1. Art and Diseño

THE NEMOS NEWS
February 2015. Issue no. 263
The monthly newsletter of the
North East Melbourne Orchid Society Inc.
President: Michael Coker
Secretary: Glenda Warren
Editor: Brian Milligan ([email protected])
NEMOS meets on the third Monday of each
month at the Marwal Centre,
9-11 Marwal Avenue, Balwyn North (Mel. 46B3). Culture Corner, the early session for new
growers, commences at 7.15 pm.
The main meeting begins at 8.00 pm.
Visitors are welcome.
THE NEXT MEETING
NEMOS member Gordon Young will present
the main Item of the Evening, a talk on How
We Grow Our Orchids. Gordon and his wife
Pam have grown a wide range of orchids over
many years, so there will be something of
interest for everyone.
In Culture Corner Alan Hope will talk about
the Indoor Culture of Phalaenopsis.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT - FEBRUARY 2015
Dear NEMOS Members,
Your Committee is planning guest speakers for
2015 – if there is a topic you would like to hear
more about, please let me or Brian Milligan
know. We try to have a range of topics and new
guest speakers to maintain extra interest in our
meetings.
It has come to our attention that a neighbour of
The Marwal Centre has complained a number
of times about noise as we leave the monthly
meeting venue. The managers of The Marwal
Centre are very much on our side on this issue –
they recognise that we have been there for many
years, and we aren’t usually there very late, or
very noisy for that matter. Nonetheless –
according to Council regulations, we must
vacate the premises by 10.00 pm. Therefore –
we either need to have shorter meetings or
maybe start them a little earlier. Let’s have a
discussion at the February meeting about how
best to deal with this matter.
As I mentioned at the January meeting – John
Skews will be gallivanting around the world for
both our winter and spring shows! I really can’t
complain – because that’s usually what I do,
Editor: Brian Milligan
Page 1
and Kay Skews has had to put up with John
devoting so much time to NEMOS over the
years that, at the least, she deserves some more
of John’s time in 2015! One of the impacts this
will have on our shows is with prize cards. If
any members want prize cards printed – we will
certainly make them for those members, but
without John & Kay to print them, we will only
make them for members who let us know that
they want them.
On 15 February 2015 the OSCOV Panel will
decide the OSCOV Victorian Orchids of the
Year. Some of our members have plants in the
running – so best wishes for everyone! Let’s
hope we have some winners at NEMOS.
I have prepared a general talk for beginners on
orchids. This is designed to be presented to
local social/gardening clubs that meet near
orchid clubs in Melbourne and elsewhere in
Victoria, to promote our hobby and maybe get
some new members. I don’t know of many
such groups around North Balwyn (or adjoining
or even nearby suburbs) so I’m asking our
members to let me know who we should contact
to make the arrangements. I’ll ask you at our
next meeting.
Bye for now, see you in February.
MJC
SOME ORCHIDS AT MJC’s IN JANUARY
Cool/Cold-growing orchids.
Masdevallia John Tomaschke ‘Lou Reed’. I
have only recently discovered how to grow
Masdevallias better – I have traditionally kept
them too hot, but they seem to very much enjoy
my new house #5. This plant came from
Royale Orchids in NSW about 6 years ago. It
has been in flower for about 4 months.
Epidendrum Pacific Sparkler. This is a good
example of a crucifix orchid. It was bred by a
famous breeder of reed-stem Epidendrums, Jim
Rose of Cal-Orchid in Santa Barbara, about 12
years ago. These orchids can be propagated by
THE NEMOS NEWS: February 2015
planting a section of stem about 10 cm long into
bark.
Thecostele alata
Epi. Pacific Sparkler
Lycaste macrophylla. My plant came from a
flask purchased by Dieter Weise about three
years ago. It’s a native of Peru, Ecuador and
surrounding countries. Like most Lycastes, it
produces multiple flowers per bulb.
Paphiopedilum Rolfei ‘Vampira’ is a primary
hybrid between P. rothschildianum and P.
bellatulum. I purchased the plant from Nicky
Zurcher about 3 years ago. It’s still a small
plant, and carries only 2 flowers on the stem but
I’m hoping for more next year. In my opinion,
it’s a beautiful slipper!
Paph. Rolfei ‘Vampira’
Lyc. macrophylla
Warm/hot-growing orchids.
