Atlanta Orchid Society Newsletter

The Atlanta Orchid Society Bulletin

Affiliated with the American Orchid Society, the Orchid Digest Corporation and the Mid-America Orchid Congress 2001 Recipient of the American Orchid Society’s Distinguished Affiliated Societies Service Award Newsletter Editor: Danny Lentz

Volume 46: Number 5 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

MAY EVENTS

The Meeting: 8:00 Monday, May 9 at Atlanta Botanical Garden

Richard Hallberg will present a new slide program from Orchid Digest on “Lycastinae”. There is a considerable variety of Lycastes, from small and interesting to larger colorful species and hybrids. The Japanese orchid community, known for their focus on pristine beauty and artful form, are particularly fond of this group of orchids.

Members may bring plants to sell. Please remember 10% of sales go to the society.

Our annual auction is coming up on Sunday, June 12. See page 4 for details.

Inside This Issue

Atlanta Orchid Society 2005 Officers…………………………………………..….…………… Page 2 Collector’s Item…….Dressleria eburnea (Rolfe) Dodson.…..…by Ron McHatton…..………. Page 2 Events Out and About………………Dates for your Calendar…………...……….…….……… Page 3 Minutes of the April Meeting ….…….…….…...……….………….…………..………...….… Page 3 Member Spotlight – Sandy Phillips……………………………………………...……....…….. Page 3 AtOS June Auction – Information & Directions………………………………………………. Page 4 The April Exhibition Table (with notes by Ron McHatton)…….………..………..…………... Page 5 Recent Awards from the Atlanta Judging Center……….……………………………………… Page 8 Recent Blooms at the Atlanta Botanical Garden……………………………………………….. Page 10 Dipodium, the Hyacinth Orchids……………………………………………………………….. Page 11 Growing Ophrys…by David Mellard…………………………………………………………… Page 13

All contents © Atlanta Orchid Society unless otherwise noted.

Page 2 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

THE ATLANTA ORCHID SOCIETY COLLECTOR’S ITEM

Officers Dressleria eburnea (Rolfe) Dodson dres-LER-ee-ah ee-BURN-ee-ah President David Mellard Tribe: Cymbidieae 3409 Regalwoods Drive Subtribe: Catasetinae Doraville, GA 30340 Etymology: In honor of Robert Dressler, an active orchid 770-270-5758 [email protected] systematist

Vice-President/Programs The genus Dressleria was described by Cal Dodson in 1975 to Richard Hallberg more appropriately handle several species previously described as 152 Sloan St. Roswell, GA 30075 members of the genus Catasetum. As previously described, the genus 770-587-5827 Catasetum contained three groups; those producing either male or [email protected] female flowers, those with bisexual flowers and expanded lips such as

Secretary Clowesia (Catasetum) rosea and a third group characterized by Sandy Phillips bisexual white or green flowers. This latter group is what became 870 Virginia Circle NE Dressleria. The genus currently contains some 10 species distributed Atlanta, GA 30306 from Central America to Peru. 404-874-1417 [email protected] The plants are characterized by fleshy pseudobulbs with thick, heavily veined, deciduous leaves similar to many species of Treasurer Reba Herzfeld Catasetum. The inflorescences are produced from the lowermost 4798 Summerset Lane nodes of the pseudobulbs as in Catasetum and Clowesia (they are Dunwoody, GA 30338 produced from nodes near the middle of the pseudobulbs in Mormodes 770-394-3731 and Cycnoches). These species are epiphytes found in very wet forest [email protected] at elevations from 500 to 1300 meters. They respond well under Immediate Past President intermediate conditions. Unlike catasetums, Dressleria species Evan Dessasau III SHOULD NOT be allowed to dry out 404-241-4819 [email protected] Dressleria eburnea (synonym: Dressleria sauvis) occurs on both sides of the Andes of South America. This species produces relatively Directors (year term expires) large flowers for the genus (up to 5cm in diameter) and the flowers are Mark Reinke (2005) produced evenly spaced on the inflorescence rather than crowded on 864-718-0152 the outermost portion of the inflorescence. The green or white flowers [email protected] Jeff Whitfield (2005) are extremely fragrant and, interestingly, the leaves of this species 770-634-6153 smell like dirty socks when crushed. [email protected] Sondra Nierenberg (2006) [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

Page 3 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

Events Out and About MINUTES OF THE APRIL MEETING

May The meeting was called to order by President David Mellard. The February minutes were approved as written. 5/9 (Monday) Atlanta Orchid Society Monthly Meeting. Slide presentation on The meeting was called to order by President David Mellard. The Lycastinae. minutes were approved as written.

