DECEMBER EVENT Monthly Meeting: 8 p.m. Monday, December 14, 2020 From the comfort of your living room via Zoom! and Potions Bulletin Cocktail Party, Orchid Trivia, and Auction December 2020 Details of the Zoom meeting will be emailed a few days before the meetings

Plants and Potions: Cocktail Party, Orchid Trivia, and Auction Hope you’re all planning on attending for facilitating our monthly meetings, to new members and Jody has come the December meeting for a virtual holi- conducting the Zoom, doing our auctions through for us above and beyond just day cocktail party where we sip our liba- and for finding us amazing speakers from being Secretary. Thank you to all of the tions and socialize with some lightheart- around the world. I’m looking forward to Board Members and Officers that keep ed orchid trivia over Zoom. We’ll have seeing the speakers list he’s lining up for our group vibrant and growing but most orchids to auction as well as our usual us in 2021. Thank you also to David Mel- importantly, our members—we would show and tell of our members orchids in lard for helping me transition into being not exist without you. Looking forward bloom. I’ll be spreading the Holiday Spir- president and to Barbara Barnett not to working with you again in 2021. it by wearing my Santa hat—hope you only for her help with Membership, but Please be sure to renew your member- put on some festive jingle too!! her unsung behind-the-scenes help to ship to our Society so we can keep grow- Thank you to everyone who has par- make our society succeed. Véronique has ing in 2021. Look for the Join/Renew ticipated in our orchid meetings since done a terrific job with our informative button on our website: www.AtlantaOr- we’ve had to go virtual in April. It’s been newsletter, putting together the photos chidSociety.org a crazy year!! We’ll continue to conduct of our virtual Table about which Hope to see you all in 2021! our monthly meetings over Zoom until Mark Reinke of Marble Branch Farms so we can safely meet in public again. Stay thoughtfully informs us. Respectfully yours, tuned for announcements about our an- Big thank yous to Nancy for her gen- nual orchid show. erous donation and to Jon for keeping a HB Much appreciation to VP Danny Lentz tally of the totals. Maegan reaches out

Notice to All New Growers News from the American Orchid Society Judging Center AOS judging did take place last month out together—somewhat. Do you have questions at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The Thank you to the judges, the people about growing orchids? judges kept well away from each other, who presented plants, and to Jon Crate What can we do to help you? while the plants were allowed to hang for taking pictures. Just ask. Contact Barbara Barnett with your questions at [email protected] We will get you the answers to your concerns. If I don’t know, I know someone who does!

Check out Barbara’s new on page 2! Barbara is giving season-specific growing tips for new growers 2 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

ATLANTA ORCHID SOCIETY The Atlanta Orchid Society Bulletin Volume 61: Number 12 – December 2020 Newsletter Editors: Véronique Perrot & Mark Reinke Officers The Atlanta Orchid Society is affiliated with theAmerican Orchid Society, the President Orchid Digest Corporation, the Mid-America Orchid Congress, Helen (HB) Blythe-Hart 770-656-4054 and the Garden Club of Geogia. Vice-President/Programs Danny Lentz Secretary Jody Gomez Minutes of the Novice Growers Culture Notes Treasurer November Meeting of the for December Jon Crate 770-846-9541 Atlanta Orchid Society 270 17th Street NW, Unit 4501 You may have noticed the freezing Atlanta, GA 30363 The November 9th, 2020 meeting of weather. Here are some tips to help your the Atlanta Orchid Society was called to tropical plants make it through the cold Immediate Past President order by Helen Blythe-Hart, President, weather with flying colors. David Mellard 404-310-9899 at 8 p.m. Due to the Covid19 situation, The crux of the problem is to provide the meeting was held via Zoom. Helen enough water to your plants without fos- Blythe-Hart welcomed the new members tering the growth of fungi and bacteria Trustees and visitors. Doug Hartong announced on the . AOS judging would resume on Novem- Trac Nguyen ber 13th. Jon Crate reviewed the finan- For Windowsill Growers Maegan Brass cials. Barbara Barnett announced Jason The result of increased heat in the Atsushi Matsumoto Mill and Megan Brass as the newly elect- house causes a decrease in humidity. To Carl Quattlebaum ed trustees. Danny Lentz introduced Tim help increase the humidity around your Larry Kikkert Culbertson, who gave a presentation on plants: Véronique Perrot solf-leaved orchids. After the presenta- 1) Cluster plants together tion, Tim fielded questions from mem- 2) Use humidity trays bers. Danny showed photos that mem- 3) Try a humidifier. Volunteers bers had sent in of their in-bloom plants. Water in the morning so plants are dry The meeting was then adjourned. by night to prevent fungus. A fan in your AOS Rep – Barbara Barnett growing area will increase air movement Greengrowers – Danny Lentz and reduce the risk of fungal diseases. Librarian – EVENTS CALENDAR MAOC Rep – Doug Hartong For New Greenhouse Growers Meeting Hospitality – December 1) Water in the morning so plants can Membership – Barbara Barnett & 12 – American Orchid Society monthly dry by dark. Maegan Brass judging, ABG Mershon Hall, 12-4. 2) Don’t water on rainy days, it will Education and Outreach – Lynne Gollob Contact Doug Hartong to confirm increase the humidity too much. Silent Auction – Carson Barnes 14 – Atlanta Orchid Society Monthly 3) Be sure the fan or fans are on Monthly Ribbon Judging – David Mellard Meeting: Plants and Potions—Cocktail 4) Use a hygrometer to monitor the Newsletter – Véronique Perrot & Party and Orchid Auction humidity. You may not have to water as Mark Reinke often, maybe every 7 to 10 days. Orchid Digest Rep – David Mellard 5) If it is very cold outside and the Show Chairs (2020) – Danny Lentz & heaters are on for a long time, the Jody Gomez humidity can get very low, down to 30% Website/Social Media – Danny Lentz & or lower inside the greenhouse. You can Jeremie Carroll water the floor or mist lightly with the hose to increase the humidity. 6) Be sure the leaves don’t touch the glass or heater. They can get burned. Join the Atlanta Orchid Society www.atlantaorchidsociety.org 3 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020 Notes on plants submitted to the virtual meeting of the Atlanta Orchid Society for November, 2020 Notes by Mark Reinke; Photos by various members of the AtlOS

