 14 Seeton Road, Beacon Bay for the first stop, we will walk around the corner to the second venue. Details in the newsletter and directions and information will be e-mailed to you.

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turn what was once a derelict farmhouse and lands with no fencing what so ever into what it is today, a home with lots of other buildings and gardens and a friendly dog around every corner to make you feel welcome. Did I mention the highlight of the visit? wandering around the shade houses filled with bromeliads galore, collected by Mike over many, many years. Mike is the collector and Mandy is the gardener, or as I like to say ‘the worker!’ Members were able to browse and shop for broms after the meeting and tea. Mike and Mandy’s home is a gracious old farm house with an interesting Royal connection: In 1947 the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret arrived at the farm, Hluhuwe, then owned by Mr C. H. O’Reilly just off the Bonza Bay Road, for a morning horse ride on the farm as part of their visit to East London on their Royal tour when Princess Elizabeth opened the EL Harbour Dry Dock named after her. Mike and Mandy were able to track down the original article about the morning ride on the farm which appeared in the Daily Dispatch on Tuesday 4 March 1947. A framed copy hangs in the lounge. Thank you Mike and Mandy for being such awesome and welcoming hosts, everyone enjoyed the meeting and we all look forward to visiting again when your garden is part of the Pam Golding Show Gardens of East London in November.

Dudley welcomed everyone to the meeting and we got straight into the main part of the meeting which was a presentation of a variety of blooming bromeliads brought along by some of the members.

Blooming Bromeliads Dudley Reynolds:

Hohenbergia correia-araujoi: This is endemic to Brazil. Semi tubular, lower leaves normally hang over the pot. Lovely silver banding on a bronze colour background. This pups profusely and is a great plant even without the unusual which gets tiny yellow flowers. Bright to medium light seems to suit this species.

Vriesea ‘Purple Pendant’ . Easy to grow and prefers shady conditions. Has a purple cascading inflorescence with yellow flowers. Speculated parentage of this plant is V. retroflexa and V. ensiformis.

Aechmea ‘Bert’ variegated: This is a very old hybrid which has been around for over 70 Vriesea ‘Purple Pendant’ Aechmea ‘Bert’ variegated: Hohenbergia correia-araujoi years. The parents are Ae. orlandiana and Ae. fosteriana. This inflorescence has already flowered and the seed pods look nice and plump, ready for sowing.

Tillandsia fasciculata: Found as a species widely distributed across , , , Northern South Nidularium innocentii fasciculata America and Southern USA. 21 cultivars have stemmed from this species. It has stiff leaves, which form clumps, grown in bright to lightly shaded areas. Bears, a compound inflorescence which is yellow/red/ orange in colour, the corolla is lilac.

Nidularium innocentii: : Endemic to the Atlantic forests of South Eastern Brazil. This plant is found in different

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forms, with an orange bract: N. innocentii var innocentii; N. innocentii striatum and N. innocentii lineatum. This one is N. innocentii . A shade loving plant with a discolour leaf.

Lyn Wegner:

Tillandsia leonamiana: A beautiful species originating from Brazil. I grow mine in full sun in the fork of a metal stand. I like to grow my Tillandsia as specimen . They look really good as a clump with numerous flower spikes. Easy growers. I water when I get a chance! I haven't managed to find the time to get back to fertilising which is on the cards!

Tillandsia 'Old Gold': This beauty arrived recently from Michal Kiehl. I have since learnt that T. 'Marron' and T. 'Old Gold' are probably the same plant. I have both 'varieties' and I love them! I grow mine in a sunny spot in spiked metal stands, water when I get a chance! and also haven't fertilised for a while. In other words I would class them as easy growers. Tillandsia 'Old Gold'

These plants are a form of T. Lyn’s Tillandsia leonamiana made a capitata. T. 'Old Gold' is a form from Bird Rock Tropicals and T. 'Marron' is gorgeous centre piece on the welcome from Rainforest Flora. Paul Isely mentions they can grow over 60cm in table. diameter. I read that they don't like cold temperatures. I don't find they struggle to grow in East London, so I guess we don't get cold enough to be a problem for them. They have reddish maroon succulent leaves that go yellow in the centre when it forms a 'head' as it prepares to bloom. And then to make it even more exciting out pop the bright purple flowers!