5/13 – 5/15 Redland International Orchid A vote was taken and passed to allow a by-law change from a minimum of four board meetings to three board meetings per year. Festival, Homestead, FL. www.redlandorchidfestival.org A draft of the 2005 roster was available for everyone to check their information. 5/14 (Saturday) American Orchid Society monthly judging, Atlanta Center, 2 pm, ABG The Smoky Mountain Orchid Show is the weekend of April 16; the basement workshop. If entering plants, please Nashville Orchid Show, April 30; Greengrowers, April 16, at the arrive before 1:30 pm to allow time for home of Gary Collier and Mark Reinke.

research and paperwork. AOS judging takes place the second Saturday of each month at 2

p.m. If you are entering a plant, plan to be at the Atlanta Botanical June Gardens at 1:30 p.m. This is also a great opportunity to learn more

about the criteria used by the judges. Saturday, 6/11. American Orchid Society monthly judging, Atlanta Center, 2 pm, ABG Fred Missbach let us know beetles are coming in from China on basement workshop. If entering plants, please wood/bamboo. Shipments are now being inspected for beetles, but arrive before 1:30 pm to allow time for you may find bamboo (shipped prior to the inspections) at gardening research and paperwork. centers which may contain the beetles.

Sunday, 6/12. Atlanta Orchid Society Welcome new members: Ramona and Larry Clemente, Mary Helen and Don Reinhard, and Geni Smith. annual auction. American Legion Post 140 near Chastain Park. See page 4 for more Thanks to all who donated plants to the raffle table: Roy Harrow, information. Fred Missbach, and others. Thanks to those who brought refreshments: Cathy Caine, Barbara Dampog, Tamara George, Reba Monday, 6/13. Atlanta Orchid Society Herzfeld, Sandy Phillips, David Tillis, Helen Weil and others. monthly meeting, ABG, Day Hall, 8 p.m. Speaker: TBD Respectfully submitted, Sandy Phillips

Member Spotlight Sandy joined the Society in January 2003. Linda Miller introduced her to the Society at the 2002 Fall Atlanta Orchid Show. Her collection has grown from only a few plants to a hundred plants. She began her orchid collections with plants rescued from estate sales. She has since been convinced it is much easier and less time consuming to buy (or win from the raffle) healthy orchids. Although she has only been a member for a short time, she volunteered to be Secretary in September 2004, and was elected Secretary beginning in January 2005.

Sandy grows her orchids in natural light in an enclosed sun porch with eastern, western and northern exposures. Over the past two years, Sandy has experimented with different fertilizers and potting mixtures, with varying success. She appreciates the cultural information she has learned, not only from speakers, but also from the generosity of members. Sandy Phillips Page 4 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

Directions to the Auction: Atlanta Orchid Society Auction Sunday June 12 From GA 400 South: South to the Buckhead loop. Take the loop to If you haven’t been to our auction before, this Piedmont Rd and go north. Turn right on Roswell event is always a lot of fun. Lunch (pot luck, Rd. The first left will be Powers Ferry Rd. Turn left. bring a dish to pass) is at 11:30 and the bidding Watch on your right just as you get to the park. The begins at 1PM. There are always good bargains driveway is difficult to spot. on great plants. From I75: We hold our Auction at Post 140 of the Take I75 to I285 to Roswell Rd. Go south (inside American Legion. This meeting hall is on the the Perimeter) to Powers Ferry Rd. Turn right. immediate southern edge of Chastain Memorial Watch for the driveway on your right at the south Park at 3905 Powers Ferry Road. You can get end of Chastain Park.

a map of the Chastain Park area at: From I85, take Piedmont Rd north to Roswell Rd. http://www.chastainconservancy.com/Default.a Turn right on Roswell Rd. The first left will be spx?tabid=737 (marked building 13). You can Powers Ferry Rd. Turn left and take Powers Ferry also go to www.mapquest.com for directions. toward Chastain Park. Look for the American

See you ALL there!! Legion driveway on your right just as you see the park.