C. labiata ‘September Mist’ C. maxima forma coerulea L. anceps Cattleya Alliance We saw three examples of in this group in November. Jon & Fi showed us another example of the type species for the Cattleya with their C. la- biata ‘September Mist.’ This is a rather delicately colored version of this orchid that originates in Northeast Brazil and whose peak bloom season is October and November in the Northern Hemisphere. Read last month’s newsletter for more details about it. Carson’s pale mauve C. maxima forma coerulea also has its peak bloom season now, but can occasionally in almost any month of the year. There is a lowland race from southwest- Bcl. Petite Stars Bcl. Cecillia Irene ern found near sea level, and also a highland race found in that coun- ard Mueller x L. rubescens while the latter try and in parts of and at is Bc. Richard Mueller x L. aurea. At one about 3,000 to 6,000 feet above sea lev- time L. aurea was considered a yellow el. Many cultivated plants might be a mix variety of the otherwise lavender L. ru- of both types. The final species in this bescens, each having an identical growth group was my Laelia anceps. This species and flowering habit and a dark purple is primarily Mexican, with numerous col- throat that comes through in their cross- or forms growing on mountain slopes on es. They both originate in Mexico with both sides of the country, often in very the former having a somewhat restrict- exposed locations. Two to five fairly large ed range while the latter also occurs into and showy are borne at the end Central America, possibly as far south as of a long arching that be- Panamá. Larry also submitted some nice gins to develop with the new growths in photos of his Bc. Hawaii Stars ‘Pink Ice,’ summer, and slowly lengthens until the which crosses B. Little Stars with C. Me- flowering season. Peak bloom is typically moria Robert Strait. This latter parent December, January and February, but all has C. walkeriana in it which passes on a Bc. Hawaii Stars ‘Pink Ice’ of my plants bloomed early this year. somewhat fuller form that we usually see Once again we saw some nice Bras- in Brassavola hybrids, and also its nice, Guaricattonia Flutterby. It combines savola nodosa hybrids. Bailey Santwire sweet scent. Guaritonia Why Not with C. harpophyl- showed us Blc. Petite Stars and Larry Ki- There were a variety of submissions la. Once older this one should produce kkert once again had Blc. Cecillia Irene in that have a compact growth habit in com- nice clusters of apricot orange flowers. bloom. Both of these hybrids have simi- mon. Dan Williamson showed us an un- Courtney Hackney is the author of Amer- lar backgrounds. The former is Bc. Rich- usual cross by Courtney Hackney called ican Cattleyas, one of my favorite orchid 4 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Guaricattonia Flutterby C. Tropical Chip ‘Andromeda’ C. C.G. Roebling ‘Blue Indigo’ books, which covers the history and evo- We also had a good variety of stan- lution of Cattleya breeding in the U.S.A. dard sized growers in this group. Danny through the 20th century with great in- & Dianne’s Cattleya C.G. Roebling ‘Blue formation about the pioneering orchid Indigo’ is an heirloom cross of C. gaskel- nurseries that, save for Waldor Orchids liana and C. purpurata originally made by in New Jersey, have all vanished into the Sander of St. Albans, England, in 1895. past. Bailey showed us the intriguing While both of those species have many ‘Andromeda’ form of C. Tropical Chip, color forms, I have only seen this cross a cross I have always liked, but seems to made with the coerulea variety of each decline for me after a few years for some parent, however there is an award for reason. The fragrant flowers of this one a clone named ‘Helen’ that describes a combine spotty with peloric pet- white flower with dark magenta lip and als and a rather unusual mix of colors. magenta flares. Bailey showed the Its genealogy includes a baker’s dozen atypically colored ‘Nice Partner’ form of species and various seedlings out of the a more recent cross, Cattleya Fair Cath- cross look vastly different from each erine, registered by Armacost & Royston other as the traits of the ancestors mix in 1981. Normally, this hybrid creates a in various ways. Danny & Dianne showed semi-alba flower in which the sidelobes C. Fair Catherine ‘Nice Partner’ us an atypical form of Cattleya Circle of Life. Most forms have a yellow base color underneath layers of purple which read as various shades of red and orange. But the ‘Spring Joy’ version has a white base color instead, creating a bright magenta purple flower. JOIN THE AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY 12 issues of Orchids, the Society’s monthly full color magazine chock full of insightful articles and tempting ads for plants and supplies. 10% off purchases from the Society’s Bookstore and Orchid Emporium. Reduced or free admission to participating botanical gardens. For a limited time, if you join for two years you will also get a $30 gift certificate (good on an order of $100 or more) at any one of 13 commercial growers who advertise in Orchids. Membership now includes access to OrchidPro, the database that replaces OrchidsPlus JOIN TODAY Single Membership, 1 year - $79, 2 years - $153 Student membership, 1 year - $54, 2 years - $103 C. Circle of Life ‘Spring Joy’ JOIN OR RENEW ONLINE AT www.aos.org 5 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Rlc. Campobello ‘Mendenhall’ Cattlianthe Porcia ‘Cannizaro’

