[OGD] Name changes
Dear All- **The below are questions that i have been wondering about for a while - I am well aware and understand all the proposed revisions and papers published on the Cattleya alliance having a background in plant taxonomy. My curiosity is about how the public interprets these types of studies and publications** With all the taxonomic revision surrounding the genus cattleya I know that there have been many complaints about sorting out the delimitations of the genera Cattleya, Sophronitis, Laelia etc etc. I have seen more people comment on the initial movement of Laelia purpurata and L.tenebrosa into Sophronitis. I was wondering...is the public refusal to accept such a change becuase: A) It is difficult to imagine combining a genus of large purple/pink flowered plants into a genus of small red/orange flowered plants? would it have been more acceptable to move Sopronitis into Laelia and have Laelia coccinea and Laelia cernua? B)the name changes have been so frequent causing too much confusion about what you knew previously? (including the new and confusing hybrid grex names) C)the new classification makes it impossible to understand how to tell the genera apart? D) How scientists use DNA analysis to help track the relationships between plants to help determine the classification of groups of related species? I find it interesting that people have pitchforks and torches out for taxonomists over the Cattleya alliance but all the changes with Masdevallia, Dendrobium, the Oncidinae,and the Huntleya alliance went by with little public comment. I would love to hear peoples replies and comments about these questions on or off list. Interpretation of scientific data and science writing for mass media is something that I do on a regular basis so this is something that is relevant to what I do. I am also in the process of preparing a presentation for our judging center here in the north east about how to understand and interpret the recent taxonomic revisions. sincerely marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Anguloa flowers
Dear ODG - As many of you might already know - although more typical to find Anguloa's producing single flowers per inflorescence it is not too uncommon to have two. I have seen this occurr on A.cloesii, A.cliftonii, A.brevilabris, and A.dubia in my collection but never on any of the other species. Double flowers are also not an uncommon thing on many of the modern skinneri based lycaste hybrids. I know of a clone of Lycaste macrophylla in one collection that is said to produce multiple flowers per stem on a regular basis and I even think that this plant received a JC/AOS. I don't konw what might be the cause of this phenomenon but I am also sure that it has to do with cultural factors. I would be interested if anyone has seen this occurr on plants in the wild. Sincerely Marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] orchid video
Dear All - Some time back someone posted a link to videos online of Australian orchids being pollinated (Drakea, Caladenia, etc) by male wasps. Does anyone know what that link was??? sincerely marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Impounded Shipment/Ghost Orchid
Dear Stuart and Orchidists- When i first read the account that this orchid was going to be displayed and then auctioned off to raise charity funds for conservation I must admit that I was a little concerned. The commercialization of endangered species for charatable gains is something that I am not too fond of. If the Chinese Government put a Panda up for auction to sell to the highest bidder would people have the same attitude? Whether you think I am just standing on my soap box is not the important point of this email. When the auction is advertised as- “priceless to a collector”, will be auctioned off. To ensure the orchids’ ongoing welfare, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism who has donated this nearly extinct orchid, will purchase membership to the Orchid Society of Great Britain for the highest bidder, and the OSGB has promised to provide a free day’s training on Orchid care There is little guarantee that after one day of training on orchid care will allow anyone the ability to cultivate this sometimes challenging group of orchids to thrive under anyones care. Many of you who cultivate this group of orchids know how tempermental they can be in cultivation. My fear about this is not only the sensationalism that now surrounds Ghost Orchids potentially increasing the demand for specimens which in turn could encourage illegal collecting of these plants from the wild. We have seen this effect with many other species not just orchids and a plant that most people would have thought was safe from exploitation might become threatened through the popular demand of the enthusiastic public - historically just look at the American Egret. I sincerely hope that the demand for of any ghost orchid because of their new status as an icon in popular culture does not eventually impact their survival in the wild. I work on some level with ex situ orchid conservation on a daily basis - it is not an easy prospect to work through red tape, varied conditions, and the millions of other factors that can influence conservation efforts. But to proclaim that the orchid will languish and die under their 'care' is a statement that i find a little bit of a slap in the face of people who work in botanical gardens and other conservation institiutions trying