A couple of nice plants we’ve purchased at previous Atlanta Orchid Society auctions. On the left, Epc. Rene Marques ‘Flamethrower’. On the right, Iwan. Apple Blossom ‘Golden Elf’.

Newsletter Submissions Join the Atlanta Orchid Society To submit material for the newsletter, or to sign up for the

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

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APRIL 2005 EXHIBITION TABLE AWARDS with notes by Ron McHatton

CLASS 1: CATTLEYA ALLIANCE Blue (This plant also received the J.C. Mobley Cultural Award) Cattleya skinneri ‘Casa Luna’ AM/AOS Missbach Blue Slc. Mahalo Jack Lentz/Morgan Red (Schom. undulata x Lc. Rojo) Collier/Reinke ‘Marble Branch’ AM/AOS Red Cattleya R. Prowe Lentz/Morgan White Cattleya intermedia fma. orlata Collier/Reinke White Slc. Dream Catcher Collier/Reinke Cattleya skinneri ‘Casa Luna’ (Blue-species) Cattleya skinneri : For mass of spring color you simply can’t beat C. skinneri. This species is the National Flower of Costa Rica and is called Guaria Morada, the Purple Guaria. This local name is the basis for the proposed name Guarianthe for this species as well as the other Central American species such as C. bowringiana having more or less spindle shaped pseudobulbs and 2-4 leaves per pseudobulb. Whether this name (or an apparently older name for this group) sticks or not remains to be seen. Cattleya skinneri is of easy culture although a definite cool, relatively dry rest over the winter months produces the best flower performance. These plants can be extremely floriferous and when this clone received its AM in 1993 it carried 18 flowers on a single inflorescence!

(Blue-hybrid) Slc. Mahalo Jack : Slc. Mahalo Jack is C. walkerana x Sl. Orpetii. The purple pigments introduced from C. walkerana are dominant when combined with orange or red Sophronitis hybrids. Clones of this hybrid range in color from deep iridescent magenta tones to bright purple and a few lighter shades but none of Slc. Mahalo Jack them ever express red or orange.

(White-hybrid) C. R. Prowe : I couldn’t help but note this plant. This Cattleya hybrid, intermedia x Suzanne Hye, dates from 1914! The cross was made by Sanders and these plants are in all likelihood pieces of the original seedlings or a very old remake. It’s nice to see pieces of history still around.

CLASS 2: CYMBIDIUM Blue Cymbidium aloifolium Harrow

(Blue) Cymbidium aloifolium : This species is the type species for Cymbidium subgenus Cymbidium. In addition to this species, this group includes C. bicolor, C. rectum, C. finlaysonianum, C. atropurpureum, and C. borneense. The species are distinguished by their thick, often rigid leaves with obtuse Cymbidium aloifolium bilobed tips and usually pendulous inflorescences. Cymbidium aloifolium is found from Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands, India, Sikkim, Nepal, Bangladesh, South China, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and south to West Malaysia and Java. The species is strictly epiphytic, found in the forks and hollows of large branches and tree trunks growing in open forest with only partial shade. They are commonly lowland plants and have adapted to hot, dry exposed conditions. Grow this one hot and with very bright light.

CLASS 3: DENDROBIUM

Blue Dendrobium thyrsiflorum Missbach Red Dendrobium ( Janya x smillieae ) Dampog White Dendrobium thrysiflorum fma. alboluteum Brinton/Park

(Blue) Dendrobium thyrsiflorum : This plant was entered as Dendrobium densiflorum but must be D.Den. thyrsiflorum thyrsiflorum. While Page 6 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

very closely related, there are obvious differences. The most notably is the color of the flowers. Dendrobium densiflorum is a uniform, bright butter yellow while D. thyrsiflorum has bright white sepals and petals and a solid bright yellow lip. Other closely related species are D. farmeri and D. palpebrae. Both species have basically white and yellow flowers however those of D. farmeri are typically tinged violet.

