[OGD] Platythelys querceticola
Following are some links to a photo that I took of P. querceticola during my August trip to Goethe State Forest in Levy County. Platythelys querceticola (listed in Luer as Erythrodes querceticola) is a rather small Florida native orchid and member of the Spiranthine subtribe. It is probably most similar to the various "jewel orchids" such as Anoectochilus and Haemaria/Ludisia. Plants consist of a proportionately long stem with clear green, clasping, tear-drop shaped leaves alternating up the stem. They bear a strong resemblance to dayflower or small "wandering jew" plants. The imaged inflorescence is approximately 1.5 inches tall: http://www.flnativeorchids.com/images/orchids/platythelys_querceticola/Platythelys_spike_closeup.jpg and, just to show the actual level of detail that I managed to capture of these just-a-few-millimeter-wide flowers: http://www.flnativeorchids.com/images/orchids/platythelys_querceticola/Platythelys_flower_closeup_detail.jpg ---Prem www.premdesign.com ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] showcase /Nighlcliff Society, Northern Territory (Australia)
"flowers for a few weeks... each year... Grand Champion prize at the Nightcliff Orchid Society's annual "spring showcase". ... p[P]aphiopedilum... l[L]ebaudyanum" URL : http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/09/22/6066_ntnews.html * Regards, VB ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Australian Terrestrial Lip Details.
In a message dated 9/21/08 6:00:29 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, Kathy Barrett writes: "What's the purpose of the raised 'hooks' on the lips? At first I thought they encouraged at pollinator to come in to the center, but then I realized they were pointing in the 'wrong' direction, keeping insects out. Are they sticky, to trap insects at the column? Or have nectar on them as an attractant? Any discussion would be interesting." Judging from the close up pictures of two of the Arachnorchis, the flower appears to be offering pseudopollen in the form of yellow masses at the base of the lip. The curved "hooks" might serve to position the insect so it picks up pollinia as it backs out of the flower. Or perhaps irritates it so it jumps up into the column ;-). They might also be directional signals under UV light, or produce fragrance. Just speculation on my part. Though pseudopollen is a common attractant in orchids (like in some Cymbidiums, Laelias, Coelogynes, and Pleiones) , it usually is closer to the middle of the lip the base. Dennis One Additional thing on a totally different subject. I recently saw a cute Paph labeled as P. vejuarutianum. it looks to me like a natural (or primary) hybrid with charlesworthii in it. Googling it was worthless. Anyone know anything about this plant? **Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators. (http://www.walletpop.com/?NCID=emlcntuswall0001) ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] discovered / disappearing // Kewdale (Australia)
"orchid discovered in Kewdale... brown and yellow flower... [see photo : http://www.thewest.com.au/getfile.aspx?Type=image&ID=391828&ObjectType=3&ObjectID=200760 ] it has not been named... one of the star attractions in a Kings Park and Botanic Gardens initiative to preserve and collect the seeds of almost 1000 native plant species by 2010. Kings Park science director Kingsley Dixon said the orchid was believed to be closely related to the popular donkey orchid, but its different colouration, size and leaves distinguished it as a new species. ... while new orchids continued to be discovered almost annually in WA, other orchids such as the colourful Queen of Sheba orchid were approaching extinction. "Orchids are the barometer of how well the ecology is travelling, because when orchids vanish from bushland areas, then you know the area is starting to show signs of stress," ... Dixon said. ... "Salinity, clearing weeds and disease have resulted in loss of habitat and species to a degree that is a national crisis,"... Dixon said. "The Queen of Sheba was once common and widespread, but in the past 15 years numbers have declined and we suspect that climate change may be adversely affecting the orchid more than any other plant." He added that scientists had already discovered at least 400 different orchid species in the South-West." URL : http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=98917 * Regards, VB ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Stimulate root growth
Paul, I have had impressive results using the product KeikiPro which contains two plant hormones for use specifically on orchids. It has 'rescued' some of my orchids which appear to have lost all their roots but still have their leaves. Using just a drop directly from the bottle in the area where roots should emerge 'wakes up' the orchid. When it works on an orchid it is noticeable within a few days. In some cases it prompts a keiki/new growth from the root area. It has also stimulated a leafless orchid which still has roots, i.e. a phal which has suffered crown rot, to sprout new leaves. On orchids that are not in distress of course they should be be producing a nice balance of roots and leaves. However a diluted solution of KeikiPro can be sprayed over the entire plant, best just once per year or growing season. The increased growth from root to foliage and the production of inflorescences is very noticeable. Another way to promote roots is to suppress blooming. Phal growers keep temps at 83*F (28C) or more to inhibit blooming and grow better roots and foliage. Its hard to do but one could also pinch/remove inflorescences... Ha! I have less experience with rooting powders which I take it are generally intended for rooting any plant. I too would like to hear of others experience with measures to promote more and healthy roots. Lee in So. Carolina Lee Bredeson www.classicorchid.com (Selling most of my private collection) (Greenhouse is being taken down) > Original Message > Subject: [OGD] Stimulate root growth > From: paul bouleau <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Sun, September 21, 2008 5:24 pm > To: orchids@orchidguide.com > I would like to know if anyone is using a root growth product in the care of > orchids. In the February2008 issue of Orchids, It was advocated that you use > Dip'n Grow or some other product for better root growth. > Thank you. > Paul ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Stimulate root growth
