The Orchid Society of Great Britain

Transcription

VOLUME 62 No 3 August – September – October 2013
Orchid
Journal
Society of Great Britain
The Orchid Society of Great Britain
Registered Charity No. 261273
Officers of the Society
Committee Members
Mrs Betty Barber
8 Dean Close, Deeds Grove, High Wycombe,
Buckinghamshire, HP12 3NS
Tel: 01494 529604
e-mail: betty.barber@gmail.com
Vice Presidents: Mrs B Arnold, Mrs J Kelleher,
Mr T Lewis, Dr E Watson
Mr Marc Harris
7 Bandon Rise, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 8PT
Tel: 020 8647 7434
e-mail: marcosgbstuff@gmail.com
#Secretary: Mrs Val Micklewright
103 North Road, Three Bridges, Crawley,
West Sussex, RH10 1SQ
Tel: 01293 528615
e-mail: val@micklewright.com
#Treasurer: Mrs Sally Mill
82 Hazelwick Road, Three Bridges,
West Sussex, RH10 1NH
Tel: 01293 547896
#Membership Secretary: Mrs Sue Johnson
Le Touquet, Station Road, Elsenham,
Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM22 6LG
Tel: 01279 812704
e-mail: osgbmembership@yahoo.co.uk
Vice Chairman:
Mr Robert Mundell
5 Elm Grove, Wivenhoe, Essex, CO7 9AY
Tel: 01206 823777
e-mail: bob.mundell@hotmail.co.uk
Mrs Diana Neophytou
Tel: 020 8542 4335
e-mail: dianamcguirk@hotmail.com
Mrs Linda Seal
20 Court Road, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 5RD
Tel: 01883 349379
e-mail: 4seals@f2s.com
#Trustee of the Society
*Delegate to the British Orchid Council
Chair Judging: Mrs Dusha Hayes
62 Link Lane, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 9DZ
Tel: 020 8647 8496
e-mail: dushahayes@blueyonder.co.uk
*Programme Secretary:
Mr Francis J Quesada-Pallarés
50 Fir Tree Gardens, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 8JQ
Tel: 020 8777 2904
e-mail: ols_francisjquesadapallares@hotmail.com
Sponsorship Secretary: Miss Mary-Jane Hawkins
Mobile: 07713 474489
e-mail: maryjanehawkins@hotmail.com
170 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
On behalf of the
Society, I would like to
offer a warm
welcome to our new
President, Peter
White, who was
elected at the AGM in
June and to our new
members around the
world who have
Photo by Cora Hurley
joined the Society
during the busy show season.
This issue contains a variety of items including
an introduction to our new President; articles by
Derek Belcher on Dendrobium kingianum and
the Croydon & District Orchid Group (which
celebrates its 35th anniversary next year);
cultural information on Eulophia guineensis
from Mike Powell; reports on the RHS London
Orchid Show and RHS Chelsea Flower Show; and
the results of the 2013 Photographic and Art
Competition which was held in June alongside
the AGM.
Officers of the Society .................................................... 170
Editor’s notes ..................................................................... 171
News:
Medals galore for the OSGB .................................... 172
RHS Westonbirt Medal presented ......................... 173
Changes to the Committee ..................................... 173
Orchid Society of East Anglia show date ............ 173
Changes to Vandeae .................................................. 174
Paypal facility on OSGB website ............................ 174
Blue Phalaenopsis unveiled .................................... 175
Introduction to the President by Peter White ........ 176
Curiosities (continued)
by Graham Le Tissier and Sam Hurley ................. 178
Too good to be true by Sam Hurley .......................... 180
OSGB Autumn Show details by Val Pugh ................ 181
Trophies awarded at the AGM ..................................... 181
RHS London Orchid Show by Henry Oakeley ........ 182
Dendrobium kingianum by Derek Belcher ............... 188
Japan Grand Prix International Orchid
Festival by Sam Hurley .............................................. 192
Photographic and Art Competition 2013
by Sam Hurley .............................................................. 194
Eulophia guineensis by Mike Powell ........................... 200
#Displays Manager: Miss Jeanette Beaney
50 Court Road, Orpington, Kent, BR6 0QA
Tel: 01689 826631 Mobile: 07517 006387
e-mail: jeanette.beaney@btinternet.com
Advertising Secretary: Mrs Kim Solomon
31 Burghley House, Somerset Road, Wimbledon,
London, SW19 5JB
Tel: 020 8946 4410 Mobile: 07717 222403
e-mail: akmsolomon@yahoo.co.uk
Contents
www.osgb.org.uk
#President: Mr Peter White
61 Stanwell Lea, Middleton Cheney, Banbury,
Oxfordshire, OX17 2RF
Tel: 01295 712159
e-mail: peter.orchid@sky.com
#Chairman: Mr Roy White
30 Acorn Grove, Ruislip Gardens, Middlesex, HA4 6LP
Tel: 01895 632689 Mobile: 07873 716496
e-mail: royjoewhite@hotmail.com
Editor’s notes
The Journal (ISSN 0306-2996)
*Editor and Librarian: Lady Samantha Hurley
17 Veronica Road, London, SW17 8QL
Tel: 020 8673 7751 Mobile: 07900 250247
e-mail: sam@ballyhurley.com
Layout and typesetting: Smallfish Designs Ltd
e-mail: info@smallcyberfish.net
Printed by: Impress Print Services Ltd
e-mail: helen.thomas@impressprint.net
The Journal is printed on paper
with a certified Chain of Custody
for wood fibre. At least 70% of
the fibre originates from certified
sustainably managed forests.
The Society achieved Gold medals at the London
and Chelsea shows but is delighted to be
increasing its presence at shows outside the
London area, having recently exhibited at Raby
Castle, Malvern International Orchid Show and
the North of England Orchid Society show.
It will be exhibiting next at the 3rd Durham
Orchid Show, 7–8 September, which will include
displays, talks, traders, a BOC judging
symposium, and a meeting of the RHS Orchid
Committee to consider awards to plants. Please
would members with plants to lend for this
display contact Sam Hurley.
Croydon & District Orchid Group
by Derek Belcher ......................................................... 202
Chelsea’s centenary 1913–2013 by Sam Hurley ... 204
Napier Hall meetings
Table show reports by André Roux ...................... 216
April and May reports by Mary-Jane Hawkins .. 224
The RHS Orchid Committee awards ......................... 235
Advertisements ................................................................ 242
Services to members:
Meetings, cultural advice, website,
library, displays ............................................................ 250
Show Diary ......................................................................... 251
Photos by Henry Oakeley unless otherwise stated
My thanks to Jane Moore who has recently
joined the Journal’s proof-reading team, and to
those who have kindly allowed me to use their
photographs to illustrate this issue.
The copy deadline for the next issue is
10 September 2013.
Front Cover: Calanthe Dominii exhibited by the
Eric Young Orchid Foundation at this year’s RHS
Chelsea Flower Show
Back Cover: Norma Burgess’s Coelogyne parishii
exhibited at Napier Hall in April (photo by
Robert Simmons)
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 171
News
News
Sam Hurley
Medals galore for the OSGB
The OSGB has had a busy show season and
won medals galore. Many thanks to every
member who was involved in planning,
staging, supplying and supporting these
shows.
The Society achieved Gold medals at the RHS
London Orchid Show and the RHS Chelsea
Flower Show; a Silver-Gilt medal at the
Malvern International Orchid Show; and won
the cup for Best Visiting Society exhibit at
the North of England Orchid Society’s show.
RHS Westonbirt Medal
presented
Val Micklewright’s exhibit for the OSGB at the International Orchid Show in Malvern won a Silver-Gilt medal (photo by
Val Micklewright)
David Martin was presented with the
Westonbirt Medal by RHS President
Elizabeth Banks at an awards ceremony in
April. David received this award for his
Cymbidium Sweet Devon ‘Sweet’ which was
the best specimen plant shown to the RHS
Orchid Committee in 2012.
Newly-elected Committee Member – Linda Seal (photo
by Sam Hurley)
Changes to the Committee
The Management Committee is grateful to
Peter Johnson for his work over the past year
as a Committee Member. Although Peter
stood down from this role in June, I am sure
he will continue to support the Society by
helping our Membership Secretary, his wife –
Sue, with the quarterly despatch of the
Journal. The Committee is delighted to
welcome Linda Seal who was elected as a
Committee Member at the AGM. Many
thanks to all those who stood for re-election.
Orchid Society of East Anglia
show date
Please note that the Orchid Society of East
Anglia’s Autumn Show will be on 20
October 2013, not 24 October as listed in the
May Journal (Ed: my apologies for the error).
Henry Oakeley’s Anguloa display for the OSGB at the North of England Orchid Society’s show in June won Best Visiting
Society exhibit
172 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Maureen and David Martin with the Westonbirt Medal
(photo by Johan Hermans)
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 173
News
News
A true blue Phalaenopsis has finally been achieved
through genetic engineering
Blue Phalaenopsis unveiled
Photos by Ian Chalmers
Neofinetia falcata has moved to become Vanda falcata
Changes to Vandeae
Just when you thought it was safe to stop
renaming your orchids … a recent press release
from the RHS’s Orchid Hybrid Registration
Advisory Group advises further changes to
Vandeae following a meeting in May.
A full account is due to be published in
Volume 6 of Genera Orchidacearum, which is
scheduled for publication in February 2014,
and is the final volume of the series.
The members of the Advisory Group
unanimously recommended adoption of the
proposed changes in the Hybrid Register
immediately, some of which are listed below.
Vanda is to be expanded to include:
Ascocentropsis, Ascocentrum, Christensonia,
Eparmatostigma, Euanthe, Neofinetia and
Trudelia
Papilionanthe is to be accepted as distinct
from Vanda
174 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Phalaenopsis is to include: Doritis, Kingidium,
Lesliea, Nothodoritis, Ornithochilus and Sedirea
Full details of the proposed changes can be
found on the News page of the OSGB
website, www.osgb.org.uk
PayPal facility on OSGB
website
Members can now make payments to the
Society using the new PayPal facility on
the membership page of our website,
www.osgb.org.uk, including payments for
annual subscription renewals, Colour
Fund donations and purchases of Society
merchandise. However, please contact Val
Micklewright before ordering
merchandise from the website to ensure
the items required are in stock and to
arrange either delivery, collection or the
correct postal charge payable.
The world’s first blue Phalaenopsis were
unveiled at Japan’s 11th Asia Pacific Orchid
Conference in February 2012. Visitors queued
for an hour to view these extraordinary
plants which were dramatically displayed in
spot-lit glass cabinets within a darkened
room, watched over by security guards.
A security guard watches over the blue Phalaenopsis on
display in spot-lit glass cabinets
These transgenic flowers were created
through genetic engineering, using a gene
from the Asiatic dayflower, Commelina
communis, which has bright blue flowers.
This was used to replace the colour gene in
plants of Phal. Wedding Promenade. Peloric,
or deformed, blue Phalaenopsis flowers were
also on display, which had been created
before the non-deformed flowers were
finally achieved. Masahiro Mii of Chiba
University delivered a lecture outlining the
different methods trialled over many years
and the final, successful process of genetic
engineering.
Peloric forms of the transgenic blue Phalaenopsis
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 175
Introduction to the President
Introduction to the President
Peter White
I began to check most days until the plant
was in full bloom. The small flowers were
white in colour with a deep red lip and that
was me hooked.
My interest in orchids started over 35 years
ago when a relation of mine was head
gardener at Aynhoe Park, not far from my
home near Banbury.