Vanda Ken Kone ‘Alexandra’. I purchased this
hot-growing orchid from Castle Creek Orchids
about 5 years ago. It received an HCC/OSCOV
in 2012. I was hoping for an AD because of its
distinctive markings but I can’t complain about
the HCC. I would like to bring it to a meeting
but my Vanilla planifolia has grown many roots
into its pot – and I’m reluctant to disturb the
Vanilla before it flowers (if ever)!
Paphiopedilum IANTHA STAGE
by Michael Coker
My plant of Paphiopedilum Iantha Stage was
purchased from Castle Creek about 6 years ago.
My research indicates that ‘Iantha’ is Greek for
‘violet-coloured flower’ and the hybrid was
registered by Mr Stage of Oregon in the USA in
1973.
The plant has never flowered for me until this
year. A primary hybrid, with the slow-growing
multi-floral Paph. rothschildianum as one
parent, and it’s not surprising that it takes a
while to flower. The other parent is Paph.
sukhakulii – a single-flowered species. My
plant has 4 stems – each with 2 flowers, but one
of the buds damped-off when it was very small.
Four stems are quite uncommon on a fairly
small plant of this hybrid, so I was very pleased
with this flowering.
Vanda Ken Kone
Thecostele alata. This curious species is found
in a number of south-east Asian countries. It’s
a sequential flowerer whose stem lasts for about
3 months. Randall Robinson tells me that it’s
very closely related to the genus Cymbidium, so
I will try to breed it with a few cymbidiums in
the next few weeks.
Editor: Brian Milligan
MICHAEL’S CHOICE*
The editor has asked Michael to write in
detail about one of his orchids each month
Page 2
It has been said that “the flowers superficially
look like enormous P. sukhakulii, retaining the
distinctive petal spots and maculations of that
parent. However, P. rothschildianum bestows
the flowers with much larger and boldly-striped
dorsals”.
THE NEMOS NEWS: February 2015
are commonly grown. However, many more
zygopetalum hybrids are available, together
with an increasing number of inter-generic
hybrids produced by hybridising with related
genera, such as Pabstia (Colax) and
Promenaea. These hybrids often flower twice
yearly.
P. Iantha Stage
The plant was awarded an HCC and a CC by
the OSCOV Panel at our meeting – so I’m quite
delighted.
MJC
PLEASE BRING YOUR SEEDLINGS
Michael Coker has requested members to bring
the latest (or all) of their seedling competition
plants to the February meeting for comparison.
The two most recent that I recall are:
1. (Zygoneria Adelaide Meadows x Pabstia
jugosa), which has not yet been registered.
2. Oncidesa Golden King, which is a
mericlone – all plants should therefore be
identical. Several plants of this mericlone
have already flowered.
SPECIES SOCIETY SHOW & SALE DAY
Please don’t forget the Open Day of the Orchid
Species Society of Victoria on Sunday 15
March (9.00 am until 2.00 pm) at the City of
Whitehorse Function Room, 82 Jolimont Road,
Forest Hill (Melways 62-E4). The Open Day is
a great event on the Melbourne orchid calendar,
primarily because of the orchids that will be on
show and the opportunity to add to your
collections from the many vendors that will be
at the Open Day. It’s a great opportunity to
buy orchids, both species and hybrids, that
are difficult to come by elsewhere. Try to
arrive promptly at 9.00 am, as previous
experience has shown that the best bargains and
rarest plants are usually gone by 10 am!
BM
HOW TO GROW ZYGOPETALUMS
Zygopetalums
are
cool-growing
South
American orchids that grow under similar
conditions to those suitable for cymbidiums.
Flowering spikes develop with the new leaves
and usually carry four to eight highly perfumed,
long-lasting flowers with distinctive mauve or
purple patterned lips. Although about fifteen
species are known in nature, only three or four
Editor: Brian Milligan
Page 3
POTTING. An open potting mix, similar to
that used for cymbidiums, is suitable. Most
growers use pine bark (5-10 mm), sometimes
with additives such as peanut shells, rice hulls
or river pebbles. Black plastic pots with plenty
of drainage holes are ideal. It's a good idea to
re-pot every two years, because the fleshy roots
soon deteriorate in an old, decaying potting
mix.
LIGHT and AIR. Zygopetalums seem to
prefer a slightly shadier environment than
cymbidiums, their leaves becoming yellow and
burning if the light is too intense. They grow
well with cymbidiums, especially if they are
placed on a lower shelf, where they are slightly
shaded by cymbidium leaves. However, they
must not be relegated to a spot under the
benches, as they require airy conditions. Their
leaves must not remain wet for long after
watering, especially in winter. Cold, damp
conditions can lead to the development of
unsightly black spots on the leaves.