Like most aspects of orchid culture, there seem to be many schools of thought on synthetic rooting hormones - some think they are "snake oil" (SuperThrive ads don't help that concept), while others swear by them. My feeling is that if used in proper doses (no more than a few drops-per-gallon -- more does not equal better), they do no harm, and if your culture is a bit lacking in relation to the conditions in the root zone, they can be a real benefit. If your root environment and overall culture are good, they don't add much. Additionally, when repotting, they can be a big help in getting the plants reestablished in their new conditions. I use K-L-N for that. Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info! - Original Message - From: "paul bouleau" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 5:24 PM Subject: [OGD] Stimulate root growth I would like to know if anyone is using a root growth product in the care of orchids. In the February2008 issue of Orchids, It was advocated that you use Dip'n Grow or some other product for better root growth. Thank you. Paul ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Stimulate root growth
I would like to know if anyone is using a root growth product in the care of orchids. In the February2008 issue of Orchids, It was advocated that you use Dip'n Grow or some other product for better root growth. Thank you. Paul ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Pteroglossaspis pottsii - a fairly new orchid to science
At 04:23 PM 9/21/2008 +0200, you wrote: >Hi Prem, > >thanks for this post, the species was unknown to me. The first thing >that struck me was the labelum in the photo in the bottom centre >(extreme flower closeup) ... striking resemblance to our Serapias here >in Europe. Is it known what insect pollinates this species ? > >regards, >Fred Hi Fred, Serapias is a member of the Orchidoid subtribe, while Pteroglossaspis is a member of the Cymbidioid subtribe, so there's quite a gap, relationally, between them. The flower shape definitely does look similar. I do not know if a specific pollinator for this species has been identified, although it seems apparent from field observations that it definitely requires pollination assistance, as the capsule-to-flower ratio is not incredibly high. ---Prem Prem Subrahmanyam curator, www.flnativeorchids.com The Florida Native Orchids Website ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Marechal Floriano / Espírito Santo (Bras il)
"Marechal Floriano... conhecido como a "Cidade das Orquídeas"... 17 produtores de orquídeas... O engenheiro agrônomo do Instituto Capixaba de Pesquisa, Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural (Incaper) de Marechal Floriano, José Onofre Pereira,... presta assistência aos produtores interessados em iniciar a produção de orquídeas no município... Reserva Orquidófila Florabela, criada na década de 1960 pelo pesquisador Érico de Freitas Machado... A área possui 12 hectares... o esboço do livro que ele escreveu sobre o tema foi lançado... "História do Patrimônio Natural do Espírito Santo: Orquídeas". Há nove anos a reserva está aberta para o agroturismo... 400 espécies espalhadas pelo percurso" URL : http://gazetaonline.globo.com/index.php?id=/local/minuto_a_minuto/local/materia.php&cd_matia=20147 Regards, VB ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Orquidario Binot (Brasil)
"Orquidário Binot, em Petrópolis. Fundado em 1870 por Pedro Maria Binot, filho do francês Jean Baptista Binot encarregado de projetar e executar os jardins do Palácio Imperial." URL : http://jbonline.terra.com.br/extra/2008/09/20/e200915439.html * Regards, VB ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Midwestern storms
To Tennis and others, I'm happy you're safe. I understand the Chicago area is pretty flooded, too. A much larger storm than I'd a thunk. Interesting that your back up generator froze when you went to start it. I was just about to buy one for earthquake preparedness I guess I'll include occasional tests to be sure the dang thing operates. (sigh, so many chores, so little time) K Barrett N Calif, USA _ Get more out of the Web. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008 ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Australian terrestrial lip detail
Peter Maxwell has pictures on his Flickr page detailing the lips of several Australian terrestrial orchids. http://www.flickr.com/photos/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ What's the purpose of the raised 'hooks' on the lips? At first I thought they encouraged at pollinator to come in to the center, but then I realized they were pointing in the 'wrong' direction, keeping insects out. Are they sticky, to trap insects at the column? Or have nectar on them as an attractant? Any discussion would be interesting. K Barrett N Calif, USA _ See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093175mrt/direct/01/ ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Gramatophyllum speciosum