I searched around to find where to buy more
plants. At that time there were two orchid
nurseries close by – Ratcliffe Orchids, near
Oxford and Wyld Court Orchids, near
Newbury – and this is where I spent my
spare time. My next move was to find a local
orchid society and the nearest one to me
was Solihull & District. I soon became a
member and met many interesting and
experienced orchid growers. After a few
years I became Show Secretary, then
Chairman and now I am that society’s
President.
The tropical house there had a few orchids
and the one that really got me interested
was Cattlianthe (previously Cattleya) Portia.
During one of my visits the plant was being
loaded onto a van heading for the RHS
Chelsea Flower Show; it had over 700
flowers and the rear of the greenhouse had
to be removed as the door was not wide
enough for the plant to get through.
I was given a small Cymbidium to take home
and try. The plant was placed in my 8ft x 6ft
greenhouse along with the tomato plants. I
was checking the greenhouse one winter’s
day and found the Cymbidium was in bud so
Peter White was elected President of the OSGB at the
AGM in June (photo by Sam Hurley)
being nominated to be the next President of
the OSGB. I did not have to give this too
much thought as I knew the people I would
be serving with are hard-working and
dedicated to the Society. I was delighted to
be elected as the Society’s new President at
the AGM in June.
I would like to thank our outgoing President,
Henry Oakeley, in particular for his
contributions to the Journal over the years –
making it one of the best journals around.
Henry has been an ambassador for the OSGB
for many years, both at home and abroad,
and we are all grateful to him for his hard
work.
I was put forward by Solihull & District to
join the BOC judge training scheme in 1987
and qualified after three years. I have judged
at many different congresses around the
world, learning much over the years working
with top orchid growers. In 1996 I started my
business, Orchids by Peter White, growing
and selling orchids, and attending shows at
which I have won many awards including
five RHS Gold medals. I have also achieved
some Awards of Merit and Botanical
Certificates, along with Awards of Garden
Merit for my plants (see page 241).
In 2005 I was invited to join the RHS Orchid
Committee. This was a great honour for me,
being able to work and judge with such
knowledgeable people. Over the years I have
met many people around the world who
share my passion for orchids.
Cattlianthe (previously Cattleya) Portia, an early Cattleya hybrid, inspired Peter White’s interest in orchids
176 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Late last year I was asked if I would consider
Phalaenopsis Ariadne (Happy Valentine x Hinarose) was
bred by Peter White and registered in 2012 (photo by
Sam Hurley)
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 177
Spot the obvious mistake
Sam Hurley (photos by Sam Hurley)
Paphiopedilum hybrid
I was amused to note the flower used to
illustrate the packaging of some vanilla
yoghurt in my local supermarket.
Graham Le Tissier
Dear Editor,
I am writing from Guernsey with reference
to an article by Henry Oakeley in the last
Journal (OSGBJ (2013) 62(2): 92) on
‘curiosities’, a much nicer term than
mutations.
What a shame that Vanilla flowers are not
considered attractive enough in their own
right.
I have a Paphiopedilum with three sepals –
the lateral sepals, which are usually fused to
form a synsepal, have become two.
Personally I find it enhances the appearance
of the flower but then I guess I am biased.
I have had it for four years and it blooms true
every year. It is an unnamed hybrid which I
bought from a local garden centre. I’ve
called it my ‘Guernsey Girl’.
Dendrobium hybrid
Spot the obvious mistake – which orchid flower is this?
(answer at bottom of page)
Sam Hurley (photos by Sam Hurley)
While paying a little more attention than
usual when watering my Dendrobium
kingianum hybrid I notice that it had
produced a ‘curious’ flower – one with two
lips.
I am certainly growing this plant too warm,
with not enough cool winter rest, because it
is covered in a number of keikis, the top one
of which has produced the latest flowers.
178 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Sam Hurley’s Dendrobium kingianum hybrid has a twolipped flower on a spike produced on its uppermost keiki
Answer: Cymbidium
Front and rear views of Graham Le Tissier’s Paphiopedilum
hybrid on which the two lateral sepals are not fused as
usual into a synsepal (photos by Graham Le Tissier)
Please see Derek Belcher’s article about
Dendrobium kingianum (page 188) for
information on how to grow this species and
its hybrids.
Vanilla pompona has butter-yellow coloured flowers
with a long tubular lip
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 179
Too good to be true
Sam Hurley
A beautiful species Phalaenopsis for £10?
stuartiana. This plant was registered by Low
Sadly, this time, too good to be true. Many
in 1899 and named Phal. Schillerio-Stuartiana
thanks to the various members who
although it is now known as Phal. Wiganiae.
contacted me about the identity of Judith
Hoggarth’s bargain Phalaenopsis which was
featured in the previous issue (OSGBJ (2013)
62(2): 136). They all confirmed that it is the
primary hybrid Phalaenopsis Wiganiae.
Our new President, Peter White, offers the
following information:
This plant is often seen in garden centres and
supermarkets and is grown by the Dutch
nurseries. It has a commercial name of
‘Philadelphia’ and is an easy plant to grow;
the attractive flowers are slightly scented.
I think the article by Judith Hoggarth shows
what you can find in superstores. From the
‘Judith’s plant is not Phal. schilleriana but a
picture the plant looks very healthy and well
hybrid between Phal. schilleriana and Phal.
grown, well done.’
OSGB Autumn Show and Wraysbury
Orchid Event
Valerie Pugh
The Society’s last show of the year will be on
Saturday 2 November 2013 at Wraysbury
Village Hall, The Green, Middlesex, TW19 5NA,
held in conjunction with the Wraysbury
Orchid Event.
The show will be open to the public from
10:30–16:00. This year judging will
commence later than usual in order to give
members more time to deliver their plants.
Registration of plants will be from 09:00–
11:00, and judging will commence at 11:00.
Entry to the show is free with plenty of free
parking nearby. There will be a wide selection
of hardy and tropical orchids for sale, along
with orchid sundries, from a variety of
traders; a potting demonstration; and talks
about ‘Orchids in the home’ and ‘Orchid
culture’. Refreshments will be available
throughout the day.
Travel directions to the show can be found
on page 22 of the Annual Supplement. For
more information please contact Valerie
Pugh, tel: 01403 251176; e-mail:
valeriepugh@tiscali.co.uk
Wraysbury can be reached by train on the
line from London Waterloo. Taxis from the
station to the venue need to be pre-booked
as there is no taxi rank at the station (and
paid for by individual members). Members
wishing to arrange for a taxi, or share one,
should contact Kim Solomon (by Wednesday
23rd October please) who will help coordinate bookings, tel: 020 8946 4410,
e-mail: akmsolomon@yahoo.co.uk
Trophies awarded at the AGM
The Brunning Cup
Francis Quesada-Pallarés
The Ray Oddy Cup
David Trendell for a Paphiopedilum hybrid
The Eric Young Trophy
Jo Kelleher for Dendrobium Ellen
The Ernie Self Memorial Trophy
Sally Mill for most marks at Table Shows
The Librarian’s Cup
Mike Buckingham for Masdevallia Minaret
Judith Hoggarth’s Phalaenopsis Wiganiae (schilleriana x stuartiana) was first registered in 1899 (photo by Judith
Hoggarth)
180 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Mike Buckingham’s Masdevallia Minaret, voted the most
popular member’s plant on the OSGB’s display at the
2013 RHS Chelsea Flower Show and winner of the
Librarian’s Cup (photo by Mike Buckingham)
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 181
RHS London Orchid Show
Henry Oakeley
It takes a designer’s imagination to be able to create the finished display from a jumble of boxes (photo by Sam Hurley)
The OSGB’s Gold medal-winning exhibit at the RHS London Orchid Show
The OSGB exhibit
Our display skills – and specifically André
Roux’s – go from strength to strength. Good
plants and good design are, of course,
necessary for a Gold medal exhibit and the
degree of effort (the RHS calls it ‘endeavour’)
expended is also assessed.
Effort there was! Towering boxes piled on
top of each other, covered with chicken wire,
formed the back-drop; flat sheets of builder’s
grade polystyrene the foreground. A rugged
cliff evolved; vertical sheets of cork bark
draped with long strands of Spanish Moss
(Tillandsia usneoides) formed a two metre
182 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
high, central waterfall falling into a river of
large white pebbles which flowed to an
estuary of grey slate pieces laid over the
polystyrene.
Terry Vasey’s pendant Epidendrum
parkinsonianum with half a dozen
noctilucent flowers, and a delightful
Coelogyne flaccida framed the waterfall, with
historic Cymbidium hybrids and modern
Phalaenopsis on the cliff top. On the
orchidaceous plain, Mike Powell’s Eulophia
guineenensis from Arabia and North Africa
and his European terrestrials, Ophrys,
Dactylorhiza and Orchis, grew together, rising
from the polystyrene (now covered with
moss islands and fields of fine bark
chippings), and were complemented by
Paphiopedilum and clumps of Ludisia discolor
from Asia.
Sheets of moss from the pine forests of
Denmark (via Nine Elms flower market)
covered the chicken wire, with Cattleya,
Phragmipedium, Paphiopedilum, Prosthechea,
Coelogyne and more, growing – as in nature –
epiphytically and lithophytically through the
moss, with not a pot showing. The delicate
foliage of Himalayan Maidenhair ferns
(Adiantum venustum) provided a beautiful
pale green foil to the pink, scarlet, gold, white
and yellows of the orchids.
At the foot of the waterfall was that old
Moss and ferns provide a perfect foil for the rainbowcoloured orchid flowers
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 183
favourite, Dendrobium Thwaitesiae ‘Veitch’
proving its robustness in cultivation – for this
plant is over 110 years old and gained a
FCC/RHS in 1904. It was surrounded by
Maxillaria from Michael McIllmurray, who
holds the UK National Collection, including
his rambling Maxillariella (previously
Maxillaria) variabilis with over 50 flowers
which commanded a bun-moss island in the
stream.
No plant had a spotted leaf; no flowers
showed travel damage; no scale, aphid, virus
or mealy bug disgraced the stand; not a pot
was to be seen; the boxes, wire, polystyrene,
all vanished under immaculate moss (no
pine needles either) and all that work with
staplers, moss pins, tin-snips, electric
screwdrivers, plant ties, ferrying plants from
around the country, early morning shopping
and leaf cleaning, became ‘orchids in a
naturalistic setting’ and a Gold medal
exhibit.
Plants cascaded down the cliff-face, alongside a
waterfall of Spanish Moss, to spread out across the
orchidaceous plain
The final touch, never to be forgotten, is
superb labelling. Val Micklewright’s crisp
black labels with genus, species and country
of origin (or parentage if a hybrid), provided
that essential, informative, icing on the cake
of a marvellous creation. To the workers who
laboured and advised, to the members who
supplied plants, the OSGB is grateful, but to
our designer and builder, André Roux, whose
‘eye’ made the masterpiece, we join the
judges in simple, unreserved, and enormous
praise (plus a big ‘thank you’). We look
forward to his next display (and all our
members’ contributions to it).
Plant highlights included a 110 year-old Dendrobium
Thwaitesiae (yellow - middle left) and a Maxillariella
variabilis with over 50 flowers on a bun-moss island
André Roux created another enchanting masterpiece for
the OSGB at the RHS London Orchid Show
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 185
The show was well-attended, with an
increased number of visitors to the RHS halls
which are now leased to Westminster
School. It was a pleasure to see so many
educational exhibits in one hall: Helen and
David Millner, Writhlington School Orchid
Project, Laneside Hardy Orchids and
University of Kent.
The Best Orchid Exhibit and Most Creative
Orchid Exhibit awards went to Vacherot &
Lecoufle for their elegant and modern
display of species and hybrids. Writhlington
School Orchid Project won Best Orchid for
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum and Best Specimen
Orchid for Coelogyne cristata forma alba.