Dr Peter Pfister :

Nidularium ferdinando- coburgii is endemic to Brazil. An unusual inflorescence and striated, glossy leaves.

Guzmania variety with two lovely golden yellow flower spikes at different Nidularium ferdinando-coburgii Guzmania variety. stages of development. A soft leaved Guzmania that needs to be grown in a shady spot.

Brenda Wegner :

Aechmea covata : Hybrid; Seed Parent: A. comata , Pollen Parent: A. recurvata . Most of mine are grown in full sun where the tips of the leaves go a dark brown/black colour. Grown in the shade the leaves remain green.

Tillandsia leonamiana : This species is from Brazil. The flowers are salmon-pink to white, the leaves are stiff and curved. Grown in full sun. Tillandsia leonamiana Aechmea covata

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V r i e s e a carinata : This species from Brazil, I grow it in a shady spot with early morning sun.

Vriesea ‘ Rosette Heart’ : This was previously incorrectly referred to in East London as Vriesea carinata Vriesea ‘ Rosette Heart’ Quesnelia seideliana Vriesea ‘Chocolate Box’. It has a lovely plum coloured inflorescence with yellow flowers.

Quesnelia seideliana : Species from South Eastern Brazil. It has an unusual turquoise coloured bloom. No other Bromeliad has the same colour. Grown in shade to half shade.

Barbara Black : Tillandsia bulbosa ‘ Belize’: This is the larger, more colourful form of T. bulbosa from Belize in Central America. It is a very attractive and colourful oddity. Long, twisting and contorted cylindrical bright green leaves grow from a large, bulbous base which just fascinates me. Produces bracts that colour up a bright red as it prepares to bloom, from which emerge purple tubular flowers. It can produce many offsets around the base of the parent plant Tillandsia bulbosa ‘ Belize’ becoming a spectacular multi-plant specimen over time. It prefers less light than most species. This type of bulbous tilly is called a myrmecophyte as the plant has adapted to live in symbiosis with ants which are often found living in the bulbous base.

Guzmania ‘Dolores’: I love this guzzie for the way the variegation continues into the inflorescence. This is a Skotak hybrid. Seed Parent: G. wittmackii , Pollen Parent: G. lingulata . It has glossy green pliant leaves marginated creamy white. Erect, star-like inflorescence of magenta pink bracts flushed lime green at the base. Entered by W. McCrory in 1999 BSCF Mother's Day Show. I bet it won first prize ! Guzmania ‘ Dolores’ Guzmania ‘ Bandera’

Guzmania ‘Bandera’: I cannot find any information on this Guzmani a but I also like the variegation that extends into the inflorescence. Christo van Wijk thinks it is also a Skotak hybrid.

Aechmea ‘ Big Mama Recurvata ’: (a large cultivar of Ae.recurvata ). A slow growing bottle shaped plant, slow to bloom too. Stiff, recurving spiny, bronze green, triangular-tapering leaves with orange overtones in strong light. An erect, thistle-like spike of light red bracts and cerise pink flowers appear and the inner leaves turn orange during blooming. I grow mine in full sun, summer and winter. I like the seed pods that turn jet black and also look very striking. Originally registered as Aechmea 'Big Mama', the name has been amended to differentiate from another Ae . 'Big Mama'.