The newspaper report on the four-inflorescence blooming of the species in NY shows what happens when a reporter writes about something without seeing other exemplars of the subject matter. Of course, for a person in NY state that is an immpressive flowering of the species. For some people in the tropics that is a small flowering of the species. I wonder how would the writer of the article reacted had he seen this album of a blooming plant of Gramatophyllum speciosum http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/58901890bpvzPO :) _ Explore the seven wonders of the world http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=7+wonders+world&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Orchids Digest, Vol 10, Issue 278
Peter, I do appreciate you weighing in. Personally, I am happy it has bloomed again and that the public here in NY can have the opportunity to actually see this remarkable plant. As a botanic garden, education is a large part of our mission and we always really do our best to disseminate factual info, but the problem with any kind of media coverage of anything is that information can get skewed very easily and once it is "out there" it then becomes fact. Reporters and media folks have expertise at reaching out to the public not necessarily about orchids or any other subject for that matter. With the internet and our ability to Google anything, right and wrong information gets propagated easily and widely. The result is that the same articles, stories and statements get repeated so often, they must be true. I have seen the great specimen Grammatophyllums at the Singapore Botanic Garden and Mandai and the amazing efforts of the Parks Board to get this species back out into the daily landscape. For anyone who has not been there, Singapore has very successfully brought many of their native plants back into the focus and access of the community. G. speciosum is not rare there, but it is not a common greenhouse orchid in temperate climates-it gets too big. Until the last five years or so it was hard to find any commercial growers that even offered seedlings or plants for sale that those of us in the US were able to access. When I bought this plant ten years ago I was thrilled at the chance. As for the printed statement, "few people or institutions can afford to grow it", what I told the reporter is that it is uncommon in cultivation here because few people or institutions can afford to give it the space that it requires. In the grand scheme of things it is fun to be able to introduce NY city dwellers to this amazing orchid species when hybrid Phals are their reference; as well as the idea that an orchid can compel masses of people to come out to a botanic garden to see it. For that, I am willing to put up with a little annoying...inaccuracy. Cheers, Dave Horak Message: 1 Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:44:49 +0800 From: "Peter O'Byrne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [OGD] Grammatophyllum story To: orchids@orchidguide.com Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 The New York Times article that Viateur posted in OGD V10 #277: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/a-200-pound-orchid-blooms-a gain/?hp has a couple of errors. i) It isn't rare in nature. In many places it is really common. ii) "it grows in the crotches of trees more than 100 feet in the air". Those trees must be absolutely massive ! Large established plants of Grammatophyllum speciosum are usually found growing in the crotches of trees at the normal height for tree-crotches; anything from head-height up to 20 metres or so. Small plants start growing further out on branches and in higher forks, but they seldom become very large because they get too heavy for the tree to support. iii) "few people or institutions can afford to grow it" Oh dear. The reporter developed a bad case of parochialism with this line. Fact is, thousands and thousands and thousands of people grow Grammatophyllum speciosum. It is a common garden-plant. Just not in New York. Walk around villages in Malaysia and Indonesia and you'll soon see what I mean. The Singapore Parks Board (an institution) has been busy for several years growing G. speciosum from seed and planting them on trees all over Singapore in one of the world's more successful attempts to re-introduce a nearly-extinct native orchid species. When you visit Singapore in September 2011 for the next World Orchid Conference, keep an eye out for them. Peter O'Byrne in Singapore ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Pteroglossaspis pottsii - a fairly new orchid to science
Hi Prem, thanks for this post, the species was unknown to me. The first thing that struck me was the labelum in the photo in the bottom centre (extreme flower closeup) ... striking resemblance to our Serapias here in Europe. Is it known what insect pollinates this species ? regards, Fred > As some of you may know, Pteroglossaspis pottsii is an orchid species fairly > new to science, and it grows right here in Florida. I have had the privilege > of visiting and photographing this endangered orchid in its habitat for two > years now. > > While previously on my site as part of a photo essay, I now have created the > official Pteroglossaspis pottsii gallery page, enhanced with new photos from > 2008 (including an interesting greyscale treatment that I may do more of if > it seems well-received.) You can see the photos and read more about this > orchid here: > > http://www.flnativeorchids.com/natives_gallery/pteroglossaspis_pottsii.htm > > ---Prem ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