to make some difference in the preservation of orchid species worldwide. The network of Plant Rescue Centers operating in the United States is quite impressive and as a result of that thousands of plants not just orchids have been rehabilitated and placed in better care than most of the orchids that have been wild collected and purchased by inexperienced hobbyists. I have seen plants brought from the edge of death and dehydration in a few short years turn into award winning specimens and seeds from plants sown to create thousands of seedlings of a species as a result of these conservation efforts. So the assumption that the plant will only die after being placed in a botanical garden is untrue. Because the confiscation of a shipment is a legal matter - rather than have the plant placed in a box on a shelf labeled Exhibit A- it can be placed into a greenhouse where it has a fighting chance. Contrary to some peoples belief the plants that are placed in US Plant Rescue centers do not become the property of the botanical institution but remain in perpetuity the property of the US Government. I have proposed this challenge many times and I will again ask yourself - When was the last time you contributed to orchid conservation? If you cultivate rare species propagate them, volunteer your expertise at a botanical garden, promote orchid conservation when you lecture, contribute time and funds to orchid conservation organizations and the list would go on from there. It is about time that as orchid enthustiasts we give a little back to this group of plants for all the beauty and pleasure that they have brought into our lives and to increase the chance that they will be around for many generations to come. Sincerely and Respectfully, MNH Cayman Islands orchids slated for the Chelsea Flower Show in London have been impounded in the Netherlands... The Ghost Orchid and Wild Banana Orchid were to be an important part of the show... were prevented from being exhibited and auctioned because of... European regulations. ... the... flowers [plants] were impounded in the Netherlands by customs officials because of European regulations restricting the trade of rare and endangered species... An article in The Times online notes, It would have been the first time that the ghost orchid was displayed at Chelsea and it is believed it would also have been its first showing in Britain. Ben de Lisi, one of Britain's leading fashion designers, has created a dress for the show, inspired by the flower. ... Organisers of the Cayman Islands' Heritage Garden had sought special permission to take specimens for the ghost and
[OGD] Kocide
I would approach the use of Kocide with caution since many epiphytes are especially sensitive to copper compounds - especially at particular pH in solution. Latourea and other Dendrobiums are notorious for showing this and I have seen mature collections of them die quickly from this type of Phototoxicity. There was an article in a past issue of Orchids Magazine on commercial Nobile production that mentioned copper sensitivity in this genus. marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Orchids Digest, Vol 10, Issue 51
Dear ALL - It is true that there is no Greater New York Show this year But the rumor about both Rockcenter and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden are just that - rumors with no truth behind them. Marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] US and World wide orchid industry
Dear All - Can someone direct me to a resource that could provide me with information on both the US and world wide orchid industry figures on numbers of plants and values? marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Bessler Orchid
Dear Icones and others- If you look at the photo of the print on Ebay the plant illustrated has a very distinct nectar spur. Looking at the photo it appears to be Platanthera species similar to Platanthera bifolia which is found from the British Isles, across Europe, reaching the Eastern Medit. Though the synonomy is for the genus Orchis - early on it was a catch all for many different modern genera. Marc There is an auction currently on eBay for a page from a book published in 1713, featuring a drawing of Testiculus Vulpinus. The genus name is now Orchis, however testiculus I think is a later misspelling of testiculis, which is a Pliny name proposed in 56AD. It would take me more than a few minutes to research and find the current species name. ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Atlanta Bot Garden
Dear All- So does anyone know what this recent breakthrough referenced in this article at the Atlanta Botanic Garden is? Marc after intensive work growing terrestrial (ground) orchids in different fungi typically associated with the plant in the wild, Zettler's coming to the conclusion that he might have better luck not using any fungi at all. His findings seem to be consistent with a recent breakthrough in orchid growing at the Atlanta Botanical Garden ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Mystery Plant
Dear Linda- Your mystery plant looks like Gongora leucochila to me Follow the link below to a great online resource for the Stanhopeinae http://www.orchidsrepbiol.de/cgi-bin/img_db/img_display.pl?db=_vwstanhopeinaet=usr_gg1page=1genera=Gongoraspecies=allselect=cols=5size=25 Marc Hachadourian NY Botanical Garden ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Stanhopea pages