Gold medals were won by Burnham
Nurseries, Helen and David Millner, McBean’s
Orchids, Vacherot & Lecoufle, Writhlington
School Orchid Project and the OSGB.
Lea Valley Orchid Society was the only other
society exhibiting amongst the numerous
traders’ displays and created a charming
greenhouse full of orchid treasures.
Lea Valley Orchid Society’s orchid-filled greenhouse display won a Silver-Gilt medal
Philippe Lecoufle of Vacherot & Lecoufle, who won Best Orchid Exhibit and Most Creative Orchid Exhibit (photo by Kim
Solomon)
186 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Writhlington School Orchid Project won Best Orchid for Dendrobium thyrsiflorum (top right) and Best Specimen Orchid
for Coelogyne cristata forma alba (centre)
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 187
Dendrobium kingianum – a much
maligned orchid
Dendrobium kingianum – a much maligned orchid
Derek Belcher
Most of us have a sample of this orchid in
our collection, even if it was obtained via a
raffle (often the last of a mixed bunch) or
bought at this year’s auction. But do we
know much about this diverse group?
Dendrobium kingianum is a much maligned
orchid in the UK with small plants available
at giveaway prices or given as ‘freebies’,
whereas in its native country it is much
prized. This species comes from the eastern
coast of Australia, just north of Sydney in
New South Wales, up beyond Brisbane to
Carnarvon Gorge in Queensland.
Its name does not come from a royal
connection, but from a Captain King (1758–
1808), the son of Governor Philip King.
Captain King was instrumental in surveying
Australia’s coast line and in early records this
orchid was known as Captain King’s
Dendrobium and later as the Small Rock
Orchid or the Pink Rock Orchid.
Dendrobium kingianum is highly prized in its native
country of Australia but often disregarded in the UK
(photo by Phillip Cribb)
Dendrobium kingianum growing on Mt Glorious,
northwest of Brisbane, Australia (photo by Phillip Cribb)
188 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Variations of colour and shape are considerable in Dendrobium kingianum
The growth of this plant varies considerably
as does the colour. The height of the plant
can vary from 7.5cm to 25cm, and its colour
from dark purple to white, and there is some
suggestion that a yellow-flowered variety
exists (at best this is cream). Variations of
colour and lip shape are considerable.
Whatever the shape of the lip, the colours
can vary greatly, from full colour to highlyspotted (which can also apply to the whole
flower), giving an exceptional choice of
effects, including a gorgeous splash effect.
What more could you want in a collection of
orchids, along with flowering from late
winter to early summer?
Dendrobium speciosum hybridises in the wild with Den. kingianum to produce Dendrobium x delicatum
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 189
in temperature down to 0°C and up to 40°C.
They require good light year-round although
shading is needed during the summer
months and, as with most orchids, good
ventilation and air movement are important.
Potting should allow for about two years’
growth; choose a pot that will give you about
2.5cm space all-round the existing plant. As
this Dendrobium grows as a lithophyte in
nature it may be advisable to add some small
gravel to the medium, eg 60% bark and 40%
gravel, which may require revision of the
watering regime.
Maximum growth occurs over the summer
and early autumn period, when good light,
ventilation and regular watering should be
provided to promote as much growth as
possible. In the late autumn reduce watering
to allow the canes to mature, and only water
when the potting mixture has dried out. This
will give the plant a rest before it begins to
produce flower spikes. If grown in the right
light conditions spikes will not require
staking and should produce around two to
ten flowers on each spike.
Dendrobium x delicatum (kingianum x speciosum)
This Dendrobium will quickly grow into a
specimen plant expanding each year by 20%
to 30% and when covered in spikes will look
stunning. Yet another bonus is that the
flowers are fragrant but, as with all other
aspects of this plant, it varies depending from
which area it originates.
Because there so many variations it is not
surprising that there are many named plants,
such as ‘Purple Cascades’, ‘Pink Icicle’, ‘Peaches
and Cream’ or ‘Shady Lady’. But even without
varietal names they must be worth growing,
so why not set about growing some varieties
into specimen plants?
For a plant that was first named by John Carne
Bidwill in 1844 it is a shame we do not see
more specimen plants on our show tables.
Ed: I am grateful to Phillip Cribb for the use
of his photographs which are reproduced by
kind permission of the Swiss Orchid
Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz. For
more information about the Swiss Orchid
Foundation visit: www.orchid.unibas.ch
Jo Kelleher’s Dendrobium Ellen (kingianum x
tetragonum) is a splendid example of an attractive Den.
kingianum hybrid (photo by Robert Simmons)
There are a number of natural hybrids found
in collections: Den. x delicatum (kingianum x
speciosum) and Den. x suffusum (kingianum x
gracilicaule).
There also a number of well-known hybrids
including Den. Bardo Rose, Den. Kingrose,
Den. Red Baron and Den. Ellen.
Dendrobium x suffusum (kingianum x gracilicaule)
(photo by Robert Simmons)
Two natural hybrids of Dendrobium kingianum
190 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Culture:
In nature plants can be subject to a wide range
Plants of Dendrobium kingianum can quickly reach specimen size
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 191
Japan Grand Prix International
Orchid Festival
Japan Grand Prix International Orchid Festival
Sam Hurley (photos © Japan Grand Prix International Orchid Festival)
Around 300,000 orchid enthusiasts visited
the Japan Grand Prix International Orchid
Festival held over nine days at the Tokyo
Dome baseball stadium in February.
The Grand Champion Plant this year was a
single-flowered Phragmipedium kovachii
‘Second Smile’ which was a marked contrast
to the multi-flowered plants that have won
in previous years.
However, second prize went to such a plant,
a specimen of Cattleya trianae ‘Okada’ which
was nearly two metres in diameter and
displayed over 200 flowers. This also won the
RHS Trophy for Best Specimen Plant.
Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Second Smile’ won Grand
Champion Plant at the Tokyo Done show in February
Both plants were grown by Dr Masahiro
Saito who grows a limited collection, albeit
full of specimen plants, in a greenhouse
described by Henry Oakeley as ‘not huge’.
Henry wrote about his visit to Dr Saito in
OSGBJ (2012) 61(1): 7.
The thousands of visitors to the vast show were greeted by a giant clock decorated with colourful orchid hybrids
While many of the orchid displays were large
and bold, suitable for the stadium venue,
there were also enchanting small displays of
‘miniature gardens’.
The lone flower of Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Second
Smile’ on the winner’s podium
192 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Cattleya trianae ‘Okada’ won Second Place and the RHS
Trophy for Best Specimen Plant
Many of the displays were bold and colourful
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 193
Photographic and Art
Competition 2013
Sam Hurley
Members attending the AGM in June had the
added bonus of viewing and voting for
entries in the Photographic and Art
Competition. The rising popularity of the
Christmas lunch party in December meant
that this competition was becoming
marginalised so it was transferred to the
June meeting to allow more time and space
to be devoted to it. The move seems to have
proved a success all round; entries to the
competition were up 50% on last year and
the AGM was better attended.
Members successfully navigated the latest
changes to the competition rules and
classes, the main change being the increase
in minimum photograph size from 7 x 5
inches (17.8 x 12.7cm) to 8 x 6 inches (20.3 x
15.2cm). This made the images easier to view,
particularly when held up to the audience
for final voting to decide the trophy winner.
The competition received 76 entries from 15
members, two of whom took advantage of
being able to enter by post. After voting,
Henry Oakeley kindly talked about the
various class winners, discussing the relative
merits of each photograph.
The winner of this year’s Photographic
Trophy (and of Class 1) was Nigel Johnson,
whose image featured a Male Digger Wasp
(Argogorytes mystaceus) resting on the
flower of a Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera). It
perfectly depicts the similarity between
flower and insect and raises a smile as one
realises just what one is looking at. Being
Some of the record number of entries in this year’s Photographic and Art competition (photo by Robert Simmons)
2013 Photographic Trophy winner – Nigel Johnson’s image of a Male
Digger Wasp (Argogorytes mystaceus) resting on a Fly Orchid
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 195
able to photograph both flower and insect is
always a bonus and this entry proved the
runaway winner for the trophy. Nigel took
the image with an Olympus OM2SP camera
with a Zuiko 50mm macro lens using Fuji
Velvia 100 film. He entered a number of
superb images, mainly in the habitat classes.
Classes 1 and 3 are for photographs of orchid
plants, flowers or parts thereof. They should
act as portraits and be accurate and
appealing representations of the orchid
concerned. Robert Simmons’s winning entry
in Class 3 of Paphiopedilum haynaldianum
was just that. Robert’s images are always
immaculate - beautifully lit and showing
incredible detail. This clear image is in sharp
focus, showing the delicate hairs on the
petals and stem. Robert took his image of
Dave Thurtle’s plant using a ring flash with
his Olympus E-5 camera fitted with an
Olympus 50mm macro lens, using manual
exposure at 1/250 sec, f8, ISO100.
Nigel Johnson receiving the Photographic Trophy from
newly-elected President Peter White (photo by Robert
Simmons)
Sam Hurley’s image of Fernandezia subbiflora shows the plants growing in damp moss on a tree branch
Robert Simmons’s image of Paphiopedilum haynaldianum is a superb orchid portrait
196 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
The habitat classes (Classes 2 and 4) are
designed to give clues as to how plants grow
in nature – their habitat and its atmosphere.
I was delighted (not to mention astonished)
to find that I was the winner of both classes
and can only advise members to head for
Ecuador, for that is where I took both
photographs. My image of Fernandezia
subbiflora won Class 2 and shows these
miniature plants with their gem-like flowers
growing on a tree branch covered with moss
and lichen. The light is quite dull because,
while we were photographing, cloud rolled
in across the field where these plants were
growing at altitude.
Sam Hurley’s image of Telipogon tesselatus features the
twigs on which this epiphyte grows
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 197
My image of Telipogon tesselatus, winner of
Class 4, tells a different story. The
surrounding thin branches show this plant
growing as a twig epiphyte and the bright
light shows that it enjoys full sun although it
too grows at altitude and can be subjected
to cool, damp cloud cover at times. To get
good photographs I need time to fiddle with
the multitudinous camera settings but when
one is in a tour party of 14, all being very
British and politely queuing to photograph
the latest discovery, time is in short supply.
So I was not surprised to find that both
images were taken using the Auto setting on
my Nikon D3000 camera which is usually a
quick and reliable default position and
produces surprisingly good results.
Class 5 for photographs of an orchid display
was won by Stuart Meeson’s dramatic image
of the Vanda walk, staged during Kew’s
Tropical Extravaganza, which draws one
down the path into the photograph. The
purple and orange arches of vandas contrast
boldly with each other and are perfectly
highlighted by the dark green foliage and
light glass roof.
Stuart Meeson’s image of the Vanda walk at Kew entices
the viewer to journey down the path
Amateur art and craft were well-represented by drawings,
paintings and needlecraft (photo by Sam Hurley)
198 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Amateur art and craft were well-represented
in Class 6 by drawings, paintings and
needlecraft. However, Sue Oakham’s
Oncidium needlecraft sculpture was the clear
winner, with most members being overheard
to wonder how many hours it must have
taken her to create.
The professional classes were relatively light
Committee decided to try merging it with
on entries but Henry Oakeley’s enormous
the amateur art class (now Class 6).
images certainly gave members something
However, this year it proved extremely
to admire during the AGM. These giant prints
difficult, and not a little unfair, to compare a
were 31 x 44 inches (84 x 112cm) and had
needlecraft sculpture with the various
been used at the rear of the OSGB display at
paintings and drawings which were entered
Chelsea. Henry pointed out that good quality
in the same class. The Committee is keen to
photographs can be blown up to such sizes.
support our amateur artists and so the class
He was pleased by the members’ choice of
will be split again for next year’s
Paphiopedilum spicerianum over Oncidium
competition, offering one class for amateur
alexandrae because he liked the details of
art and another for amateur craft. There will
the hairs on the dorsal sepal that were so
also be rosettes for Art Competition class
clearly visible.
winners, an administrative oversight this
In recent years there have been very few
entries for the amateur craft class and so the
Sue Oakham’s Oncidium needlecraft (photo Robert
Simmons)
year, for which we apologise. Please see the
2014 Annual Supplement for newly revised
amateur art/craft classes.