WATERING. The potting mix must not be
allowed to become excessively dry; frequent
watering, especially in summer, produces best
results. However in winter, which corresponds
to the rest period (time of least growth) in their
natural habitat, the plants should be kept fairly
dry. Water no more often than once each week
at this time and avoid wetting the foliage to
reduce the occurrence of leaf spotting.
FERTILISING.
Zygopetalums may be
fertilised in two different ways or by a
combination of both. One option is to apply
granules of a slow-release fertiliser, such as
Osmocote®, to the top of the mix in October
(shake the pot so that the fertiliser enters the
mix). The other is to apply a weak solution of a
liquid fertiliser at fortnightly intervals between
September and May. Use at only half of the
manufacturer's recommended concentration.
Potassium-rich fertilisers, such as Campbell's
A®, generally result in better flowering.
THE NEMOS NEWS: February 2015
MORE ON ZYGOPETALUMS
As I watered my orchids this morning (in late
January), I noticed that three of my
zygopetalum hybrids, namely, Z. Artur Elle
‘Essendon’, Z. Imagination, and Z. Blue Eyes
‘Cheryl’, were in spike. All being well, the
flowers should be open for either our February
or March meeting.
Sometimes these
zygopetalums flower twice a year and with luck
one may also flower again for our spring show.
My Zygoneria Zest (a complex hybrid involving
two orchid genera - Zygopetalum and Neogardneria) is also in spike. This particular plant
was one of a number of NEMOS seedling
competition plants issued to our members about
five years ago; it has flowered at least once
previously.
Zygopetalum Imagination
Zygoneria Zest
If you don’t already grow zygopetalums, I
recommend that you try one or two hybrids.
Why? The flowers may have a rather limited
colour range (most have purplish lips) but they
often flower in early autumn when other orchid
flowers are in short supply. Bear in mind that
you won’t be recognised as an accomplished
orchid grower until you have at least one orchid
in flower on every day of the year!
BM
THE NAME GAME
by Val Walton
It’s hard to keep track of orchid taxonomy. To
a novice grower, it’s also incredible to see the
varietal names attached to some hybrids, such
names as ‘Pesky Panther’, ‘Kool and Kinky’,
‘Pacific-Paranoia-Other-Side-of-Cool’
and
‘Lunatic-Fringe-Ikes-Yikes’! One could surely
be forgiven for thinking some orchid hybridists
are Halloween renegade punk rockers of the
horticultural world.
I was greatly irked by seeing the name of a
dendrobium pod-parent listed as superbum. I
thought this is taking the naming of plants just
Editor: Brian Milligan
Page 4
too far. It probably is a beautiful thing, so why
call it Super Bum? Then I thought, what if it’s a
species name and not a hybrid? Give it a Latin
pronunciation. Ah, yes, su-perb-um.
There are some orchid names that cause me
wonder. Sophronitis is one of these. The suffix
‘itis’ means inflammation. Inflammation of
what? The ‘sophron’? So what’s a sophron?
‘Sophron’ is from the Greek, meaning chaste or
modest. It might be immodest to carry that any
further.
One that appeals from just seeing the written
word is Porroglossum.
I know it says
‘glossom’, not ‘blossom’, but to me it suggests
sharing porridge with a possum under a
blossom tree (pink blossom, for me, if that can
be arranged).
Perhaps the most disconcerting of orchid
nomenclature would be Brassia. In December I
told a number of (non-orchid) people that I was
expecting a Christmas present because my
Brassia was forming an inflorescence with what
looked like five good-sized florets. Coming
from an old woman whose chest measurement
doesn’t require her to wear a bra, it must have
seemed a strange, if not lame, boast. I haven’t
got around to telling them that my Brassia lived
up to its promise and produced five large
chartreuse spiders with charcoal mottling.
When my sister and I were young, we
affectionately referred to every insect or critter
that had antennae or feelers as having ‘tonkers’.
We just knew they were tonkers. In an orchid
book I have come across a photograph of a cute
little orchid named Cadetia taylori. I laugh so
happily and slap my knees each time I look at it,
because the cheeky little thing definitely is
sporting tonkers. I know I shouldn’t keep
adding to my orchid collection because my tiny
orchid house is on par, pro rata, with my bra
size. But does anyone know where I can buy
“Tonkers”?
Val Walton
Val Walton, a new member of NEMOS, lives
with a pussy cat named Sweet Pea.
Editor’s note: Many thanks for your amusing article,
Val. In general I prefer to use botanical names (rather
than common names) in THE NEMOS NEWS. However,
THE NEMOS NEWS: February 2015
to avoid causing any offence, I decided not to alter Sweet
Pea’s name to Lathyrus odoratus!