established I suspect the form of this nice specimen with time. Another classic flower will improve. Undoubtedly, given is Vinh Nguyen’s Cattlianthe Porcia ‘Can- the parents, it is wonderfully fragrant. nizaro,’ which earned an FCC in 1988 HB showed us the classic Laeliocat- and which boasts a number of cultural tleya Puppy Love ‘True Beauty,’ which awards with between one and two hun- combines a large flowered Cattleya with dred open flowers. It combines a large Laelia anceps and was originally intro- flowered Cattleya withGurianthe bow- duced by Stewart’s in 1970. This form is ringiana. Vinh’s plant is still young and from the original batch and received an with time can become very large, a trait HCC in 1976. Subsequent remakes of the that has led to a decline in interest in this cross have yielded drastically different dependable fall bloomer that used to be results that for me have always called seen in nearly everyone’s collection. into question the accuracy of the origi- Rlc. Waikiki Splendor ‘Lenette’ nal parents listed. This form is a good x George King ‘Serendipity’ twice per year bloomer and can make a of the lip very distinctly come together to form a closed funnel. I wonder if per- haps this plant is misidentified? A year after this cross was registered, Carter & Holmes introduced Rlc. Campobello, a hybrid with chartreuse to yellow flow- ers. I submitted a photo of a specimen sized plant of the ‘Mendenhall’ clone, with nine open flowers (not all visible in the photo) and four more buds coming. This orchid doesn’t have perfect exhibi- tion form, but the flowers are unusually long lasting and exude a delicious citrus perfume. It is very vigorous and there are two cultural awards for plants with three to four dozen blooms and buds when ex- hibited. Campobello is a small town of about 600 residents in northern Spar- tanburg County, SC. Jon & Fi showed off a lovely apricot orange bloom of an unregistered cross between two classics, Rlc. Waikiki Splendor ‘Lenette’ x George King ‘Serendipity.’ When older or more Laeliocattleya Puppy Love ‘True Beauty’ 6 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Cym. dayanum Cym. dayanum forma album Cym. Mad Pixie x Gold Rules