CLASS 4: EPIDENDRUM Blue Epidendrum Mabel Kanda Collier/Reinke Red Eplc. Charlie Brown ‘Red Baron’ Collier/Reinke White Epidendrum Crystal Valley ‘Pinky’ Harrow

(Blue) Epidendrum Mabel Kanda : This cross was made in 1959 and would today be considered an intergeneric cross. The parents are Psychilis atropurpurea (syn. Epidendrum atropurpureum) and Epidendrum floribundum. The Epi parent dominates for flower color and the dark chocolate pigments from the Psychilis parent have been essentially suppressed. This is a rather common phenomenon in breeding with green flowered Epidendrum species. The genus Psychilis circumscribes those former Epidendrum species hailing from the islands of the Caribbean. These plants are characterized by thickened, often somewhat spindle shaped pseudobulbs with several Epidendrum Mabel Kanda thick, leathery leaves; a sharp contrast from the reed like canes of most true Epis.

CLASS 5: ONCIDIUM ALLIANCE Blue (This plant also received the J.C. Mobley Cultural Award) Milt. Bert Field ‘Crimson Glow’ Missbach Red Oncidium alliance hybrid Harrow White Oncidium ampliatum Collier/Reinke

(Red) Miltoniopsis Bert Field ‘Crimson Glow’ : Congratulations! Miltoniopsis aren’t the easiest plants to grow and flower well in warm climates. Here in Florida it’s almost a total waste of space. They simply do not tolerate hot humid nights. If you try these plants, keep in mind that they are NOT cool growers and do best under intermediate conditions. The tricky part is giving them enough light without keeping them too warm. The worst possible thing is to shade them heavily. It’s guaranteed to give you all sorts of leaf spotting and pseudobulb rotting problems. This cross was made in 1965 and is still a great red – excellent shape, full form and great floriferousness! Milt. Bert Field ‘Crimson Glow’

CLASS 6: CYPRIPEDIUM ALLIANCE Blue Paph. callosum ‘A.O.C.’ AM/AOS (provisional) Whitfield Blue Paph. St. Swithin Collier/Reinke Red Paph. bellatulum Mellard/Marino White Paph. philippinense Brinton/Park

(Blue) Paphiopedilum callosum ‘A.O.C.’, AM/AOS (provisional) : If this is Paph. callosum it is one of the best I’ve seen. The flower is magnificently full with exceptional balance. What a difference line breeding can make. My understanding is that this is a line bred Paph. callosum var. sublaeve. The flower has some features consistent with that Paph. callosum ‘A.O.C.’ designation but petal spotting and carriage that may be more influenced by other varietal forms of the species. It will be interesting to see what a taxonomist has to say about this one. Congratulations to the grower! Paph. St. Swithin Page 7 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

CLASS 7: PHALAENOPSIS ALLIANCE Blue Phal. Schillo-Snow Lentz/Morgan Red Phal. Sogo Grape Dampog White Dtps. ( Orglade’s Puff x Lillian Eileen Pita ) Jacobson

(Blue) Phalaenopsis Schillo-Snow : Pretty! The cross, Phal. schilleriana x Hilo Lip, was registered by Breckenridge in 1990. The most notable influence from Hilo Lip is the wonderful full, open lip. Unfortunately, the sharp contrast between the white lip and pink sepals and petals of Hilo Lip has been somewhat diluted by infusion of pink into the lip of this hybrid. But, nonetheless, this is a pretty hybrid.

Phal. Schillo-Snow

CLASS 8: VANDACEOUS ALLIANCE Blue Jumellea arachnantha Missbach Red Renanthera Tom Thumb Collier/Reinke White Oeoniella polystachys Mellard/Marino White Ascda. Suksamran Sunlight ‘Gold’ Dampog

(Blue) Jumellea arachnantha : The genus Jumellea contains about 58 species distributed from Kenya into South Africa and eastward to Madagascar and adjacent islands. In their native habitats, these plants are either epiphytes or lithophytes and are easily maintained in cultivation. They respond well either mounted or potted in baskets or pots with excellent drainage. Plants should be given ample water during the growing season and some species benefit from a short dry rest after flowering. While monopodial, the plants freely produce basal keikis and will, over time, develop substantial specimens. Flowers are produced singly but many inflorescences will be produced simultaneously making for a very showy specimen. Jumellea arachnantha