THE FIRST PAPHIOPEDILUM HYBRID
John Dominy, foreman of the Veitch Royal
Exotic Nursery at Exeter (Devonshire), is
acknowledged as the first to create and raise
orchid hybrids successfully. A hybrid calanthe
and a cattleya were the first to flower (in 1856).
He raised a further 23 orchid hybrids before
retiring in 1880. Two of these hybrids were
paphiopedilums (then called cypripediums).
Paphiopedilum Harrisianum (P. villosum x P.
barbatum) first flowered in 1869, while
Paphiopedilum Vexillarium (P. barbatum x P.
fairieanum) flowered the following year.
Paphiopedilum Harrisianum is still seen on our
show benches today, although the plants are
probably not from the original crossing. It was
named after Dr. Harris, a friend of John
Dominy, in acknowledgement of the advice that
the surgeon gave him on the column structure of
the orchid flower and the necessity to transfer
pollen to the stigmatic cavity in order to bring
about fertilisation. The most common cultivar
seen is the tetraploid Paphiopedilum
Harrisianum ‘G.S. Ball’, which has larger,
deeper purple and glossier flowers than other
cultivars. It is sometimes also referred to as
‘Ball’s variety’. The cultivar ‘superbum’ arose
from Dominy’s original crossing but Ball’s
variety must be of more recent origin, because it
is not mentioned in any of my books published
before World War 2.
Paphiopedilum Harrisianum ‘G. S. Ball’
John Seden succeeded John Dominy as
hybridiser at Veitch’s Exeter nursery following
Dominy’s retirement. Over a thirty-year period
(1875-1905) Seden created more than 500
Editor: Brian Milligan
Page 5
orchid hybrids, including 150 paphiopedilums.
A Mr. Cross, gardener to Lady Ashburton of
Hampshire was another early hybridiser of
paphiopedilums.
His first two were P.
Ashburtoniae (P. barbatum x P. insigne) and P.
Crossianum (P. insigne x P. venustum); the
latter still occasionally appears on the show
bench.
BM
Paphiopedilum Crossianum ‘Jetsetter’
THE RATTLESNAKE ORCHIDS
The genus Pholidota is a genus of about 30
orchid species mainly native to India, South
China, Malaysia and Indonesia, although a few
species are also found in New Guinea, Australia
(Queensland) and some islands in the Pacific
Ocean.
So why are pholidotas called
rattlesnake orchids, when rattlesnakes are found
only in America? The answer is obvious when
pholidotas are seen in bud, because the buds
have the appearance of the “rattle” at the end of
a rattlesnake’s tail! Although 29 species are
listed, only 8 have been seen at the Orchid
Species Society of Victoria over the last 30
years, namely Pholidota articulata, P.
chinensis, P. gibbosa, P. imbricata, P. pallida,
P. rubra, P. yunnanensis and P. ventriculosa.
Of those, Pholidota chinensis (pictured) is the
most commonly seen in cultivation. It’s found
in Vietnam, South China and Burma, where it
grows on damp rocks or on trees near streams.
The pendant inflorescences (each 15-30 mm
long) emerge from the apex of the new growths
as they develop during spring.
Although
they’re said to carry up to 35 flowers, the most
to be seen on my plant over the last 15 years is
about a dozen. I currently grow P. chinensis in
a glass-house at a minimum temperature of
10°C but originally grew it in a shade-house for
many years.
THE NEMOS NEWS: February 2015
Gongora galeata in flower
The flowers of the two species are very similar,
the main difference being the red marks found
on either side of the column in Gongora
cassidea.
Both species usually flower in
January or February.
BM
Pholidota chinensis
The only species to occur in Australia is
Pholidota imbricata, although it’s also found in
Vietnam, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. It has
smaller, more closely spaced flowers than P.
chinensis.
BM
TWO COOL-GROWING GONGORAS
Gongora is a genus of 70-odd epiphytic orchid
species found growing from Mexico to Brazil
and Bolivia at altitudes between sea level and
1800 m. The flower spikes emerge from the
base of the pseudo-bulbs, growing upright at
first, and then becoming pendulous. The buds
open upside-down with the lips uppermost.
Most gongoras require intermediate to warm
conditions but I have found that Gongora
galeata and G. cassidea will grow and flower
happily in a “cosy” shade-house.