Cymbidium Alliance be large enough to put on a bigger show. for added interest. After these two short Vinh Nguyen submitted a photo of This species can grow both as a terrestri- spikes emerged, I was surprised to find Cymbidium dayanum with a number of al on steep slopes or cliff faces and as an three more coming in succession that spikes open at once. His plant is the epiphyte, usually on lower tree trunks or are much taller with many more flowers. most typically colored form with the dis- rotting logs. I have found it prefers to dry You’ll see it again at the December meet- tinct red purple stripe on each segment. slightly or briefly between each water- ing with one of these bigger spikes fully I showed off the album form of the same ing, especially in winter. More is written open. species blooming for the first time with about it in the October newsletter. just a couple spikes. Next year it should I also showed off the first spikes of a new hybrid from the breeding program of Andy Easton of New Horizon Orchids. I got this plant of Cym. Mad Pixie x Gold Rules as a tiny seedling plug a few years ago. The heat tolerant Cym. ensifolium You can help out the Atlanta appears multiple times in its family tree JOIN THE ORCHID Orchid Society simply by shopping and also Cym. madidum from . DIGEST CORPORATION at Amazon through their Amazon I think the color pattern is quite un- Don’t let the name fool you, the Smile program. To do this simply usual and very striking. There is also a Orchid Digest is a non-profit go to smile.amazon.com every time fragrance similar to that of Den. unicum membership-based organization you want to shop at Amazon. When dedicated to orchids. Designed to you go to checkout for the first time, appeal to the mid-range to advanced you will be asked to designate your grower, nothing beats the Orchid charity. If you type Atlanta Orchid Digest. For just $39/year you get 4 Society in the search bar, we are the issues of full-color, in-depth articles only result that comes up. Select that about orchids. The magazine is large one. You can change the charity at format and the fourth issue of the year any time, by following the directions is always an extra-special edition de- on the About page. All of the details voted to a single genus. For member- of the Amazon Smile program can ship application forms contact David be found on the Amazon site at: Mellard (404-237-1694) or visit www. smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ orchiddigest.com to join online. 7 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Den. lichenastrum var. prentencei Den. cumulatum Den. Hsinying Glomo

Dendrobium Alliance tober newsletter. A new one for me was a bit of variation in the flowers, but the Once again, we saw some nice exam- George Guenthner’s Den. bulbophylloi- best one has exceptionally large flowers ples of unusual species this month. Dan des, a miniature species from Papua New that mix orange and pink in a beautiful Williamson showed us his tiny Den. li- Guinea that can form large mats on the way. This is one of those gradually decid- chenastrum variety prentencei, a species trunks of mistforest trees. As the species uous species that takes a while before it from Australia, and Vinh Nguyen showed name implies, the plant looks more like a really starts to produce a lot of flowers. us another example of the beautiful Den. small growing Bulbophyllum than a typi- Bailey showed us a young plant of cumulatum from Southeast , both of cal Dendrobium. Ceratostylis retisquama, which looks in which I discuss in more detail in the Oc- George also showed us an enchanting growth more like a vandaceous species, miniature hybrid, Den. Gaëtan Minet, but is included with Dendrobiums in which is a cross of Den. aphanochilum and the MAOC show schedule. His plant has Den. cuthbertsonii just registered in 2019. good strong orange-red color. This spe- George says: “If you get a chance to grab cies can become a really nice clump in a a couple from Ecuagenera at some point few years, with many flowers. It tends to they’re totally worth it. Hardy, florifer- flush with bloom several times from the ous, and cheap to boot.” end of summer to the start of winter. Vinh showed us a hybrid between Once again, Jon & Fi showed us Den- Den. mohlianum and Den. glomeratum that drobium Samarai in bloom, which as I is registered as Den. Hsinying Glomo. I mentioned before is a great Spatulata bought a number of these as plugs sever- hybrid that can stay in bloom for months al years ago and sold most before seeing at a time. Den. bulbophylloides any bloom. Of those I kept there is quite