CLASS 9: MISCELLANEOUS OTHER GENERA Blue Bifrenaria harrisoniae ‘Ruth’ AM/AOS Missbach Red Pleurothallis marthae Mellard/Marino White Masd. bicornis (syn. Portilla popowiana) Hartong

(Blue) Bifrenaria harrisoniae ‘Ruth’, AM/AOS : This is another one of those things you just don’t see much of anymore. This clone was awarded with three flowers in 1971 at a show in Pennsylvania. Typically one or two flowers are produced per inflorescence. The species is a native of southern Brazil and grows well under intermediate conditions. The plants benefit from uniform watering throughout the year. The key to flowering this species well appears to be providing abundant light, especially during the dull winter months.

Bifrenaria harrisoniae ‘Ruth’

JOIN THE ORCHID DIGEST CORPORATION

Please visit our web site at Don’t let the name fool you, the Orchid Digest is a non-profit http://www.atlantaorchidsociety.org membership-based organization dedicated to orchids. Designed to appeal to the mid-range to advanced grower The Atlanta Orchid Society web site contains nothing beats the Orchid Digest. For just $32/year you get 4 recent newsletters and articles, cultural issues of full-color, in-depth articles about orchids. The information for growing orchids in Atlanta, as magazine is large format and the fourth issue of the year is well as a calendar of events and information always an extra-special issue devoted to a single genus.

about our annual shows. For membership application forms contact Fred Missbach (404-237-1694) Page 8 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE ATLANTA

JUDGING CENTER

The following awards were granted at the March 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.

© 2005 Danny Lentz Phalaenopsis Jeannette Pellman ‘Kathy Ann’ HCC 78pts. ( Paul Tatar x Massachusetts Stripe ) Natural Spread: 11.1cm H x 9.7cm V Thirteen well-presented flowers and four buds on one © 2005 Danny Lentz arching inflorescence, plus two flowers and six buds on a second upright inflorescence; flowers white with widespread purple suffusion between prominent darker purple veins; lip lilac heavily overlaid with dark purple veins, mimosa-yellow suffusion between veins basally, side lobes nearly solid dark purple; prominent callus mimosa-yellow with purple spots; column suffused purple,

anther cap white; substance fleshy; texture crystalline.

Exhibitor: Dennis Billings

Lycaste Shoalhaven ‘Crystal White’ AM 86 pts. Natural Spread: 16.8cm H x 11.7cm V One exceptionally large flower and one bud well- displayed on two inflorescences; flower concolor white; lip side lobes and callus light yellow; substance hard; texture sparkling. 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. Phalaenopsis Southern Goddess ‘Snowfall’

• 10% off on purchases from the Society’s Bookstore HCC 79 pts. ( Marie’s Destiny x aprodite var. formosana ) and Orchid Emporium. Reduced or free admission to Natural Spread: 9.0cm H x 8.9cm V participating botanical gardens. Thirty-seven round, white flowers and one bud well- presented on three branched, arching inflorescences; lip For a limited time, if you join for two years ($84) you will midlobe suffused mimosa-yellow, side lobes with purple also get a $30 gift certificate (good on an order of $100 or striations basally; prominent callus mimosa-yellow with more) at any one of 13 commercial growers who advertise numerous purple spots; column white; substance fleshy; in Orchids. JOIN TODAY. For information, contact texture matte. Evan Dessasau (404-241-4819) Exhibitor: Stones River Orchids Page 9 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

Phragmipedium Red Baron ‘Edwin Boyett’

© 2005 Danny Lentz AM 85 pts. ( Mont Fallu x Andean Fire ) Natural Spread: 16.1cm H x 10.6cm V Ophrys ( fuciflora x heldreichii ) AD/AOS Four flowers and four buds well-presented on one 89-cm Natural Spread: 2.0cm H x 2.2cm V inflorescence; sepals and petals crimson, center of sepals One striking flower and three buds on one inflorescence; green basally; pouch scarlet, egg yolk yellow internally diminutive plant 6cm wide by 5.5cm tall, five whorled with minute light crimson spots; substance firm; texture leaves to 1.5cm wide by 4.5cm long; sepals light rose-pink sparkling. with distinctive lime green stripe centrally; petals darker Exhibitor: Ed & AnnaLee Boyett rose-pink; convex lip chartreuse irregularly overlaid rich maroon, small protuberances at side lobes; column cream,

lime green apically; substance firm; texture glistening;

commended for a distinctive new direction in breeding.