Aechmea ‘ Big Mama Recurvata ’

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Quesnelia liboniana: This species is endemic to the Atlantic Forests of southeastern Brazil. A spring-blooming Quesnelia. I love the vivid inky blue petals and orange bracts. It has rigid, erect leaves, plain green in colour and a plant only produces 3 to 4 leaves before flowering. This species is cold hardy into the mid 0*c range. Pups are produced on tough stolons, which quickly fill a pot and creep over the sides. Plants will grow in nearly full sun to mostly shade, the leaves grow about 45cm tall developing lighter green leaves in more light. It can be Quesnelia liboniana Quesnelia seideliana grown as an epiphyte mounted in a tree.

Quesnelia seideliana: Also spring blooming. First described and named in 1963, native to Brazil. I was attracted to this plant by the spikes of intense azure blue tubular flowers some years back when I first saw one that Dudley had at a meeting, you know the feeling, you just have to have it! It can flower from all shoots at the same time. Ripe fruit is white-ish . It prefers a sunny to half- shady spot and fresh to moist soil. When cultivated as an epiphyte the plants are mounted on a piece of bark or in a tree.

Dr Boots Horsfall Tillandsia somnians: A tank type Tillandsia with soft green leaves and red center, looks almost like a small Neoregelia. It produces a long 1m tall scape with the inflorescence at the end. It will grow several offsets along the scape at the bracts after blooming. It can be grown in a pot with soil unlike other Tillandsia . They are also great mounted on driftwood or bark. It has been described as native to Ecuador and Peru. Tillandsia somnians appears in mass stands in northern Peru at altitudes between 1,800 and 2,000 m. It is described as a climbing Tillandsia and can quickly cover a large area, scrambling over other plants. It needs bright light and a well draining medium.

Library Book Review - Brenda Wegner

In the library we have BSI Journals and The New The very unusual Tillandsia somnians. Zealand Bromeliad Society Journals going back a number of years. They are packed full of quality information and photographs pertaining to our favourite plants!! Should you wish to take any out, do give Brenda a call and she will bring them to the meeting for you. She reviewed Volume 66(4) the 2016 October to December Journal of the Bromeliad Society International at the meeting with the following interesting topics: A new species Bromelia magnifica endemic to the South Western region of Bahia State, Brazil; Grace Goode OAM and BSI Honorary Trustee; A new species of Tillandsia from the South of Ecuador; Field studies from Columbia for the newly described species Tillandsia hansonii ; Submarine Spiders by Graeme Barclay; How bromeliads obtain and use water.

Thanks • Mike and Mandy Godfrey for hosting the August meeting. • Marianne Hillstead and the helpers on tea duty. • Dr Pete Pfister for Lucky Draw plants.

Congratulations to the August Raffle Winners! • Marianne Hillstead chose Vriesea ‘Green Nova’. • Glen Nel chose a Neoregelia unnamed variety. Some of the raffle winners for the day, Glen Reynolds, Marianne • Michael McClaren chose Neoregelia ‘Rainbow Wahine’. Hillstead and Mike McClaren.

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• Dudley Reynolds still to choose. • Clint Gordon from Johannesburg chose Tillandsia 'Houston'. • Allan and Jolanda Nel from Pretoria chose Neoregelia lilliputiana x carcharodon 'Tiger'. • Christo van Wijk from Pretoria chose Tillandsia ionantha cluster. • Philip Visagie from Pretoria chose Aechmea phanerophlebia Rubra.

Lucky Draw Winners: There were quite a few!

Enjoying a warm cuppa and From the Chairman Dudley Reynolds something to eat, Brenda Wegner, Miriam Kennard and Roy Anderson. Spring is here!!! The evidence of new growth and buds tells us even without looking at the calendar. I am, and I am sure you are busy, busy, busy too in the garden at every given opportunity. I am busy with the mammoth task of splitting bromeliads and repotting orchids. Hard on the hands, but good for the soul.