Henry Oakeley’s image of Paphiopedilum spicerianum
measured 31 x 44 inches and was used on the OSGB
display at Chelsea
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 199
Eulophia guineensis
Eulophia guineensis
Mike Powell
Culture
This striking, easy to grow terrestrial orchid
Start in the New Year by checking the plant
should be in everyone’s collection. Spikes of
for signs of life. When shoots appear, repot.
up to 20 large pink flowers arise from
Give no water until the shoots appear above
clusters of egg-shaped pseudobulbs. Spikes
the surface of the pot, then water carefully
can approach 70cm in height but are usually
and moderately from below. In all watering,
less. The flowers are striking: curly, muted
seek to maintain a moderate level of
magenta petals and sepals sit above a large
moisture rather than flooding the plant and
pink lip with a crimson mark at its base,
making the compost too wet. Roots develop
giving a well grown spike a most distinctive
in pace with the shoots. Once flowering is
appearance.
over, start regular watering and feeding.
Range
Eulophias are greedy feeders, when in
In the wild Eulophia guineensis occurs from
West and Central Africa, up the Rift Valley
through Kenya and the Horn of Africa into
the Arabian Peninsula. This wide
Mike Powell successfully grows a wide range of
terrestrial orchids (photo by Rosemary Powell)
geographical range reflects its adaptability
and ease of culture.
Growth cycle
desiccate when in growth. A cycle of
alternate ‘feeding and flushing’ will give the
plants what they need. Too much feed will
cause leaf tips to burn. Give high nitrogen to
start, and then from about late August
switch to a high potash feed. Reduce feed
and water once the leaves start to yellow,
seasonal growth cycle: warm and dry winter
and stop altogether once they have all fallen
dormancy followed by monsoon conditions
off. The plant is now dormant and can be put
during summer growth. Starting in late
somewhere warm and dry to rest until
winter or early spring, dormant buds at the
growth restarts.
Seramis: 5 parts by volume
base of the previous year’s pseudobulbs start
Potting medium
Perlite: 3–4 parts by volume
lengthen before flowering in spring.
Aim for a mix which is open and free
draining. If you think it will go claggy when
Eulophia guineensis is one of the few orchids native to
the Sultanate of Oman
Cornish grit: 2–3 parts by volume
Sieved peat-free compost: 1–2 parts by
volume
After flowering, large pleated leaves start to
wet then add more perlite. Put a generous
develop and expand, reaching their fullest
layer of grit or other free draining material in
Plants are long lived and if well grown will
extent by mid-summer. Growth continues
the bottom of the pot as crocking. I always
give a lot of fun for years.
through summer and autumn and into the
water this orchid from below.
winter, when the leaves start to yellow and
wither before breaking off. At this point the
200 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
and the plant should not be allowed to
To grow this orchid well, respect its strongly
to grow. Spikes of flowers appear next and
Mike Powell’s plants featured on the OSGB’s Chelsea
display which was sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman
Ministry of Tourism
growth. Water is more important, however,
plant enters dormancy, where it stays until
I use compost based on Seramis for this
orchid. Try the following mix:
the cycle recommences next year.
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 201
Derek Belcher
In the late 1970s a group of OSGB members
living in and around Croydon, Surrey began
to discuss the possibility of meeting as a
small group. Having come to an agreement, a
meeting place was selected and a date set.
On 2 October 1979 at the Addiscombe
Woodside & Shirley Leisure Gardens
members were greeted with a glass of sherry
and introduced to the visiting guests: Philip
Cribb and Charles Stirton from Kew, Les
Bowden, Ernie Self and John Baylis. Quite a
line-up, but never to be repeated at any
single gathering, although two of the
shows, a practice which persists to this day.
the public domain and make it open to all
Members of the Group have always played
and our Autumn Show is now held at a local
an active part in OSGB affairs over the years
riding centre for disabled people, to which
with two presidents and many officers and
we make a sizable donation. We have made
committee members belonging to the
further excursions into the public perception
Group.
The Croydon Group had always relied on new
members from the OSGB to swell the
numbers and replace those that left or died,
but of late we have taken the opportunity to
We still welcome OSGB members to join us
at our monthly meetings held at 19:30 on
home but do not know how to care for them.
the first Tuesday of each month at the
It was agreed to take one of our shows into
Wallington United Reformed Church, Stanley
Park Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 OEU. We
cannot promise a glass of sherry but Len
makes a good cup of tea.
is first mentioned in OSGBJ (1980) 29(1): 26).
This year is the tenth anniversary of our
Meetings continued each month in various
Open Autumn Show which will be held at
people’s homes and in small church halls
The Diamond Riding Centre for Disabled
until one of the members came up with a
Riders, Woodmansterne Road, Carshalton,
meeting place at Glenthorne Allotments. No
Surrey on Sunday 13 October, 11:00–16:00.
one remembers when the move took place,
Why not join us for this enjoyable day and
but those who attended the ‘potting shed’
bring a plant or two for the show table, or
will well remember how hot it got in
just have a cup of tea and a piece of cake,
summer and how bitterly cold it was in
and spend some time with the friendliest
winter, along with the dark walk to and from
group around? The centre has its own
the car park. We have now moved to a much
kitchen, lecture hall and reception area
better meeting place with carpeted floors,
together with a large, free car park.
comfortable seating and central heating, its
own kitchen, free parking and a well-lit
The group still has its great growers but
passage to the meeting hall.
there are a lot more in the making.
The Group has always been blessed with
For further information about the Group
please contact: Secretary: Mike Penney, tel:
good growers, providing many superb plants
for various displays, or even mounting
displays as individuals at London or Society
202 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
members along the way; we can now feed
new members into the OSGB.
find new members from the growing group
attend the monthly meetings (Ed: the Group
Mike Penney, Secretary
general public, picking up several new
of local people that have a few orchids at
members present at that meeting still
Len Jeffries, Chairman
by putting on displays at horticultural shows
and giving talks and demonstrations to the
Mike Penney, like many of the Croydon Group members,
is an accomplished grower. He specialises in Asian
orchids – his Bulbophyllum lindleyanum is native to
Myanmar and Peninsular Thailand
020 8648 7295.
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 203
Chelsea’s centenary 1913-2013
Sam Hurley
Val Micklewright changed my life (for a few
months at least) with eight little words:
‘Come on, Sam, we could do it together’. She
was proposing that we design, mastermind
and build the OSGB’s exhibit at Chelsea’s
centenary show this year. We did it
(together) and it was wonderful; the Gold
medal was a great bonus and a credit to the
phenomenal team effort produced, yet
again, by members of this Society.
Val and I decided to start small for our first
Chelsea display and try to create something
slightly different to celebrate the show’s
centenary. We settled upon an educational
exhibit which would include information
panels along the front of the stand offering
visitors some introductory facts about
orchids. Education is, after all, one of the
remits of the Society. Our background site
was smaller than previous island sites and in
Sam Hurley and Val Micklewright are clearly delighted with their first Chelsea Gold medal (photo by André Roux)
The exhibit featured educational panels along the front which traced the changes in orchid growing over the past
century (photo by Sam Hurley)
204 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
an excellent position by the Bull Ring
entrance to the Grand Pavilion.
The display was designed to highlight
changes in orchid growing over the years,
which have often reflected changes in
society and fashion. In 1913 suffragettes
attacked the orchid houses at RBG Kew, in
protest at the male-dominated world of
horticulture. In 2013, and for the first time,
two female members of the OSGB designed
its display for the flagship show of the RHS,
whose president is a woman. A flamboyant
corsage used to be the de rigeur orchid
accessory but today’s must-have orchid
accessory is more likely to be a modern
hybrid for the windowsill.
Four enormous orchid prints were hung
along the back wall representing various
genera which have been popular over the
past century. Members’ plants, many of them
The display begins to take shape with prints along the back wall, orchid trees and an emerging landscape (photo by
Sam Hurley)
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 205
Sponsors of this year’s Chelsea exhibit, the Sultanate of
Oman Ministry of Tourism
Included in the naturalistic setting were species such as Paphiopedilum appletonianum, Stenoglottis woodii and
Cypripedium reginae
species, were arranged in an undulating,
naturalistic landscape across the stand.
Orchid ‘trees’ covered with Phalaenopsis
Timothy Christopher, Cattlianthe Little Hazel
and Oncidium Sweet Sugar highlighted the
development of modern hybrids and the
availability of easy-to-grow orchids for
windowsill growers.
Henry Oakeley’s anguloas graced a mossy
mountain on the left and a selection of
cymbidiums, prosthecheas and
paphiopedilums drifted down the hillside on
the right towards Peter White’s Cymbidium
Tiger Tail ‘OrchiDiva’ which was awarded an
Award of Garden Merit by the RHS Orchid
Committee.
Eulophia guineensis is one of the Sultanate of Oman’s
native orchids and is used medicinally to treat skin
conditions (photo by Sam Hurley)
206 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
We were delighted to receive sponsorship
from the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of
Tourism. Oman’s diverse landscape includes
over 3,000 kilometres of sandy Indian Ocean
beaches; magnificent desert expanses;
majestic fjords in the north; and lush green
valleys in the south. A number of orchids are
native to Oman, including Epipactis, Eulophia,
Habenaria and Nervilia. Eulophia guineensis
grows in the tropical highlands in southern
Oman and, thanks to Mike Powell and Penny
Hayes, we were able to feature this species
on the display. A new Botanic Garden is
being created near Muscat, Oman’s capital,
with the aim of displaying the entire flora of
the Sultanate, including its native orchids.
Val and I are incredibly grateful for all the
help and support we received for this show,
and offer our sincere thanks to everyone
involved. Simon Waddilove kindly took a
week’s holiday to help us and was a joy to
work with; Jeanette Beaney dealt with the
RHS online administration; and Mary-Jane
Hawkins acted as sponsorship liaison.
Simon Waddilove contributed greatly to the building of
this year’s display (photo by Sam Hurley)
Members lent their prized orchids, and Peter
White, Jacques Armand and Chantelle Shih
helped us to source additional plants. My
brother let me ‘prune’ his laurel hedge to
provide skeletons for the orchid trees.
Henry Oakeley, Nigel Johnson and Robert
Simmons generously allowed us to use their
images on the information panels which were
created by Marcel Kral of Smallfish Designs
and produced by Robbies Photographics. Mike
Buckingham masterminded our lighting and
Roy White provided his carpentry and design
expertise; Henry Oakeley, David Thurtle, Sally
Mill, Ian Chrystie, André Roux and Saul Walker
laboured to create the display; Kim Solomon,
Sylvia Chrystie and Marc Harris helped to
dismantle it; and a small army of members
worked four hour shifts during the week
talking to visitors and promoting the Society.
And lastly, my thanks to Val for those eight
little words.
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 207
McBean’s Orchids won yet another Gold medal, one hundred years after they first exhibited at Chelsea (photo by Sam
Hurley)
McBean’s Orchids owner, Liz Johnson, and Jim Durrant get
into the spirit of the centenary (photo by Sam Hurley)
The Eric Young Orchid Foundation’s display used
terracotta pots on a tiered black dais to showcase their
immaculate plants
a flowering plant of Calanthe Dominii, itself
a milestone in orchid history (see front
cover). This man-made orchid hybrid was
created before Darwin published his book on
evolution and caused a crisis amongst
botanists who had believed, until then, that
plants could exist only as created and did not
evolve.
