Journal of the Native Orchid Society of South Australia Inc PRINT POST APPROVED VOLUME 27 NO. 2 PP 54366200018 MARCH 2003 NATIVE ORCHID SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA POST OFFICE BOX 565 UNLEY SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5061 The Native Orchid Society of South Australia promotes the conservation of orchids through the preservation of natural habitat and through cultivation. Except with the documented official representation from the Management Committee no person is authorised to represent the society on any matter. All native orchids are protected plants in the wild. Their collection without written Government permit is illegal. PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: Bill Dear Cathy Houston Telephone: 82962111 Telephone: 8356 7356 VICE-PRESIDENT Bodo Jensen COMMITTEE Thelma Bridle Peter McCauley Malcolm Guy David Pettifor EDITOR: TREASURER David Hirst Iris Freeman 14 Beaverdale Avenue Windsor Gardens SA 5087 Telephone 8261 7998 E-mail [email protected] LIFE MEMBERS Mr R. Hargreaves Mr G. Carne Mr L. Nesbitt Mr R. Bates Mr R. Robjohns Mr R Shooter Mr D. Wells Registrar of Judges: Reg Shooter Trading Table: Judy Penney Field Trips & Conservation: Thelma Bridle Tel. 83844174 Tuber Bank Coordinator: Malcolm Guy Tel. 82767350 New Members Coordinator David Pettifor Tel. 0416 095 095 PATRON: Mr T.R.N. Lothian The Native Orchid Society of South Australia Inc. while taking all due care, take no responsibility for the loss, destruction or damage to any plants whether at shows, meetings or exhibits. Views or opinions expressed by authors of articles within this Journal do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Management. We condones the reprint of any articles if acknowledgement is given. Journal cost $2 per issue. Family or Single Membership with subscription $15. 11 JOURNAL OF THE NATIVE ORCHID SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC. MARCH 2003 Vol. 27 No. 2 CONTENTS THIS JOURNAL Title Author Page Diary Dates 11, February Meeting 12 For Your Information - NOSSA News 12 Presidents Report Bill Dear 13 Origin of Pterostylis arenicola tubers for NOSSA members Birgette Sorensen 13 Eyre Peninsula Field Trip. Part 3 Thelma Bridle 14 Review: "Australia, 300 Years of Botanical Illustration by Helen Hewson" Part 2 Edda Viskic 16 Orchid name changes Thelma Bridle 19 Rhizanthella slateri in NSW David Hirst 19 NOSSA Library Holdings Part 2 20 Treasurers Report for 2002 Iris Freeman 21 NEXT MEETING 25 MARCH 2003 Tuesday, 25 March, St Matthew's Hall, Bridge Street, Kensington. Meeting starts at 8:00 p.m. Doors to the hall will be open from 7:15 p.m. to allow Members access to the Library. Bring your plants for the display table: This is the Annual General Meeting. There will a slide event showing and commenting on the Ira Butler Trophy and award winning plants. DIARY DATES Sat. 12 April 2003 Spring Gully Conservation Park - 10:00am 30 May 2003 Annual Dinner 16-21 Sept. 2003 16th Australian Orchid Council Conference Adelaide. 7 December 2003 Annual BBQ NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday 2nd Apr. at the home of David & Rosemary Hirst. Meeting commences at 7:30 p.m. 12 FEBRUARY MEETING Only one plant was benched in the Terrestrial Section and three in the Epiphyte Section. While this is less than that of some previous years it is likely a reflection of the hot dry summer we experienced. The terrestrial was Eriochilus cucullatus from Tasmania exhibited by David Pettifor with several flowers(larger than those of the South Australian Eriochilus). The epiphytes were; Judging results Dendrobium Annes Rainbow Surprise, 2nd D. Rozella 'Best', Sarcochilus Velvet 3rd and popular vote Sarcochilus ?Velvet 1st SPEAKERS Thelma Bridle began the talk and accompanying slide show with a reflection of last years conservation activities. One slide showed a large gathering of intrepid field trip participants all dressed in wet weather gear and it looked like it was certainly needed. The photos of the orchids were excellent and most were of rare or seldom seen species that are the subject of conservation and weeding outings. Cathy Houston followed Thelma's talk with slides of some of the major field trips of 2002 including a lovely photo of Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island. Both speakers made me feel envious of those who attended the conservation & field trips when I wasn't able to and disappointed that I did not go on those I could have. FOR YOUR INFORMATION - NOSSA NEWS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Nominations are called for Vice president, Treasurer and one position on the committee. NEW MEMBERS NOSSA Committee and members warmly welcome new members; Andrew Pritchard, Neil Nillson and L. & R. Saunders. FOR SALE The following are offered by tender - to Bill Dear. ORCHIDS OF AUSTRALIA by W.H. Nicholls AUSTRALIAN ORCHIDS by R.D. Fitzgerald 1882-1893 2 vols in excellent condition, bound in black leather with gold lettering. 