Exhibitor: David Mellard

Phragmipedium Les Dirouilles ‘Ramona Lee’ © 2005 Danny Lentz HCC 79 pts. ( Sorceror’s Apprentice x Grande ) One large flower and one bud on one 70-cm inflorescence; Miltonia cuneata ‘Judy’s Joy’ dorsal sepal light chartreuse with white picotee on AM 80 pts. proximal one-thrid, striped moss green centrally Natural Spread: 6.9cm H x 7.5cm V transitioning to wine red peripherally; synsepal chartreuse Thirty-seven undulated flowers and three buds on 10 veined wine red with white picotee on proximal one-third; inflorescences; sepals cream, heavily barred chocolate petals citron green with wine red hairs basally, edges wine brown; petals cream strongly blotched chocolate brown; lip red coalescing to solid wine red distally; pouch base color white spotted brown on two distinct keels, blushed rose light citron green, exterior lightly overlaid chocolate basally; column cream with ruffled, fimbriate hood brown, interior heavily spotted wine red, moss green enclosing cream anther cap; substance firm; texture glossy. centrally; staminode light citron green with dark maroon Exhibitor: Judy Cook hairs; substance firm; texture glossy. Exhibitor: Fred Missbach Page 10 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

Paphiopedilum Irish Moss ‘Hwei & Sue’ HCC 79 pts. (Awarded 3/1 at Southeastern Flower Show) Phalaenopsis ((Spring Doris x California Glow) x Natural Spread: 8.3cm H x 8.0cm V Silken Pennant) ‘Spring Silk’ AM 83 pts. One flower on one 23-cm inflorescence; dorsal sepal white Natural Spread: 10.3cm H x 9.7cm V overlaid pale chartreuse basally with heavy burgundy Eleven flat flowers well-displayed on one arching veins; synsepal chartreuse with light burgundy veins; inflorescence; flowers white, lateral sepals spotted red- petals chartreuse with light burgundy veins, upper margins purple basally; lip white, midlobe spotted red-purple hirsute, heavily ruffled; pouch chartreuse with muted marginally, side lobes striped red-purple internally; callus burgundy veins, numerous burgundy spots internally; spotted red-purple; substance firm; texture crystalline. staminode light chartreuse, apple green centrally; column Exhibitor: Stones River Orchids hirsute; substance firm; texture waxy. Exhibitor: Hwei Hsieh

Lueddemannia pescatorei Catasetum cernuum Page 11 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

Dipodium, the Hyacinth Orchids

Dipodium is a genus of about twenty species that is distributed from Malaysia down through the Pacific region to Australia, where about ten species can be found in the eastern states of the country. Robert Brown described the genus in 1810. The name of the genus is Greek for “two little feet” and refers to the prominent stalks which support the pollinia. ©2005 Matthew Quinn

Many of the Australian species of Dipodium are saprophytic terrestrials. These leafless plants live off a relationship with fungi in the soil rather than getting their energy through photosynthesis. They are found growing in proximity with Eucalyptus trees. These plants cannot be cultivated.

Two of the saprophytic species are D. punctatum and D. roseum, which was recently segregated from D. punctatum. The plants are fairly common in a region near the coast from southern Queensland around to the eastern part of South Australia. D. roseum can also be found in Tasmania. They bloom from November to March.

D. punctatum has a purplish-red stalk up to 1 meter tall ©2005 Matthew Quinn bearing up to 60 flowers. The flowers are almost 2 cm across, reddish-pink with darker spots. The sepals and petals are not reflexed. It grows at elevations of 10- 1100 meters. Matthew Quinn reported seeing these in January: “While on a short holiday to the village of Berry, 2 1/2 hours south of Sydney, I saw this D. punctatum by the side of the road. We were crossing the hills on the Kangaroo Valley Rd (sensationally beautiful as an aside), and once we hit around 350 metres above sea level, these beauties jumped out of nowhere - right by the side of the road. They aren't tiny, at about 50cm high - but I was still impressed that I managed to spot them whilst driving by at about 60km/h. My brain subconsciously said "Orchids!" and I hit the brakes - with luckily no cars behind me. The 2nd photo shows their proximity to the road, and the last shows healthy looking seed pods - also found in ©2005 Matthew Quinn abundance further up into the hills”