Librarian’s Cup
Other orchid exhibits
Around 1,000 visitors to the Society’s
display entered our prize draw. They
voted for their favourite orchid, to
determine the winner of the Librarian’s
Cup, which was Mike Buckingham’s
Masdevallia Minaret. Prize draw-winner
Rayelle Pentland-Smith from
Gloucestershire writes:
Although they were few in number, the other
orchid exhibitors rose to the challenge of
Chelsea’s centenary.
which had featured in the 1913 display. Led by
owner Liz Johnson, McBean’s staff entered
into the spirit of the centenary and wore
period dress throughout the week.
McBean’s Orchids are one of only three
nurseries to have exhibited at the original
Chelsea show in 1913, and at every Chelsea
since. In celebration of this they recreated
their 1913 exhibit using an old sepia print for
reference and produced a flamboyant
display, in the high Edwardian tradition. The
stand was packed tight with many more
plants than are used for modern displays, to
create the massed layers of colourful blooms
which characterised this period style. One of
the star plants on their Gold medal-winning
stand was a venerable Cymbidium lowianum
The Eric Young Orchid Foundation’s Gold
medal-winning display was another exhibit
which mimicked the style of the early
Chelsea shows, and consisted of ranks of
immaculate plants arranged in terracotta
pots on a tiered black dais intermingled with
unusual foliage plants. Their wonderful army
of species and hybrids featured a variety of
genera; cymbidiums guarding the rear,
Miltoniopsis holding the centre, all flanked by
oncidiums, paphiopedilums and anguloas. At
such a historic show it was a pleasure to see
I was delighted to win the prize draw for
£100’s worth of orchids. My husband is an
enthusiastic grower and we thoroughly
enjoyed not only your display but also the
information and advice from your members
on the day. Our tickets for the Chelsea show
were a Christmas present which has now
been made even more special.
208 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Visiting exhibitors from Asia created two
large island displays. Thailand’s Nong Nooch
Tropical Botanical Garden display was created
by a large team who spent days threading
together cut orchid flowers, including
Dendrobium and Mokara, to decorate a Thai
temple surrounded by fabulous sculptures,
which gained them a Gold medal.
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 213
The Taiwan Orchid Growers Association
(TOGA) sculpted two mountains from
polystyrene which were joined by a bamboo
bridge. The mountains’ sides were ‘painted’
with colourful Phalaenopsis, Cattleya and
Paphiopedilum hybrids, even using flowerless
Cymbidium ensifolium as foliage plants, with
one each of TOGA’s signature Oncidium and
Phalaenopsis trees at the base of each
mountain. Their display was named ‘Taiwan
Bai-Yue’ (one hundred peaks), in celebration
of the abundant mountains of Taiwan and
Chelsea’s centenary, winning them a SilverGilt medal.
There has been a steady rise in hardy orchid
hybrids at Chelsea each year with Pleione,
Dactylorhiza and Cypripedium steadily
creeping onto the displays and encouraging
visitors to try their hand at growing orchids. It
was a pleasure to see some British native
orchids featured in the centenary show. In the
Artisan Gardens, the Gold medal-winning Le
Jardin de Yorkshire presented a Yorkshire field
with a single Cypripedium calceolus (Britain’s
critically endangered Lady’s Slipper Orchid)
nestled in one corner. Jacques Armand’s
display included several plants of Dactylorhiza
‘Tizzy Hornell’, a new cultivar recently
discovered in the garden of Broughton House
in Scotland, along with a woodland carpet of
Cypripedium and Calanthe, all of which
contributed to their Gold medal success.
Taiwan Orchid Growers Association displayed colourful
hybrids which they used to ‘paint’ two towering
mountains (photo by Sam Hurley)
Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden exhibited a Thai temple surrounded by sculptures decorated with thousands of
orchid flowers
214 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
The single Cypripedium calceolus on Le Jardin de
Yorkshire artisan garden had its own security guard
during Press Day (photo by Sam Hurley)
Jacques Armand’s Gold medal-winning display included a woodland carpet of Cypripedium
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 215
Table Shows
April 2013
André Roux
Filled with uncertainty by the seeming
paucity of plants in bloom for our display at
London Orchid Show, it was with no small
measure of trepidation that I peered through
the crowd towards the display table … and
exhaled a sigh of sweet relief. And, amongst
the more ostentatious colours and attentionseeking flowers, there was, as is usually the
case, an unusual orchid.
That said, you might counter with the
opinion that Sally Mill’s Coelia triptera is to
orchids what Marmite is to condiments. The
fat, clustered pseudobulbs, which are
sometimes intertwined with the straggly
roots, are topped with three or more tall
plicate leaves that narrow tightly at their
base to form a long stem. Curiously short
inflorescences arise in spring with the onset
of new growth, bearing sweetly fragrant
white flowers that do not fully open and last
less than a fortnight. The long floral bracts
are particularly apparent, radiating outwards
like spines. Native to Mexico, Guatemala,
Cuba and Jamaica, this species grows as an
epiphyte in low elevation forests and
benefits from a fairly dry winter rest but
copious watering during the rapid growth
phase. First described as an Epidendrum in
1793 and later transferred to Coelia in 1840,
Coelia triptera used to be the only recognised
species in the genus but today is one of five.
In contrast, although the magnificent
Epidendrum parkinsonianum is considered by
some experts to be a member of the genus
Coilostylis, this is yet to gain general
acceptance. The large blooms are startlingly
beautiful in their simplicity and it is hardly
surprising that this species is highly prized. It
typically grows as an epiphyte, hanging from
branches at the top of the tree canopy, and
occasionally as a lithophyte on cliff faces.
Epidendrum parkinsonianum is widespread
from the southern states of Mexico through
Central America to Panama with the
exception of Belize, at altitudes from 1,000–
2,300m. Whilst this variation in habitat
introduces a degree of tolerance to a range
of conditions in cultivation, there are some
important constants. The long (almost
Terry Vasey’s Epidendrum parkinsonianum requires bright
light, good drainage and air movement along with a
robust potting medium (photo by Robert Simmons)
Sally Mill’s Coelia triptera has sweetly fragrant flowers that
last less than a fortnight (photo by Robert Simmons)
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 217
Napier Hall Meetings
lugubrious) fleshy, greyish-green leaves
indicate a need for light that is bright but
indirect; excellent drainage and air
movement will help avoid any chance of rot
to which this species is prone if kept too
damp, particularly in winter; and, for a plant
intolerant of disturbance, a robust potting
medium that will endure in good condition.
Coelogynes are also sensitive to damage
when repotting, and careful handling should
prevent them throwing a sulk. Described in
1905 and named in honour of Sir James
Lawrence, a former President of the RHS,
Coelogyne lawrenceana, exhibited by Norma
Burgess, has long been popular for its sizeable
flowers, the lips of which are crowned with
prominent, intricate, ribbon-like, lamellae.
Although the inflorescences are slow to
mature, the successive blooming habit and
waxy substance of the flowers make for a
long-lasting display. It is a Vietnamese species,
found on the western slopes of forested
mountains in the south of the country, and
enjoys cool but frost-free temperatures with
ample humidity and moisture.
Paphiopedilum haynaldianum is an endemic
species too, further east though on the
Philippine islands of Luzon and Negros. Closely
related to Paphiopedilum lowii, from which it
may be distinguished by the large blotches on
both the petals and narrow dorsal sepal
(among other features), it is undoubtedly one
of the loveliest of the ‘coloured’ multi-florals.
Growing mostly terrestrially or lithophytically
in its natural habitat, this species experiences
the monsoon throughout the summer, with
the warmest temperatures in spring. Humidity
and rainfall remain significant during winter
but night-time temperatures can drop very
low. Discovered in 1870, Paphiopedilum
haynaldianum was named in honour of
Cardinal Lajos Haynald, Archbishop of KalocsaBács in Hungary who, as a young priest, was an
ardent student of botany and collected many
plants and books. (Ed: please see page 196 for
Robert Simmons’s photograph of David
Thurtle’s Paphiopedilum haynaldianum.)
May 2013
Norma Burgess’s Coelogyne lawrenceana offers a longlasting display of flowers (photo by Robert Simmons)
218 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
More often than not, Napier Hall is buzzing
when I arrive, but I had the distinct
impression at the May meeting that it was
the vivid colours emanating from the display
table that were reverberating equally
excitedly, shimmering in the diffused
afternoon sunlight pouring through the
windows. Spring, it seemed, had finally
unfurled itself and of this there was no
clearer affirmation than the presence of
those enchanting dendrobiums from Section
Densiflora.
Dendrobium chrysotoxum bears glowing
golden flowers that resemble the sun itself.
Unhappily they are, in common with the
species in this group, all too short-lived – it is
understood that the flowers are self-sterile
and fall about ten days after self-pollination
has occurred. Results of one study
demonstrated, however, that crosspollination within Dendrobium chrysotoxum
was highly successful, almost all flowers
producing viable capsules leading to
germination of over 75% of the seed. This
delightful species demands warm
temperatures, high humidity and frequent
watering when in growth, mimicking the
summer monsoon of its native habitat,
where, although days are seldom clear,
plants will bear exposure to bright light in
the early morning. Generous fertilising will
result in vigorous growth but it is vital to
ensure that salts do not accumulate in the
mix, as this leads to poor roots, shrivelling of
pseudobulbs, and even to the demise of the
plant. Winter daytime temperatures are
barely cooler than during summer but drop
markedly at night to an average of 10°C. Early
winter sees high humidity from fog and mist
so plants should not remain dry for long; in
late winter the atmosphere is very dry and
they will benefit from a cool, almost
completely dry rest and bright light to
encourage blooming.
Dendrobium lindleyi (previously Dendrobium
aggregatum) shares its distribution across
north-east India, Myanmar, south-west
China, Thailand and Laos with Dendrobium
chrysotoxum, but it is also located in Bhutan
and Vietnam. The small plants can be found
growing on the trunks and branches of
deciduous trees in montane forest. Cultural
requirements are similar to those described
above, although Dendrobium lindleyi enjoys
brighter light, particularly in winter, and
strong air movement. A cool, very dry rest of
four to five months during this latter season
maintains the health of this species and its
blooming; while the pseudobulbs will shrivel
naturally during this period, early morning
misting is recommended and plants should
not remain completely dry for long periods.
Under cool and dry conditions, the honeyscented flowers will last for up to three
weeks, dropping seven days after selfpollination.
Mike Penney’s Dendrobium lindleyi (top) and
Dendrobium chrysotoxum (bottom) glowed in the spring
sunshine at the May meeting (photo by Sam Hurley)
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 219
Hummingbirds surely rank among the most
glamorous of orchid pollinators and it is the
fiery blooms of Cattleya (previously
Sophronitis) cernua that attract these
fascinating birds. Described in 1828 and
native to south-eastern Brazil, slipping into
Paraguay and Argentina, this charming
miniature species tolerates the warmest
temperatures when compared to its sibling
species. Plants naturally grow predominantly
on rocks, nestled in a layer of Sphagnum
moss, and are exposed to strong light and
buoyant, refreshing breezes. They produce
two growths a year although it is only the
pseudobulbs which mature in winter that
flower. All factors considered, constant high
humidity (averaging 80%), plentiful moisture
and cool temperatures are critical to the
health and blooming of Cattleya cernua.