We had an informative gathering at Mike and Mandy Godfrey on a miserable Sunday, but managed to find a sheltered spot close to the pool. Six of us brought a variety of ‘Bromeliads in Bloom’ for discussion which was well received. The cold weather and wind was forgotten once we had a chance to browse through the shadehouse packed full with vibrant, well Nice to see Bev McGregor and Zena and Mike McClaren at the grown bromeliads which Mike and Mandy have been collecting over the last meeting! 25 years. I am looking forward to our ‘travelling meeting’ where we will be visiting two gardens at the end of September. Until then, keep the hands dirty and the plasters ready. Happy bromming!

Upcoming Society Events

30th September: A Travelling meeting to see bromeliad gardens! Our hosts for the afternoon are Paul Webb and David and Linda Gower in Beacon Bay .

We will meet at the first venue from 2.00pm onwards at the garden of our first host, Paul Webb at 14 Seeton Road, Beacon Bay. At 3pm we will then walk to our second hosts, David and Linda Gower at 17 Riverview Place, Beacon Bay where we will view the garden and hold the meeting and have tea. It is a short walk to the second venue, or you may want to move your car if you have things to carry, but parking is limited at the second venue.

28th October: Hosted by Michael and Zena McClaren at 114 Devereax Avenue, Vincent. Topic: ’The Various Seasons and Life-spans of Bromeliads’

25 November: End of year Christmas Auction, BBB Surprise and Bring and Braai. Please let a committee member know if would like to host this fun meeting!

Upcoming International Conferences

2019: ‘Golden Broms’ 17-20 October 2019 Hosted by the Gold Coast Succulent and Bromeliad Society Inc. at the Sea World Resort on the Gold Coast. This will be the 20th Australasian Bromeliad Conference. For contact information go to the conference website at www.goldenbroms.com

2021: This bi-annual Australasian Bromeliad Conference will again be hosted by The New Zealand Bromeliad Society. ‘Kiwi Broms’ April 8 th to 11 th 2021, venue Waipuna Hotel. Start saving now!

From the Members

From Lyn Wegner: Hechtia marnier-lapostollei a species endemic (found only) to Mexico. I was surprised to discover the flower spike by accident and I love it! The dainty flowers are starting to open, 24cm up from the base of the arching 58cm stem. The stiff, spiny, grey/green with a bit of a red tinge foliage, forms a 20cm flattish layered rosette. I have it growing potted in a sunny spot. Hechtia marnier-lapostollei

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Also from Lyn: Aechmea fosteriana ? It’s difficult to keep track of the names when a group of broms are mounted together. I thought I had it all under control! I am not absolutely sure that this is an A. fosteriana , a species found along the Brazilian coast growing as a terrestrial and an epiphyte. Mine is now potted, as it became too large and heavy for the pole, and receives morning sun. It has green banded foliage in an upright form about 40cm tall with the upper leaves flaring outwards. An inflorescence with a stunning combination of colours!

From the Editor

‘Spring is sprung the grass is riz. I wonder where the boidie is. They say the boidie’s on the wing. But that’s absoid. The wing is on the boid. Courtesy of Ogden Nash.

Spring brings renewed enthusiasm for new tasks and appreciation of the wonder and newness of nature. We are being blessed with amazing spring rains, what a bonus and on time this Is this Aechmea fosteriana ? year too. Everything will get off to a good start as the sap rises! There are two of our members entering the Pam Golding Gardens of East London Show this year, Dudley Reynolds and Brian and Bridget Kroger, both in Beacon Bay. The show takes place over the weekend of the 10th and 11th of November. You can look forward to viewing some spectacular gardens again this year and bromeliads will continue to feature! Good luck to our members who are entering and all in aid of charity too.

We did not plan on buying more plants… but it seems we just cannot help ourselves. There is always that extra one that you don’t have or have always had your eye on and ……. another gets added to the collection. Enjoy your bromeliads and your gardens and NEVER compare your garden to anyone else’s! We are all uniquely individual as are our growing environments.