Dipodium punctatum (top) flowers (middle) cluster of plants by roadside (bottom) seed pods Page 12 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

D. roseum has up to 40 flowers on a stalk of up to 1 m or more. The flowers are up to 2.5 cm across, rose pink with small spots. Reiner Richter of Victoria reported seeing many of these plants (up to 100 in a day) while walking in the Doongalla Forest, part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park (http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?p ark=49 ). He saw stalks of various heights with the tallest stalk measuring 1.1 m. These pictures were taken during January and December of 2004.

-Danny Lentz

References:

Field Guide to the Orchids of New South Wales and Victoria (Second Edition) by Tony Bishop, 2000

Orchids of Australia by John J. Riley and David P. Banks, 2002

Posts on the alt.binaries.pictures.orchids USENET Newsgroup and personal communications by: Reiner Richter ( http://orchids.rnr.id.au ) Matthew Quinn ( [email protected] )

So where can you get terrestrial orchids?

After seeing the pretty pictures of David Mellard’s Ophrys plants and some of the Australian species featured in the newsletter, you ©2004 Reiner Richter may start looking for some of these plants to try in your collection. They aren’t easy to find. Once source David has used is Dr. Heinrich Beyrle in Germany. This is where David got his Ophrys tubers. The website is http://www.myorchids.de/index.htm. The site lists many species from both Europe and Australia. Orders are taken during the summer, and shipments are made in September and October.

r Some day when I get time I will look for another source of the Australian species. If you know of sources for the European or Australian species please let me know.

Dipodium roseum Page 13 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

Growing Ophrys by David Mellard

Ophrys, commonly known as bee an electrical conductivity (EC) orchids because many are pollinated by reading of 1.6 (or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per bees, grow in Eurasia, predominantly gallon) provides the right concentration around the Mediterrean Sea. of fertilizer. Pots can be fertilized a Consequently, Ophrys are adapted to a couple times a month. Mediterrean climate of cool, moist winters and hot dry summers. Ophrys After flowering and as warm weather are summer dormant, coming into © 2005 Danny Lentz approaches, the leaves will turn yellow growth in the fall and flowering in the and die back. Pots should be dried off spring. Most Ophrys can tolerate a light gradually during this time to allow the frost. plant to form next year's tuber. Pots are not watered or watered just barely Because Atlanta's winters are too cold, during the summer dormancy. This is Ophrys must be grown indoors, under a critical time and the less frequent lights, or in a frost free greenhouse. The light watering depends on the mix for Ophrys consists of the top few humidity. In humid environments, the inches of soil from hardwood forests surface of the pot can be dry but the amended with perlite and limestone. soil beneath the surface can maintain One good source of limestone is white enough moisture to prevent the tuber gravel chips used in aquarium, which from drying out. In this situation, can be found at most stores that avoid water. When watering during specialize in saltwater fish. Some bone dormancy, use enough water to wet the meal can also be added along with top 1/2 to 1 inch of mix; do not water dolomitic limestone or oyster shell. The the pot completely. important part is to create a light mix When fall arrives, pots can be given a that is high in calcium and magnesium Ophrys morisii and has a pH above 6.5. During growth very light watering until growth (if you are using low alkalinity water), plants can be appears. As the growing point fertilized lightly at about 100 to 200 ppm nitrogen emerges, watering can be increased and once leaves using Michigan State University (MSU) RO fertilizer appear, fertilizer can be added. Keep consistently with added calcium and magnesium. Using the MSU moist during the fall, winter, and spring growth RO fertilizer and Atlanta's low alkalinity water, period and provide medium to bright light (Cattleya light levels). © 2005 Danny Lentz © 2005 Danny Lentz © 2005 Danny Lentz

Ophrys (fuciflora x heldreichii) plant (L), closeup of petals, column and lip (R) Ophrys morisii lip and column Page 14 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org May 2005

Maxillaria rufescens Plant grown by Danny Lentz