Cattleyas have long been deemed the queen
of orchids by virtue of their lavishly
decorative blooms, and the attraction never
seems to wane. No revelation, then, that
Cattleya Tokyo Magic (Irene Finney (1964) x
briegeri) proved a much-admired entry on
the display table. Hybridisers have excelled
at creating increasingly intense hues and
colour combinations; larger and shapelier
flowers; and plants which have diminished in
size to the extent that they can be cultivated
on windowsills. Good light levels, humidity
and warm to intermediate temperatures are
the core requirements in Cattleya culture;
watering is, perhaps, the trickiest element
and it is sensible to allow the potting
medium to become almost dry between
applications.
Sarcochilus, on the other hand, appreciate
cooler conditions with increased shade and
even moisture at the roots. Hybrids, beyond
the inevitable Sarcochilus Fitzhart, are less
well known – a great loss when the true
extent of their number is more closely
investigated. What was a writer’s-cramp of a
label, Sarcochilus [Fitzhart ‘Tambet’ x (Hot Ice
x fitzgeraldii ‘Red Rock’)] has been registered,
simply, as Sarcochilus Marlene. With its
fetching rose-purple flowers pleasingly
arranged on the inflorescence, this hybrid
offers a revitalising aspect of Sarcochilus
breeding that is steadily producing ever
more colourful and intricately patterned
flowers.
June 2013
David Martin’s Cattleya cernua would be pollinated by
hummingbirds in the wild (photo by Sam Hurley)
220 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
The judging of orchids is an aspect that may
be viewed as adding value and expanding
knowledge, a vanity project, perhaps – after
all, loveliness is purely subjective – or
altogether a rather mysterious other-world.
While it undoubtedly involves years of
training and practice to qualify in this field
(indeed, it is a lifelong dedication given the
immeasurable diversity of our fêted plants),
some of the basic principles are within
anyone’s reach, as illustrated by a few of the
specimens that caught my eye in June.
Masdevallia coccinea is a fine, cool-growing,
high altitude species from Colombia and
Peru renowned for its purity of colour,
flowers held grandly above the foliage,
flaming. The clone on display was
exceptional, quite likely a tetraploid, with
exceedingly tall inflorescences. Apart from
the trademark radiant colour, the flower was
perfectly symmetrical and of full form, both
lateral sepals meeting along their entire
inner margin and excluding any ‘windows’ of
light. Alas, only one flower was fully open to
champion its genetic finery – to be worthy of
a ranking, two-thirds of flowers, where this
can reasonably be expected, should be open
on a plant submitted for judging.
Sarcochilus Marlene is one of an increasing range of
hybrids in this genus
And that was a winning feature in favour of
Masdevallia welischii, a charming Peruvian
species described some 130 years after its
relative above. This species is reminiscent of
Masdevallia veitchiana, having squatter but
similarly scarlet-orange blooms but with the
dorsal sepal covered with minute, iridescent,
purple papillae. Crowning healthy foliage, all
flowers were in peak condition and well
positioned around the perimeter of the plant
to create a pleasing display.
Paul Knight’s Masdevallia coccinea ‘Thea’ has perfectly
symmetrical blooms
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 221
Paul Knight’s Masdevallia welischii displays minute
iridescent purple papillae on its dorsal sepal (photo by
Sam Hurley)
Today, the source of species material is largely
derived from the selective breeding of quality
clones and it is fair to attribute at least a
portion of that approach to benchmarks set
by the judging system. A case in point was a
striking Cattleya (previously Laelia) purpurata
(‘Rio do Sul’ x ‘Schusteriana’). Clarity and
defined contrast are key tenets when
evaluating colour, beautifully pictured in this
highly variable Brazilian species which is
grown by more devotees than one might
imagine, many of whom grow no other
orchids. Nevertheless, colour quality is not
the exclusive preserve of the genes – texture
(surface appearance) and substance
(thickness) of the flower parts can either
enhance or undermine it. In this clone, the
sparkling texture of the fleshy sepals and
petals, married with the velvet of the lip, was
unquestionably flattering.
Sally Mill’s Cattleya (previously Laelia) purpurata (line-bred from the cultivars ‘Rio do Sul’ x ‘Schusteriana’) exemplifies
high quality flower texture and substance
222 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Patterns or markings are desirable features in
many orchid flowers and their clarity and
harmony is an important consideration. Poor
definition, bleeding or fading of one colour
into another, is a less pleasing trait; Tolumnia
Volcano (a hybrid I could not validate on the
International Orchid Register, oddly) boldly
portrayed the opposite. Furthermore, the
flowers were neatly arranged towards the
top of the arching inflorescence, a
characteristic of this genus, without undue or
irregular crowding. Also referred to as
equitant oncidiums, in reference to their
distinctive fan of three-sided leaves, Tolumnia
species hail from the Caribbean and are
intolerant of poor-quality water or excessive
fertiliser, both of which damage the roots.
Tolumnia Volcano is belongs to the equitant oncidiums;
‘equitant’ referring to its fan of leaves
There are fortuitous occasions, of course,
when the fundamental judging criteria are all
represented as an agreeable whole.
Cypripedium Cleo Pinkepank (kentuckiense x
macranthos) was one such, a healthy plant
with immaculate foliage and robust stems,
barely noticeably tied to discreet supporting
stakes. Each growth appeared to be
performing to its potential, equal in height to
its neighbour and topped with a well-formed
and attractively coloured flower in pristine
condition. Encouragingly, this temperate
region hybrid slipper orchid represents a
quietly growing trend that looks set to bring
immense pleasure in the years ahead. It goes
by the trade name Cypripedium Kentucky Pink
though, according to the International Orchid
Register, it has been given three legitimate
grex epithets depending on which variety of
Cypripedium macranthos was used, but
Cypripedium Cleo Pinkepank is the earliest
registration and should be regarded as the
correct name.
Kathie Trendell’s Cypripedium Cleo Pinkepank
(kentuckiense x macranthos) represents a growing trend
for temperate region slipper orchid hybrids
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 223
member of the OSGB and has fond
memories of the January auction. He still has
the Ansellia africana which he bought at the
OSGB auction in 2004, proof that the orchids
which are auctioned are a very good buy (so
be sure to attend the next auction in January
2014).
It took Trey two and a half years to develop
his website, www.dendrochilum.com, which
he set up as he found there was limited and
often incorrect information on the internet.
The information on his website has been
sourced from books by taxonomists and
contains some lovely photographs and
information about all the species.
Dendrochilum filiforme is seen frequently at orchid
shows
Lecture reports
April 2013
Trey Sanders – Dendrochilums: species and
general culture
Mary-Jane Hawkins
At our April meeting Trey Sanders gave the
Society a lecture, with a PowerPoint
presentation to show us what Dendrochilum
look like and how to grow them.
Trey has been growing the genus
Dendrochilum for over 26 years; he started in
his backyard in Australia when he was 12 and
continued when he moved to England in
2003. When Trey lived in London, he was a
Dendrochilum originate from the Malesian
region, which includes; the Malay Peninsula,
Indonesia, Borneo, Papua New Guinea,
Philippines and Sumatra. The greatest
concentration of Dendrochilum is in the
Philippines where 112 species are found
which is 37% of all Dendrochilum species. It is
believed that Dendrochilum evolved from the
Pholidota section Acanthoglossum, which is
primarily found in Borneo, and they are part
of the Coelogyninae family which (amongst
others) includes Pleione, Pholidota,
Chelonistele, and Coelogyne.
The grass-like Dendrochilum tenellum is one of the more widely available species
Dendrochilum were first discovered by Carl
Blume while travelling around South East
Asia in the 1820s. He wrote up his orchid
discoveries in 1825, creating the genus
Dendrochilum and describing six species,
splitting them into two sections. More
species continued to be discovered, and
J J Smith wrote the first monograph on
Dendrochilum in 1904, describing 43 species.
New Dendrochilum continue to be discovered, such as this species on the island of Samur in the Philippines (Photo by
Ronny Boos)
224 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 225
be worth having a look at YouTube to see if
there is any footage from amateur trekkers
who have explored some of the mountains.
Air movement is essential when growing
Dendrochilum, as in the wild they grow in
exposed conditions on the tops of
mountains, on rocky ridges and on cliff faces.
Humidity is also important, as these orchids
are mostly mossy cloud forest plants and
even those which live at low elevations
experience high humidity. The majority live
at high altitudes and are cool-growing;
however, there are some that grow at lower
altitudes which are warm-growing.
Trey has found that fine potting media, such
as coconut husk and live Sphagnum moss,
get good results. Dendrochilums do not like
to be repotted, and they can sulk afterwards,
Dendrochilum wenzelii is a highly variable species with
yellow, orange or red flowers
Dendrochilum cymbiforme grows in cloud forests on the
island of Luzon in the Philippines (photo by Henrik
Pedersen)
with some species losing their leaves or even
dying, whilst others may not flower for a
couple of years. Dendrochilum enjoy plenty of
water and it is important not to let them get
dry. The exception to this is Ddc.
convallariiforme and a few others which
prefer to be kept drier. Apart from these, Trey
grows his Dendrochilum in pots sitting in
water. The water quality needs to be good as
they do not like hard water. Some of Trey’s
plants do better if they are mounted, or
attached to a wet mossy pole; he has done
this quite successfully with some of his
species and it makes an attractive feature.
Trey has found that feeding Dendrochilum
results in better flowering. However, it is
important to give Dendrochilum only welldiluted fertilizer and not to over-feed them
or the tips of their leaves go brown; flushing
Species have continued to be discovered and
today almost 300 have been described. The
more common species include: Ddc. tenellum,
Ddc. pangasinanense, Ddc. wenzelii (a highly
variable species with yellow, orange or red
flowers), the widespread Ddc. gracile, and
Ddc. longifolium.
During his talk, Trey also looked at how to
grow Dendrochilum. He made a point of
emphasising that what works for him may
not necessarily work for others, and growers
need to try out different things. It is most
important to research where orchids come
from, and their growing conditions. Trey
suggested that it might be a good idea to
see what cloud forests (where Dendrochilum
tend to live) look like. He added that it would
This beautiful and delicate species from the island of
Samur is, as yet, unnamed (photo by Ronny Boos)
226 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Dendrochilum convallariiforme is one of the few species which likes to be kept drier
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 227
Trey’s Dendrochilum septemnervium smells of crushed
millipedes and displays a rare, bifoliate leaf abnormality
(photo by Trey Sanders)
the potting media with rainwater should
overcome this problem. Other problems
which can be encountered when growing
Dendrochilum include rotting new growth,
especially if growing indoors, and bud blast
which can occur if the plant is kept too dry or
in a room which is too warm. As with many
orchids, red spider mite is the commonest
pest.
There are many beautiful Dendrochilum, but
two which stayed in the mind after the talk
were Ddc. Tortile, which is an amazing
species that carries its flowers upside down,
and Ddc. septemnervium which smells of
crushed millipedes!
May 2013
Ian Parsons – The genus Phalaenopsis
Mary-Jane Hawkins
In May, Ian Parsons, the Chairman of the
British Orchid Council, visited Napier Hall to
talk about the genus Phalaenopsis. For many
years, the only book available was The genus
228 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Phalaenopsis (1980) by Herman Sweet, which
successfully organised random papers into a
comprehensive publication, but this was
superseded by Eric A Christenson’s
Phalaenopsis: a monograph (2001). Ian’s talk
was based on the original classification
carried out by Herman Sweet, although he
also showed two charts which set out the
accepted classification up to 2012, along with
numerous images of species, and their
varieties, in the different Sections. (Ed: for the
sake of clarity, Christenson’s classification of
Phalaenopsis has been used in this report.)
Ian’s first experiences of Phalaenopsis
occurred over 40 years ago, when he grew
hybrids in his university office. An elderly lady
(a professor of bacteriology) invited him to
look at her species Phalaenopsis which she
grew in a warm and bright conservatory
(with humidity at 70%) in an old Victorian
house, heated by a coal-fired central heating
system which she had to stoke every morning
and evening. Ian left with a list of 20
Phalaenopsis species which she was growing
and from that moment on he was hooked.