If any of you are travelling, I want to encourage you to look up members who may be nearby or you might be passing through a city where members live, give them a call and arrange a visit. You will not only make contact with another bromeliad fanatic, you will also be inspired by seeing bromeliads from someone else's perspective, it is very inspiring.

Happy bromming till the next meeting, which is a travelling meeting to view two spectacular bromeliad gardens/collections. Enjoy this time of the year as a wonderful sense of renewal pervades everything!

This is a publication for the East London Bromeliad Society, South Africa for the interest of its members. Articles may be used by non profit societies with acknowledgement to the author where applicable and East London Bromeliad Society South Africa. Please use the photos that accompany the article used. If you require higher resolution photos please request them from the Editor.

Any opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily those of the Society.

When submitting items for inclusion in this newsletter, please ensure that all facts and information, including spelling, is checked and accurate.

ELBS SA is an affiliate of the Bromeliad Society International. Address: c/o 18 Wentworth Road, Sunnyridge, East London 5201 South Africa, [email protected]

We meet on the last Sunday of every month at 2.00 for 2.30pm, January to November, at various venues around East London. We have a topic for each meeting and Show and Tell where members are encouraged to bring along their brag or problem plants. There are member raffles, lucky draws for those present, tea time, library and member plant sales, plus a monthly newsletter sent out via e-mail only. Visitors are always welcome and can attend three meetings before they will need to join the society in order to continue attending. Annual subs are R120.00 for individuals/families and R60 for students.

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Committee Members Chairman: Dudley Reynolds 079 488 2360 [email protected] Vice- Chairman: Dr Peter Pfister 082 625 5533 [email protected] PRO & Secretary: Lyn Wegner 043 736 1737 082 970 2293 [email protected] Treasurer: Lynn Friend 043 748 2271 083 318 1179 [email protected] Editor & Publisher: Barbara Black 043 7212775 O72 1787 421 [email protected] Proof Reader: Lyn Wegner 043 736 1737 082 970 2293 [email protected] Raffles: Lyn Odendaal 043 726 1075 083 441 6813 [email protected] Librarian: Brenda Wegner 082 743 2141 [email protected] Catering: Marianne Hillstead 071 531 5146 [email protected] Events Co-ordinator: Brenda Wegner 082 743 2141 [email protected] Sound System Xenia Winter 043 726 2978 083 981 1312 [email protected]

Webmaster Danie Taljaard 079 563 7725 danie@.co.za

Additional member: Betty Heunis 073 226 1610 [email protected]

You will find ELBS on Facebook: [email protected] or type ‘East London Bromeliad Society’ into the fb search bar. You can request to join the group and will then be able to upload your photos and comments on the wall. The ELBS SA page and other bromeliad related sites are a useful and informative forum to share and ‘meet up’ with other like-minded bromeliad folks.

Back copies of all our newsletters can be accessed by joining the East London Bromeliad Society web page members section. You will find it at www.elbssa.co.za

You can view most of all the bromeliads mentioned in meetings or in the newsletter at the following websites:

The BSI’s official Bromeliad Cultivar Registry www.registry.bsi.org which is maintained by Geoff Lawn, the BSI Cultivar Registrar. Plus other information regarding the Bromeliad Society International is found at bsi.org

Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies: fcbs.org This is a very useful site to reference many bromeliads where you can clarify identification or just trawl through the site and add to your wish list!

Encyclopedia of Bromeliads - http://bromelia.club (Bromeliad Taxonomists and Growers Society) has photographs. It also now has keys for the genera and sub-genera. If you like to be informed what is happening, just follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bromeliadsencyclopedia Just type in ‘Encyclopeadia of Bromeliads’ into the Facebook search bar.

For internet resources you can also go to TAXON (The New Bromeliad List) for the most authoritative and right up to date list of genera and species, accepted and new names and taxonomic keys - http://botu07.bio.uu.nl/bcg/taxonList.php or just type in ‘ New Bromeliad Taxon List’ , it's much easier!

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