Den. Gaëtan Minet Ceratostylis retisquama Den. Samarai 8 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Miltonia regnellii var. alba Oncidium Alliance This month we saw four different spe- cies from this group that help illustrate the diversity of the Oncidium Alliance. Bailey showed us Miltonia regnellii vari- Epi. porpax (Vinh’s) Epi. porpax (Mark’s) ety alba, the white form of a species from wet mountain forests just inland from Epidendrum/Encyclia Alliance just one of many beautiful crosses made the coast of southeastern Brazil. The typ- Both Vinh Nguyen and I had plants of using Epi. stamfordianum. Even though ical form has purple shading and deeper Epidendrum porpax in bloom this month, both parents are once per year bloom- veins in the lip and there is another form which is right at the peak flowering sea- ers, the resulting hybrid can flower twice with yellow to saffron colored segments son for this creeping species from Cen- per year, and have more than two dozen as well. Hybrids made from this and oth- tral and northern South America. I have blooms per inflorescence when mature. er Brazilian Miltonia species were very had my plant for a number of years and it popular in the middle of the 20th centu- is finally approaching specimen size. ry, but are not nearly as common now. Nicholas Rust showed us Epicatanthe They can form very nice specimens with Volcano Trick ‘Paradise’ which is a hy- time, and like frequent water during the brid between Epidendrum stamfordianum warmer months and just a bit less in win- and Cattlianthe Trick or Treat. This is ter. Dan Williamson submitted an image of Lockhartia serra, a species from Peru and Ecuador with its oddly “braided” flattened stems and small flowers that

Epicatanthe Volcano Trick ‘Paradise’ Lockhartia serra 9 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Tolumnia Jairak Rainbow Princess Oncostele Eye Candy ‘Pinkie’

from humid lowlands along the coast that genus with their Tolumnia Jairak of Ecuador and Peru, where rainfall is Rainbow ‘Princess.’ sparse. The plants often grow on cactus For the third month in a row, Jon & in the wild and while the plant stays very Fi had their Schunkeara Big Shot ‘Hilo small in response to this environment, it Sparkle’ in bloom. With great fragrance can produce more the two dozen bright and eye popping large flowers, this is one yellow blooms per inflorescence when more people should grow. Also fragrant, mature. In 2001 it was split off from On- vigorous and free flowering is Bailey’s cidium into its own monotypic genus. Oncidium Heaven Scent ‘Redolence.’ Since it has been used extensively in Karl Harden showed us Oncostele Eye hybridization with various members of Candy ‘Pinkie.’ I really like this orchid arcuigera the Oncidium Alliance, this has required because it is a compact grower and very the creation of more than a dozen new floriferous. It gives that spectacular pat- resemble those of some of the smaller nothogenera. tern and full shape descended from Onc. Oncidium species that have more typical Some of the most charming results alexandrae (formerly Odontoglossum cris- growth habits. He also showed us Brassia from that previous species have been pum) but doesn’t require the cool tem- arcuigera, a striking species from the Pa- created by pairing it with Tolumnia. Dan- peratures to do well like most hybrids of cific slope from Costa Rica to Peru, but ny & Dianne showed us an example of that species. also recorded further east in . The long, narrow flowers can be 12 inch- es from tip to tip. Many fantastic hybrids have descended from this species. And Bailey showed us a young plant of Zelen- koa onusta (Oncidium onustum), a species

Zelenkoa onusta Schunkeara Big Shot ‘Hilo Sparkle’ Onc. Heaven Scent ‘Redolence’ 10 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Gomesa Paph. concolor Paph. spicerianum

Véronique showed us a flower close- Slipper Alliance Molucca Islands in Indonesia is where up of Gomesa Java, a cross between Gom. Among species in this group, Bailey their richly colored Paph. mastersianum flexuosa and Gom. verricosa that was orig- Santwire showed off a nice pale yellow originates from. This is the first time inally registered in 1936. The Brazilian Paphiopedilum concolor with two flow- I have seen the flower of this species, species that were formerly in Oncidi- ers on one inflorescence. You can see by and it is really striking. Peak flowering is um and as of 2009 assigned to Gomesa the photo that the peppering of purple usually in spring, but there are bloom re- all prefer frequent water but excellent spots is both on the front and the back cords for every month except September. drainage. I find them hard to keep going of the flower. This species from south- Danny & Dianne also showed us the eye in a pot, but much easier if grown mount- east Asia is often found growing in damp catching spottiness of Paph. sukhakulii ed, though that does mean almost daily cracks and crevices on limestone cliffs which comes from northeast Thailand. watering. and bluffs. Danny & Dianne presented And finally in species, HB presented a re- several species, including a Paph. hay- ally great photo of Paphiopedilum spiceria- naldianum with the first of several flow- num, revealing all the things I love about ers open. Typically, four or five blooms will eventually all be open at once on the of this species from the Philippines. The spots and stripes on the dorsal are the easiest way to tell this orchid apart from the somewhat similar Paph. lowii from Indonesia. The