Native to South East Asia, Phalaenopsis
species are widespread, ranging from
eastern India to Papua New Guinea. Some
are found on both sides of the Wallace line,
generally grouped around geographical
areas including the Indian sub-continent and
Myanmar, with other groups in Thailand and
Malaysia and some further out in the
Philippines and Indonesia. (Ed: the Wallace
line runs through Indonesia, between Borneo
and Celebes, separating the plants and
animals of Asian origin to the east and of
Australian origin to the west.)
The genus is divided into five subgenera and
over 50 species. Like many other genera
Phalaenopsis has been reclassified for many
reasons, including DNA testing. The
subgenera are: Phalaenopsis, Aphyllae,
Proboscidioides, Parishianae and Polychilos.
Paraphalaenopsis, which used to be in
Phalaenopsis, can be separated on the basis
of DNA studies.
shedding their leaves in dry conditions,
growing new ones and flowering when it
rains again, which is very different from the
hybrid Phalaenopsis we know, which die if
kept too dry. This section is comprised of
Phal. chibae, a variety with small flowers and
upright stems native to Vietnam, discovered
and named in 1996; Phal. deliciosa; and Phal.
mysorensis.
Subgenus Phalaenopsis
Subgenus Phalaenopsis contains some of the
species with which we are most familiar and
is split into four Sections: Phalaenopsis,
Deliciosae (previously the separate genus
Kingidium), Stauroglottis and Esmeralda
(previously the separate genus Doritis).
Section Stauroglottis
Section Stauroglottis is made up of Phal.
celebensis, white with brown centrally; Phal.
equestris which produces long flowering
stems with lots of small flowers; and Phal.
lindenii which has a spectacular little flower
with stripes on the lip.
Section Phalaenopsis
Section Phalaenopsis is comprised of six
species: Phal. amabilis, which has large white
flowers measuring 5–8cm across; Phal.
aphrodite also a large white; Phal.
philippinensis which comes from the
Philippines and has spotty leaves and
spotting at the base of petals, with the
colouring of the flowers ranging from white
to pink; Phal. sanderiana which produces eyecatching flowers with a flesh-pink lip and
markings; Phal. schilleriana which has
marbling on the leaves which is often the
source of the mottling seen in hybrids and
produces a profusion of flowers which vary in
colouring from plant to plant from white to a
deep rose pink; and Phal. stuartiana which
has a differently shaped, larger lip and, like
Phal. schilleriana, is very variable in the wild.
Section Deliciosae
Most Section Deliciosae are deciduous,
Phalaenopsis chibae, discovered as recently as 1996, has
small flowers and upright stems
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 229
Section Esmeralda
Unlike the epiphytic Phalaenopsis, the
species Phal. pulcherrima and Phal.
buyssoniana in Section Esmeralda are
terrestrial and can be lithophytic, growing in
leaf litter and humus. They have upright,
seasonal growth; around the base of the
shoot they grow a collar from which new
roots are produced, an adaptation to the
rising levels of leaf litter experienced in
nature. They produce a vertical flower spike
with flowers at the top and have been used
in hybridisation to improve colouration as
they are a brilliant purple.
Subgenus Aphyllae
The subgenus Aphyllae has been reworked
and includes Phal. wilsonii, which like all the
Aphyllae species, is deciduous with the flower
spikes coming out of a mass of roots. During
the dry season it sheds its leaves to survive,
creating a cork layer across the base of the
leaf, and new leaves grow when the plant has
water. This subgenus also includes Phal.
stobartiana (syn. Phal. hainanensis), Phal.
honghenensis, Phal. finleyi (syn. Phal. minor)
and Phal. taenialis, a species which has next
to no leaves and comes from the eastern side
of India, Sri Lanka and up into Myanmar.
Subgenus Proboscidioides
Subgenus Proboscidioides contains just one
species, Phal. lowii. This species had been
thought lost in the wild until it was
rediscovered in 1996. Although not very
floriferous, it has dainty fragrant flowers
which have a long beak-like rostellum (part
of the column).
Phalaenopsis stobartiana, like all species in the subgenus Aphyllae, is deciduous, shedding its leaves in the dry season
230 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Subgenus Parishianae
Subgenus Parishianae is characterised by the
keels and markings on the lip and the
general structure of the base of the flower. It
includes Phal. parishii, Phal. lobbii, Phal.
gibbosa and Phal. appendiculata.
Subgenus Polychilos
Subgenus Polychilos is a large subgenus
containing four Sections: Polychilos, Fuscatae,
Amboinenses and Zebrinae.
Section Polychilos
Section Polychilos contains Phal. cornu-cervi,
widespread from the Philippines through
Indonesia to Myanmar; and Phal. mannii,
which has two long wings on the flower’s lip
which fold up (a characteristic of the group).
Phalaenopsis borneënsis, Phal. lamelligera,
Phal. pantherina and Phal. thalebanii are all
now considered synonyms of Phal. cornu-cervi
according to the Kew Monocot Checklist.
Section Fuscatae
Species in Section Fuscatae include Phal.
fuscata, Phal. viridis, Phal. cochlearis and Phal.
kunstleri, with yellow flowers variously
marked with brown. Phalaenopsis cochlearis
differs from the others in having a concave
lip, the edges being turned up all the way
round and resembling a cockleshell, with
longitudinal stripes.
Section Amboinenses
Section Amboinenses contains some of the
largest Phalaenopsis. Phalaenopsis
amboinensis is a large plant with flowers
measuring 7.5–10cm. Ian showed us a
Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi is widespread from the Philippines through Indonesia to Myanmar
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 231
photograph of one growing in the wild,
which had thick, leathery leaves 30–45cm
long, with the roots extending for metres up
and down the tree. Markings are generally
arranged around the flower in concentric
patterns. Other species in this section are:
Phal. floresensis; Phal. gigantea (which is well
worth growing as it has big, bold flowers, big
leaves, but is a huge plant to manage); Phal.
javanica; Phal. micholitzii, which has
beautiful dainty flowers that are translucent
when they have rain on them; Phal.
robinsonii; and Phal. venosa.
Also in this section are Phal. violacea (often
the source of the ‘blue’ in blue hybrids) and
Phal. bellina, which were originally thought
to be the same species. Phalaenopsis violacea
Phalaenopsis gigantea has big, bold flowers but can be a
huge plant to manage
232 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
grows in the Malaysian Peninsular whilst
Phal. bellina grows in Borneo. They have
different scents and are probably pollinated
by different insects. DNA analysis has shown
that only some Phal. violacea/Phal. bellina
populations are separate species. (Ed: only
the populations of Phal. violacea on Mentawi
island are shown by DNA analysis to be
separate from Phal. bellina, giving rise to the
concept of only Phal. violacea var. mentawi
being separate from Phal. bellina).
For completeness, this section now includes
Phal. pulchra, Phal. fimbriata, Phal. fasciata,
Phal. doweryënsis, Phal. luteola, Phal. modesta,
Phal. maculata, Phal. mariae, Phal.
lueddemanniana, Phal. reichenbachiana, Phal.
pallens, Phal. bastianii and Phal. hieroglyphica.
Phalaenopsis bellina is native to Borneo and often
confused with Phalaenopsis violacea (native to the
Malaysian Peninsular)
Section Zebrinae
The final Section, Zebrinae, contains Phal.
corningiana and Phal. inscriptiosinensis
whose name means ‘Chinese writing’ due to
the markings on the petals which look very
similar to those of Phal. hieroglyphica (now
in Section Amboinenses, where the markings
on the petals resemble hieroglyphs).
Phalaenopsis inscriptiosinensis has a
particularly pronounced restriction of the lip
as do Phal. tetraspis and Phal. speciosa, also
members of the Section, which have
asymmetric, blotchy flower markings which
vary from flower to flower so each is unique.
Paraphalaenopsis
There is a final genus, Paraphalaenopsis, over
which debate raged as to whether it should
The petals and sepals of Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica have
markings like hieroglyphs
Phalaenopsis tetraspis has asymmetric flower markings and a pronounced ‘neck’ to its lip (photo by Sam Hurley)
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 233
be included within the genus Phalaenopsis
until it was separated in 1975/6.
Paraphalaenopsis is made up of four species
(Para. denevei, Para. labukensis, Para. laycockii
and Para. serpentilingua) which are only
found in Borneo.
They are different from Phalaenopsis in two
respects: they exhibit a marked difference in
their leaves from Phalaenopsis, the leaves
bring long (up to two metres) and cylindrical
(terete), and they are incompatible
genetically. It was believed that they had a
different chromosome count which stopped
cross pollination to Phalaenopsis, but Ian
advised that recent work by the University of
Singapore showed the chromosome count to
be the same as all but one Phalaenopsis (Ed:
Paraphalaenopsis labukensis is native to north Borneo
234 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
this is contrary to the findings reported in
Genera Orchidacearum Volume 1). Ian told us
the National Taiwan University reported that
crosses may be difficult due to the genome
properties of the genera which arise from
their evolving in differing environments to
adapt to altitude and humidity (Ed:
differences in the genes is, of course, why
most genera do not hybridise). Ian’s opinion
was that there is good evidence to dispute
the claim that Paraphalaenopsis are not part
of the Phalaenopsis genus.
Ed: Phalaenopsis: a monograph (2001) by Eric
A Christenson is available from the OSGB
library. A pictorial guide to identification of
Phalaenopsis species, by Henry Oakeley, was
featured in OSGBJ (2010) 59(3): 166.
Ian Parsons, Chairman of the British Orchid Council
(photo by Sam Hurley)
The Royal Horticultural Society
Orchid Committee
Full descriptions and illustrations of the
plants awarded by the Committee are
published in The Orchid Review. Subscription
details are available from the RHS, tel: 020
7821 3401, e-mail: membership@rhs.org.uk or
website: www.rhs.org.uk/orchidreview
The Committee met on 26 March 2013 at
Vincent Square and agreed the following
awards:
Botanical Certificate
Cymbidium goeringii ‘Tideswell’, a white form
of the species, exhibited by Clare Hermans
Cymbidium goeringii ‘Tideswell’ BC/RHS
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 235
The Royal Horticultural Society Orchid Committee
The Committee met on 12 April 2013 at the
RHS London Orchid Show and agreed the
following awards:
Award of Merit
Oncidium De Devant ‘Fort Rozel’ (Hyphen x
Boulivot) exhibited by the Eric Young Orchid
Foundation
Cattleya x dolosa ‘Chantelle’ (loddigesii x
walkeriana), a remake of the natural hybrid
from Brazil
Cattleya Cariad’s Mini-Quinee ‘Angel Kiss’
(Mini Purple x intermedia)
Rhyncholaeliocattleya Village Chief Triumph
‘Chantelle’ (Chan Hsiu Gold x Chunyeah)
Oncidium De Devant ‘Fort Rozel’ AM/RHS
Cattleya x dolosa ‘Chantelle’ AM/RHS
236 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
The above three plants were exhibited by
Chantelle Orchids
Cattleya Cariad’s Mini-Quinee ‘Angel Kiss’ – this photograph is of a meristem (clone) of the awarded plant (photo by
Stuart Meeson)
Rhyncholaeliocattleya Village Chief Triumph ‘Chantelle’ AM/RHS
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 237
Flowers of Dendrobium chionanthum ‘Jackie’ CCC/RHS
Coelogyne stricta ‘Jacob Coles’ CCC/RHS
Dendrobium brassii ‘Jackie’ BC/RHS
Botanical Certificate
Dendrobium brassii ‘Jackie’, a species from
Papua New Guinea, exhibited by Henry Marsh
Certificate of Cultural Commendation
To Chantelle Orchids for Dendrobium
loddigesii ‘Chantelle’, a species from Taiwan
To Henry Marsh for Dendrobium
chionanthum ‘Jackie’, a species from Papua
New Guinea
To Ike Shackleton (Writhlington School) for
Coelogyne holochila ‘Luke Lucas’, a species
from Thailand
To Jacob Coles (Writhlington School) for
Coelogyne stricta ‘Jacob Coles’, a species from
Sikkim
238 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Dendrobium loddigesii ‘Chantelle’ CCC/RHS
Dendrobium chionanthum ‘Jackie’ CCC/RHS
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 239
Coelogyne holochila ‘Luke Lucas’ CCC/RHS
Angulocaste Cotil Point ‘Rocco Tower’ AM/RHS
Miltoniopsis Laurie Monument ‘Barbara’ AM/RHS
The Committee met on 20 May 2013 at RHS
Chelsea Flower Show and agreed the
following awards:
Award of Merit
Miltoniopsis Laurie Monument ‘Barbara’ (La
Catillon x Point des Pas)
Angulocaste Cotil Point ‘Rocco Tower’
(Angulocaste Augres x Anguloa x ruckeri)
Certificate of Preliminary Commendation
Oncidium Du Panigot ‘Seymour Tower’
(Perolia x Mont Cambrai)
The above three plants were registered and
exhibited by the Eric Young Orchid Foundation
Award of Garden Merit
Cymbidium Tiger Tail ‘OrchiDiva’ (tigrinum x
Alexanderi) raised by Stewarts Inc, grown by
OrchiDiva and exhibited by Peter White
Oncidium Du Panigot ‘Seymour Tower’ PC/RHS
240 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Cymbidium Tiger Tail ‘OrchiDiva’ AGM/RHS
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 241
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email:lhorchids@btinternet.com
Tel: 01342 715142 or Mobile: 07961 350053
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• For quality Cattleyas, Paphiopedilums, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobiums, Cymbidiums
• Also a range of nursery raised and imported species and hybrids
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Extensive choice, no order too small.