Gongora galeata in bud
Editor: Brian Milligan
Page 6
Gongora cassidea (note the red marks on the column)
SHOW-BENCH RESULTS FOR JANUARY
OPEN SECTION
LAELIINAE ALLIANCE: Exhibition Style
1st. Cattleya Minerva
S. Giarrusso
nd
2 . C. Minerva
J. Skews
LYCASTE HYBRID
1st. L. (dowiana x deppei) = Garfield J. Filgate
MASDEVALLIA HYBRID
1st. John Tomaschke
M. Coker
2nd. Isbern
B. & L. Milligan
3rd. Parlatoriana
B. & L. Milligan
PAPHIOPEDILUM HYBRID: Maudiae Style
1st. P. Harrisianum
J. Skews
2nd. P. fairrieanum x Icy Galaxy
M. Coker
PAPHIOPEDILUM: Novelty Style
1st. Iantha Stage
M. Coker
PAPHIOPEDILUM SPECIES
1st. P. concolor
M. Coker
PHALAENOPSIS HYBRID: Novelty Style
1st. (French Connection x Frieda Danseuse)
A. Hope
THE NEMOS NEWS: February 2015
2nd. (Brother Precious Stones x Brother Cat’s
Paw)
A. Hope
3rd. unknown
S. Giarrusso
PHALAENOPSIS HYBRID: Exhibition Style
1st. Candy Cascade
M. Coker
nd
2 . Malibu Victory ‘White’
A. Hope
3rd. White Pearl
A. Hope
VANDACEOUS ALLIANCE HYBRID
1st. Vascostylis Pine Rivers ‘Blue’
M. Coker
SPECIES: AMERICAN
1st. Miltonia phymatochilum
M. Coker
2nd. Maxillaria cucullata (now Camaridium
cucullatum)
A. Hope
3rd. Gongora cassidea
B. & L. Milligan
SPECIES: ASIAN
1st. Cymbidium findlaysonianum
B. & L. Milligan
nd
2 . Dendrobium convolutum
M. Coker
3rd. Vanda falcata
B. & L. Milligan
SPECIES: ANY OTHER
1st. & 2nd. Stenoglottis woodii B. & L. Milligan
3rd. Angraecum scottianum
A. Hope
ANY OTHER HYBRID
1st. Epi. (Pacific Sizzle x Pacific Sunspots)
M. Coker
nd
2 . Epi. Seta Rasberry
S. Giarrusso
3rd. Disa Noyo ‘Late Crimson’ B. & L. Milligan
NEMOS CULTURAL CERTIFICATE
Brian and Lorraine Milligan were awarded a
Club Cultural Certificate for their Cymbidium
findlaysonianum (mainly for their efforts in
transporting its long pendulous inflorescences
to the hall without damage!).
INTERMEDIATE SECTION
DENDROBIUM HYBRID
2nd. (Corona x Winter King)
SPECIES: AMERICAN
1st. Stanhopea nigroviolacea
2nd. Masdevallia coriacea
SPECIES: ASIAN
1st. Phalenopsis fasciata
SPECIES: ANY OTHER
1st. Stenoglottis woodii
JULIAN’S DIRTY WASHING
The Window from which We Look
A young couple moves into a new
neighbourhood. The next morning while they
are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her
neighbour hanging the wash outside.
“That laundry is not very clean”, she said. “She
doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps
she needs better laundry soap”.
Her husband looked on, but remained silent.
Every time her neighbour hung her washing out
to dry, the young woman would make the same
comments.
About a month later the woman was surprised
to see a nice clean wash hanging on the line and
said to her husband: “Look, she has learned
how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught
her this”.
The husband said, “I got up early this morning
and cleaned our windows”.
And so it is with life. What we see when
watching others depends on the purity of the
window through which we look.
Thanks, Julian – that makes two unsolicited
articles in one month. Maybe I can look
forward to retiring soon! BM
J. Newitt
J. Newitt
J. Newitt
M. Newitt
J. Newitt
THE BIG WINNERS
BEST IN OPEN SECTION, JUDGES’ VOTE
& POPULAR VOTE
Phalaenopsis Candy Cascade
Michael Coker
BEST IN INTERMEDIATE SECTION
Phalaenopsis fasciata
Marjorie Newitt
BEST CULTURE
Paphiopedilum Iantha Stage
Michael Coker
OSCOV AWARD
A Highly Commended Certificate (HCC) and a
Cultural Certificate (CC) were awarded to
Michael Coker for his Paphiopedilum Iantha
Stage (see photograph on p. 3)
Editor: Brian Milligan
Page 7
THE NEMOS NEWS: February 2015