Paph. masterianum

Paph. concolor Paph. sukhakulii 11 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Phragmipedium Sedenii, which has I have previously mentioned is one of the earli- est registered crosses in the genus, dat- ing all the way back to 1873. Dependable, floriferous and not too large of a grower Paph. Graham Robertson Phrag. Sedenii means that is has remained popular for almost 150 years and counting. this species from northeast India in crisp ditional Maudiae types back to a species, detail. This is one of the foundational often one that has been little used pre- species in the background of our modern viously in hybridization. Because these “Bulldog Paphs” and nearly 19,000 reg- are always popular with hobby grow- istered hybrids include it in the family ers, in typical years when I have lots of tree. shows and events, I get a minimum of 36 Danny & Dianne also have an impres- plants in bud from him every month, so sive clump of Paph. Graham Robertson I have seen a lot of results. Usually most with several flowers open. They had this are charming, but out of every box, one cross in bloom in September as well so or two are real standouts. I save the very see the October newsletter for more in- best to use in my own breeding, and I’ll formation about it. have a really nice one to show you at the There was a large group of Maudi- December meeting. However, even when ae Type hybrids shown to us by Barba- using the best of the best of these types ra Barnett, Danny & Dianne, and David to make a cross, many of the resulting Mellard. All of these come from the seedlings are only average, though still a breeding program of Graham Wood who lot of fun to grow for their unique and owns Lehua Orchids on the Big Island of quirky charms. Hawaii. His crosses frequently take tra- Karl Harden presented a photo of Paph. Magically Superb (David’s)

Paph. Wonderful Shadow (Barbara’s) Paph. Wonderful Shadow (David’s) Paph. Mystically Constrasting (Danny & Dianne’s) 12 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Phal. fasciata Phal. tertapsis Phal. Shenandoah Fire ‘Ember’

Phalaenopsis Alliance of tea. They also submitted the reddish Bailey submitted a photo of Phalaenop- colored Phal. Shenandoah Fire ‘Ember’ sis fasciata, a species we have seen before with a more traditional form. The light- and given more detail in the October ing may be throwing the color off on this newsletter. Jon & Fi showed us a photo one, as other images I found elsewhere of their plant of the quirky Phal. tetraspis, showed a more intense red. Finally in which was covered in the July newsletter. this group, Lee Finley showed us a cute Véronique showed us a fairly typical ex- Phal. tetrapsis hybrid registered in 2019 ample of Phalaenopsis pulcherrima which as Phalaenopsis Miki Fly Eagle C1 which was formerly given its own genus, Dor- she describes as very fragrant. The “C1” itis, but was merged into Phalaenopsis in is not a clone name but part of the regis- 2017. It is unusual in that it is found most tered grex name. often growing terrestrially in Southeast Asia and parts of Indonesia, usually in sandy well drained soil enhanced by or- ganic debris. It has contributed to more than 10,000 registered hybrids to date. Danny & Dianne showed us the odd peloric Phal. Younghome ‘Coco,’ which has colorful flowers that appear not to open fully and may not be everyone’s cup Phal. Mili Fly Eagle C1

Phal. pulcherrima Phal. Younghome ‘Coco’ 13 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Holcoglossum kimballianum Aerangis punctata (top: Carson’s; bottom: Mark’s)

Vandaceous Alliance in flower, mounted on cypress plaques, lip. There can be a dozen of these butter- We were treated to a nice range of presented by Bailey Santwire. This small fly-like beauties on a wiry inflorescence vandaceous species this month, rep- species from Madagascar produces one that originates from a terete leaved plant resenting six different genera. Sorting to several unusually large flowers with flushed with purple and rather unassum- them alphabetically, we start with an long nectar spurs from small fans of ing looking out of flower. Eventually, ad- impressive group of Aerangis punctata leaves only a few inches across. On a few ditional growths form around the base of of the plaques you can see the very broad the main stem and when they are large but flat roots clinging tenaciously to the enough so that several inflorescences are wood. Mounting this species as Baily has produced, the show can be spectacular. done is the best way to keep it doing well However, progress towards this end is over the long term, but it will require fre- slow. Carson also showed us the pendant quent watering and good humidity. Cor- flowering spike ofPlectrelminthus cauda- liss showed us a nice lemon yellow flow- tus, a species from Central and West Af- ered Aeranthes arachnites, a species from rica. Up to a dozen of these lip upwards Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. flowers with a trailing, often curled Often the flower is more greenish than nectar spur can be produced on a single this one. One of her photos shows how spike, but six or seven is more common. the flowers develop at the end of wiry in- Carlson also showed us a different clone florescences originating from a short fan of Vanda tessellata from the one we saw of leaves. You can also see that Corliss’ last month, this one named ‘Wink.’ plant has a great root system showing HB showed us a nice Angraecum hy- that she is giving it excellent care. Both brid that takes Angcm. Lemförde White Carson Barnes and I had plants of Holco- Beauty back to one if its parents, Angcm. glossum kimballianum, one of my favorite sesquipedale, and was just registered this vandaceous species, with sparkling stark year as Angcm. Lai’s Star. Her plant is Aeranthes arachnites white flowers offset by a bright purple young with one large flower, but it will 14 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Vandachostylis Lou Snearly ‘Bluebird’