Plants supplied by mail order. Please send sae for black/white stock lists and,
when available, Carter & Holmes colour brochures.
Visitors, Societies/Groups welcome by appointment only. Please ring or email in advance.
For regular open weekends, please check the website or email us to join the mailing list.
Open weekends: Sat 31st August/Sun 1st September
242 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 243
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Tel: 01622 891894
For our Shows attendances, please visit our
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244 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
We are agents for
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Visit us at
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Mail or online orders are welcomed for
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Hilmar Bauch, Dipl. Ing.agr.
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Telephone and fax: 0049 4253 8343
email: info@asendorfer-orchideenzucht.com
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 245
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All that’s new in orchids from
the world’s oldest authority
The Orchid Review is essential reading if you have a
passion for orchids. It is the oldest and most influential
orchid magazine in the world and is published by the Royal
Horticultural Society. Each of the four issues a year are
packed with a range of fascinating, inspirational features:
The quarterly supplement to Sander’s List of Orchid
Hybrids, supplied by the RHS as International Cultivar
Registration Authority, is available for a small fee
• Four issues with
the Orchid Hybrid List,
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overseas airmail £44
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the Orchid Hybrid List,
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Subscribe online or call us on the number below.
• Profiles of orchid genera, species and hybrids
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with cultivation advice
from the growers of
the awarded plants
• World news, event
finder, book reviews
Website: www.rhs.org.uk/orchidreview Tel: +44 (0)20 7821 3401 Email: membership@rhs.org.uk
Rosemann
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246 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
Ray Creek (Orchids)
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Announcement
Notice To Advertisers
Advertisements are welcomed. Full page
£80, half page £40, quarter page £20.
Fliers, size A5 or A4 folded, for insertion
(please supply 1,100 leaflets) £80.
Adverts must be prepaid. Discounts
available for four consecutive issues.
Deadlines: December 10th, March 10th,
STOP PRESS
2015 European Orchid Conference
is moving from Vienna to London
8–11 April 2015
at the RHS Halls, London
June 10th, September 10th .
For all requests and artwork specifications
please contact Kim Solomon.
Tel: 0208 9464410,
email : akmsolomon@yahoo.co.uk
248 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
See subsequent Journals for details
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 249
Services to members
The Journal
Cultural Advice
Published quarterly
Members are encouraged to bring problem plants to
monthly meetings if they would like cultural advice
and guidance. Cultural advice is also available by
post from Val Micklewright, 103 North Road, Three
Bridges, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1SQ (please
enclose an SAE for reply) or e-mail:
val@micklewright.com
Meetings
Meetings are held on the first Saturday of most
months at Napier Hall, 1 Hide Place, (off Vincent Street),
Westminster, London, SW1P 4NJ. Doors open at 13:30,
except when introductory sessions are scheduled
when they will open at 12:30. Guest speaker’s lecture
at 14:30–15:30 followed by refreshments, raffle draw
and a talk on the table show plants.
A competitive table show takes place at all meetings,
except at the plant auction. Plants for judging must
be in place by 14:00. Non-competitive plants are
always welcome.
Parking is currently free on Saturdays on single yellow
lines (do not park with wheels on the pavement/kerb
or alongside dropped kerbs) and in Pay & Display
bays, but DO NOT PARK in Residents’ Parking bays.
Meetings at which members may bring plants to sell
(with 10% to the Society, please) are marked with an
asterisk (*) in the meetings diary on the Services to
members page of the Journal, or online at
www.osgb.org.uk
3 Aug* 09:30 Introductory seminar and lunch
(new members only)
13:30 Doors open, no introductory session
14:30 Speaker: Bala Kompalli – Field trips
in Gory Valley, Western Himalayas,
India
7 Sep* 13:30 Doors open, no introductory session
14:30 Speaker: Zoe Barnes – Orchid
growing the Writhlington way
2 Nov
14:30 Speaker: Ray Creek – Successful
growing in coconut chips
10:30 OSGB Autumn Show, Wraysbury
Village Hall, Wraysbury, Middlesex,
TW19 5NA in conjunction with the
Wraysbury Orchid Event
7 Dec* 12:30 Christmas lunch – places must be
booked in advance
Library
Books are available by post from the Librarian, Sam
Hurley, or can be collected at the monthly meetings,
or from OSGB shows if requested in advance. They
may be borrowed for up to four weeks. The borrower
is asked to pay the outward and return postage. A
full list of books may be found on our website or
obtained from the Librarian, e-mail:
sam@ballyhurley.com
2013
August
31-1 Sep Orchid Study Group 6th Orchid Festival,
National Botanic Garden of Wales,
Carmarthenshire. Saturday: 10:00–18:00,
Sunday: 10:00–16:00
Contact: Lynne Harrendence,
tel: 01558 668492,
e-mail: lynne.harrendence@resqnet.co.uk,
website: www.orchidstudygroup.org.uk
14:30 Auction – Members may bring four
plants each to be auctioned or six
plants per family membership
250 • OSGBJ 2013, 62(3)
April
5
Solihull & District OS Annual Show, Arden
School, Station Road, Knowle, B93 0PT.
11:00–16:00
Contact: Martin Ball, tel: 01564 822897,
e-mail: ballm1@icloud.com,
website: www.solihullorchidsociety.org
RHS London Orchid and Botanical Art
Show, RHS Halls, London
(preview evening 10 April).
Website: www.rhs.org.uk
21
13
West Cornwall OS Spring Show, ‘Blaythorne’
Holman Sports Club, Pendarves Road,
Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 7QG.
11:00–16:00
Contact: Kit Lindsay, tel: 01209 717947,
e-mail: r.lindsay672@btinternet.com
(please note change of weekend)
Bournemouth OS Autumn Show, Allendale
Community Centre, Hanham Road,
Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1AS. 12:00–16:30
Contact: Chris Broomfield, tel: 07712 479056,
e-mail: chrisbroomfield@ntlworld.com,
website: www.erythos.com/BOS/
All articles and photographs in the Journal are the
copyright of the OSGB and the authors, and may not be
reproduced in any form without written permission.
27
Opinions expressed in the Journal are those of the authors
and they, together with services and products offered by
advertisers, are not necessarily endorsed by the Society.
Membership application forms, standing order forms, Gift
Aid forms and back issues of the Journal may be obtained
from the Membership Secretary, e-mail:
osgbmembership@yahoo.co.uk
February
22
North Bucks OS Annual Show, Flitwick Village
Hall, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, MK45 1HP.
11:00–16:00
Contact: Bill Dickins, tel: 01933 355406
11-12
October
20
OS of East Anglia Autumn Show, Eaton Parish
Hall, Colman Road, Norwich, NR4 7AW.
10:00–16:30
Contact: Jack Butcher, tel: 01603 466535,
e-mail: joan324butcher@btinternet.com
The Journal is produced quarterly and is available to
members by subscription only. The annual subscription is
£16.00 with £4.00 extra for each additional family member at
the same address. There is an overseas members’ postage
supplement of £5.00 for Europe and Russia, and £6.00 for the
rest of the world. Young person membership (under 21), UK
only, is £12.00. Back copies of the Journal are available (four
issues per year): £5.00 + p&p at cost for UK.
2014
September
7-8
3rd Durham Orchid Show, Josephine
Butler College, Durham University,
Durham. 10:00–16:00
Contact: Jeff Hutchings, tel: 01995
605537, e-mail: jcrhutch@aol.com or
Chris Barker, tel: 01642 654748, e-mail:
chjandjb@ntlworld.com
Members are invited to bring their plants to
contribute to official displays by the Society at those
shows shown in bold in the Show Diary, but please
liaise beforehand with Displays Manager, Jeanette
Beaney, e-mail: jeanette.beaney@btinternet.com
All subscriptions are due on 1 January unless new members
have a special arrangement to cover 18 months.
2014
4 Jan
The website has been designed by Marcel Kral of
Smallfish Designs. The Society’s website manager,
Sam Hurley, will be pleased to receive material for
the website, e-mail: sam@ballyhurley.com
including Affiliated Societies and International Shows
Displays
2013
5 Oct
Website www.osgb.org.uk
OSGB Show Diary
South East OS Autumn Show, Ashford Rail
Staff Club, Beaver Road, Ashford, Kent,
TN23 7RR. 14:00–16:00
Contact: Karina Sellers, tel: 01233 720238,
e-mail: karinasellers@btinternet.com
November
1–3
7th New Zealand National Orchid Expo, TSB
Stadium, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New
Zealand.
Website: http://orchidcouncil.co.nz/
7nznoe.htm
2
OSGB Open Autumn Show, Wraysbury
Village Hall, The Green, Wraysbury,
TW19 5NA. 10:30–16:00 (registration for
competitive plants 09:00–11:00, judging
11:00)
Contact Val Pugh, tel: 01403 251176,
e-mail: valeriepugh@tiscali.co.uk
May
17
Devon OS 39th Annual Show, Mackarness
Hall, High Street, Honiton, Devon, EX14 1PG.
10:30–16:00
Contact: Nicola Wakley, tel: 01404 850354,
e-mail: nwakley@googlemail.com
September
10–14 21st World Orchid Conference, Sandton
Convention Centre, Johannesburg,
South Africa
Website: www.woc21.org
October
17–19 Devon OS Orchid Weekend, Langstone
Cliff Hotel, Dawlish Warren,
Devon, EX7 0NA.
Contact: Nicola Wakley, tel: 01404 850354,
e-mail: nwakley@googlemail.com
Further Diary Dates can be found via the OSGB
website: www.osgb.org.uk and the British Orchid
Council website: www.british-orchid-council.info/
OSGBJ 2013, 62(3) • 251

The Orchid Society of Great Britain

Transcription

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