13 PRESIDENTS REPORT It is with a good deal of pleasure that I present the Presidents Report for 2002. The year started with a very well attended 25th Anniversary Meeting and supper. It was fantastic to see so many foundation members and people who were involved in the formation of NOSSA. in 1977. There were many interesting and humorous stories and reminiscings from these older members which was greatly appreciated by the newer members. The season was very odd weather wise, with a cool summer followed by a very dry winter and spring. This was especially disappointing for the members who attended the many field trips and weeding days to see the number of flowering plants down on normal years. One of their highlights was a week's trip to K.I. Another high point of the year was a very successful Spring Show held in conjunction with the Australian Plant Society Spring flower show and sale. This was financially the best show for some years and gave us a greater exposure to the public. We should try to keep this as a combined event as both societies will benefit greatly. We again had a good mix of speakers of interest and well attended annual dinner and Xmas BBQ. Finally I would like to thank the hard working committee and everyone else who helped to keep NOSSA running smoothly and supported me over the last four years. I wish Bodo all the best for the next two years. BILL. Origin of Pterostylis arenicola tubers for NOSSA members Birgette Sorensen Pterostylis arenicola (sandhill greenhood) is an endangered, solitary orchid that is endemic to South Australia. This species was part of a research project conducted at Black Hill Flora Centre by Scientists Dr Manfred Jusaitis and Birgette Sorensen. Its habitat has been largely cleared, leaving three remnant populations; two of these populations occur to the south of Tailem Bend and the third population occurs in the Adelaide western suburbs. Seed was collected from each of the populations for germination trials. Seedlings resulting from the trials were potted up and grown in Dr R.S. Rogers shadehouse that was originally located at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens then to Black Hill Flora Reserve. When further research on the seedlings was completed, tubers were donated to Roy Hargreaves for distribution to several members of the Native Orchid Society of South Australia (NOSSA). The donated tubers originated from seed collected from the populations at Tailem Bend during the early 1990's. 14 NOSSA FIELD TRIP TO YORKE AND EYRE PENINSULAS - SEPT. 2001 PART 3: PORT LINCOLN AND THE EAST COAST Thelma Bridle [The editor apologises for the lengthy period between appearance of this part and parts 1-2] Only a short stop was made at Tod Reservoir as our local guides Hazel and Colin had more orchid-rich sites along Reservoir Drive to show us. Pterostylis plumosa occurred as both long and short bearded forms, unrelated to flower-size. P. nana was found in three different forms. A number of Thelymitra species were noted, all in bud, many would have been flowering on a warmer day. Colonies of T. benthamiana were numerous and very healthy, with much larger leaves than occur in the Adelaide Hills. The plants were still three-four weeks from flowering. On a hillside, Acianthus caudatus was found for the first time on Eyre Peninsula, with shorter segments than the Adelaide Hills form. P. aff. smaragdyna was an un- named, single flowered, self pollinated form and P. sanguinea were of the few- flowered type. Chamaescilla corymbosa (blue squill [lily]) were massed in large colonies and mauve flowers of Prostanthera spinosa [mint bush] were attractive. In a moist gully, orchids were in distinct colonies, large collections of single species of the more frequent orchid species. From here on and at several sites visited in the afternoon, T. epipactoides was opening a few greyish-blue flowers. We lunched at Wanilla Settlement Reserve, watching, appropriately, a pair of Port Lincoln parrots, now relegated to ringnecks along with all such parrots. A thornbill was busily collecting loose bark for nest building not far away, judging by the frequent returns. Two species of Microtis were found, one as yet not officially named, both T. antennifera and T. flexuosa were in flower, but T. x chasmogama was over. Prasophyllum aenigmum, whose small flowers never open fully, was out, P. aff. odoratum, a species specific to this site at Wanilla still in bud, P. fecundum in flower as was P. aff. fitzgeraldii. Specimens of this species were well perfumed, with deep coloured flowers and magenta stems. Wanilla Forest has been closed to the public since ownership transferred to the Aboriginal Community. We investigated the roadside vegetation along the perimeter. M. orbicularis was flowering, standing in water and P. nana, this time the swamp type in very moist soil. Under casuarinas a number of Caladenia species, Thelymitra species and some large clumps of P.