Plectrelmenthus caudatus Vandachostylis Baby Angel

Renentanda Sunrise

hybrid of V. coerulea x tessellata, originally registered in 1897 and called V. Amoena. Carson showed us a much more recent hybrid, one he created and registered V. tessellata ‘Wink’ V. Amoena himself in 2006 called Vanda Chill Out ‘Dewdrop.’ It has V. tessellata as a grand- have several to the spike as it becomes parent, and some of markings of that more mature. Yet again, Jon & Fi show us their Vandachostylis Lou Sneary ‘Bluebird’ in flower, and Lee Finley presented Vandachostylis Baby Angel which takes the previous orchid back to one it its parents, V. falcata. George Guenthner showed us Renentanda Sunrise, which is the very unusual combination of V. falca- ta and Renanthera imschootiana. His plant is still young, but this cross, which has been around since 1967, can slowly make a sizeable specimen. One was awarded in 2018 with nearly 300 flowers and buds. Angraecum Lai’s Star Larry Kikkert showed us an heirloom V. Chill Out ‘Dewdrop’ 15 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Coel. ovalis (left: Bailey’s; right: Larry’s)

Thrixspermum centipeda species, albeit faint still come through despite having V. javierae, a rather re- cently described white species from the Philippines as an immediate parent. Finally, Lee Finley showed us Thrix- spermum centipeda, an unusual species that is widespread across Asia and the Pacific Islands, but not frequently seen. In fact, there are at least 192 described species in this genus, few of which ever make it into collections. Coel. tomentosa Bryobium hyacinthoides

Miscellaneous Bailey showed us Bryobium hya- There were 39 submissions by mem- cinthoides, which is one of 27 species split bers in this category alone this month, so off from in 2005. The dense spikes I might leave a few out that have already of white flowers can be produced from been covered in recent months. I’m go- summer into fall depending on your spe- ing to group them by which hemisphere cific growing conditions. Plants can be- they originate, starting with the Old come large with many spikes, but the fo- World. liage often overwhelms the flowers when Both Bailey and Larry Kikkert had that specimen size is achieved. Coelogyne ovalis in bloom, which we have seen before. But Bailey also showed us a species new to our virtual meetings, Coel. tomentosa, which comes from western Java and can grow fairly large. The long spikes of up to 20 flowers are described as being fragrant and can come in almost any month of the year. There are about three hundred described species of Dendrochi- lum, genus in the same tribe as Coelogyne, distributed across Southeast Asia and the Philippines. Danny & Dianne showed us Dendrochilum niveum ‘Hoosier,’ which is endemic to the latter location. It can grow into a massive specimen with sev- eral thousand tiny flowers packed onto many arching inflorescences. Dendrochilum niveus ‘Hoosier’ 16 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Liparis parviflora

Bailey also showed us the plant and flowers of Liparis parviflora with long arching spikes of very tiny flowers as the species name implies. There are more Bulb. rotschildianum ‘Crystelle’ AM/AOS Bulb. Elizabeth Ann ‘Buckleberry’ FCC/AOS than 400 species in this genus, with only a handful ever seen in cultivation. There were six different entries from the large and diverse genus of Bulbophul- lum. Danny & Dianne showed us one of the species that actually smells good, Bulbophyllum lilacinum, and Larry Kikkert showed us Bulb. vaginatum. In the Cir- rrhopetalum group, Véronique showed us a young start of Bulb. rothschildianum ‘Crystelle,’ AM/AOS growing on a Kool- Log but destined to become too large for it in short order. She also showed us arguably the most famous hybrid made Bulb. Krairit Vejvarut from that species, Bulb. Elizabeth Ann ‘Buckleberry,’ FCC/AOS, also growing nally, Nicholas Rust showed us Bulb. the same way. Both of these will become Krairit Vejvarut, which combines Bulb. huge specimens with time. I showed off a longissimum (the other parent of Bulb. remake I did of the cross between these Elizabeth Ann) with Bulb. phalaenopsis for two registered as Bulb. Lovely Elizabeth. a truly bizarre look. That latter species is These two examples, flowering for the one of the most odoriferous in the genus. first time, came from the same seed pod Nicholas also showed us two Old Bulb. lilacinum but are quite different in coloration. Fi- World species that are terrestrial, Ma-

Bulb. vaginatum Bulb. Lovely Elizabeth 17 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Macodes petola

Corybus pictus Cynorkis calanthoides Habaneria Pegasus

that also has a nice pattern, but is over- sented, but beautiful in their own way. A shadowed by the alien-like flower. hybrid in this group that is very showy is Other terrestrial species include Bai- David Mellard’s Habenaria Pegasus, aptly ley’s Spathoglottis plicata, which anyone named for the two side lobes of the lip who has visited Hawaii may recognize it which are divided into white feathery as one of several Asian species natural- “wings.” ized there as roadside “weeds.” And now let’s look at orchids that Nicholas showed us the densely flow- originate in the Western Hemisphere. ered Cynorkis calanthoides from Madagas- As usual, George Guenthner had a car and a close up of the flower of Bon- series of small and fascinating Pleuroth- Spathoglottis plicata atea saundersoides, one of about a dozen allids from the cloud forests of Central species in the genus found in southern and South America, starting with Diodon- codes petola, one of the jewel orchids Africa and rarely seen in cultivation in opsis erinacea, the “Hedgehog Masdeval- grown primarily for their foliage, but still the U.S. He also showed us two more lia” growing from to Ecaudor, with interesting flowers as his close up Habenaria species, Habenaria floribun- Trichosalpinx pergrata from a similar image reveals, and the very tiny and cute da and Habenaria parageniculata, not as range, Pleurothallis dorotheae listed only Corybus pictus, which has a single showy as some he has previously pre- for Costa Rica, and Lepanthes tortilis,

Bonatea saundersoides Habaneria floribunda Habaneria parageniculata 18 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Dionoposopsis erinacea Trichosalpinx pergrata Pleurothallis dorotheae

Lepanthes tortilis Stelis platystylis Maxillaria picta which is listed for Ecuador only. Bailey Bailey’s Maxillaria picta, the “Painted group also done by Fred Clarke, Nottara also had an entry in this group with Ste- Maxillaria,” which has fairly small, but Lucy’s Sassafras, registered in 2018 as a lis platystylis, a warm growing and more numerous flowers that are cream to yel- combination of Galabstia Green Tyger widespread species from Mexico to Cos- low on the front, but are peppered with ta Rica. David Mellard showed off a nice- random purple dots on the back. There ly flowering Masdevallia Redwing, which are plenty of cultural awards for plants of mixes the high elevation Masd. coccinea this species with hundreds of open flow- from Colombia with Masd. infracta one ers. They are long lasting and peak bloom of the few species that ranges all the way in late fall can extend through winter. to southeast Brazil. There were several nice Catasetinae From that same area of Brazil comes represented this month. We have previ- ously discussed HB’s Catasetum fimbri- atum and Bailey’s Ctsm. pileatum, both species with variable flowers that factor heavily into breeding in this group. Bailey also submitted a photo of Fredclarkeara Midnight Lace, which combines Mormo- dia Painted Desert with Ctsm. fimbriatum, resulting in a very dark flower with the lip fringe of that species. Lee Finley took a great photo of an Masd. Redwing eye catching hybrid in the Zygopetalum Ctsm. fimbriatum 19 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org December 2020

Ctsm. pileatum Imperale ‘Live Oak’ Nottara Lucy’s Sassafras Maritza Bielecki x Ctsm. John C Burchett ‘Ursa Major’ and Zygogardmannia Dynamite Peru, thus combining five separate genera into one colorful orchid. I showed a young plant of Chysis Maritza Bielecki flowering for the first time. This hybrid combines three differ- ent species from that genus and was first registered in 2011. Mature plants can be quite spectacular with several dozen col- orful flowers that emerge from develop- ing new growths. As far as I can tell, this cross is the most awarded Chysis hybrid, with 14 AOS awards to date. Chysis come from Mexico and Central American and are not hard to grow if given a slight rest after new growths have matured. Finally, in this group, in the Stanhopi- nae subtribe we had a nice photo of Gon- Fredclarkeara Midnight Lace Gongora quinquenervis gora quinquenervis submitted by Bailey and Nicholas Rust’s Stanhopea Assiden- sis, a hybrid of Stan. tigrina and Stan. wardii. Nicholas has this listed as a nat- ural hybrid, but the information I have on the two species does not indicate an overlap in their ranges in the wild. Maybe a bee was having a good day and flew a very long way!

Stanhopea Assidensis