the best Stanhopea pages are Nina Rach's from texas http://stanhopea.autrevie.com/ There is also an amazing page on Coryanthes by Gunter Gerlach from the Munich Botanic Garden that is not to be missed http://www.botanik.biologie.uni-muenchen.de/botgart/e/research/gg_thema.html marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Orchids Digest, Vol 9, Issue 201
I also forgot to add the incredible pages on the Stanhopeinae from gunter gerlach - http://www.orchidsrepbiol.de/cgi-bin/img_db/img_display.pl?db=_vwstanhopeinaet=usr_gg1 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Jun 22, 2007 6:00 AM To: orchids@orchidguide.com Subject: Orchids Digest, Vol 9, Issue 201 Send Orchids mailing list submissions to orchids@orchidguide.com To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can reach the person managing the list at [EMAIL PROTECTED] When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than Re: Contents of Orchids digest... Today's Topics: 1. Re: Eulophia euglossa ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 2. less common Eulophia species ? ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 3. this rare jewel orchid / Hawaii (US) ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 4. vanilla in Iowa (US) ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 5. Stanhopea Websites (Orchids) -- Message: 1 Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 10:08:53 + (GMT) From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [OGD] Eulophia euglossa To: orchids@orchidguide.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Where can I purchase some of the less common Eulophia species? Bonaventure Magrys Cliffwood Beach, NJ USA - Original Message - -- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 05:47:03 -0700 From: Charles Baker [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [OGD] Eulophia euglossa To: orchids@orchidguide.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII In their book, African Orchids, Isobyl and Eric La Croix reported that Eulophia euglossa is widespread in Africa, growing in dense forest on sandy loam at 4000--4300 ft. (1200--1300 m). As far as cultivation is concerned, they say, From the habitat and altitude, it seems this species would appreciate intermediate conditions and more shade than most species of Eulophia. I hope this little bit of information answers at least a few of your questions. Charlie Baker -- Message: 2 Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 07:51:08 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [OGD] less common Eulophia species ? To: orchids@orchidguide.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Bonaventure [Magrys[ asked : Where can I purchase some of the less common Eulophia species? Which species do you consider less common ? Regards, Viateur -- Message: 3 Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:30:01 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [OGD] this rare jewel orchid / Hawaii (US) To: orchids@orchidguide.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed latest phase of Kilauea's eruption could possibly endanger some plant and animal species native to Hawaii. ... the area where the lava flow surfaced contains the park's 2,500 acre East Rift Rainforest. The area is protected [how ?] from invasive, non-native plants... The lava flow... threatens a number of rare plant species including... this rare jewel orchid [Anoectochilus sandvicensis]. URL : http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=6683023nav=menu55_2 *** Regards, Viateur -- Message: 4 Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:30:42 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [OGD] vanilla in Iowa (US) To: orchids@orchidguide.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed vanilla bean... looked like something you might sweep off the sidewalk on an autumn day. ... several dollars for a jar that held exactly one thin bean... that vanilla bean... adventure... in its fragrant aroma the scent of the exotic forests of Madagascar where much of the world's vanilla is grown... see past the price tag on that single vanilla bean. ... left breathless by the high price of vanilla... ... it's the second-most expensive spice on grocery shelves (following saffron). And it's worth it... [recipes with vanilla follow...] URL : http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070620/FEATURES02/706200301 *** Regards, VB -- Message: 5 Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:51:42 +1000 (AUS Eastern Standard Time) From: Orchids [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [OGD] Stanhopea Websites To: orchids@orchidguide.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Does anyone know of any good Stanhopea websites available please. Many Thanks Les -- ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Orchids Digest, Vol 9, Issue 175
Dealing with pesticides is a difficult issue since often safest and most effective are not available to the home gardener. As for boisduval scale - a strong water jet to dislodge the insects will help control large infections - removal of the insects and their bodies is imporant. even though the adults may be dead if the colonies remain there can be thousands of eggs to replace them. In severe infections the layers of boisduval are so dense that they protect many of the adults from being killed by insecticides. I use an on-off valve just barely opened to create a fine jet of water to remove the scale insects. Peeling back sheaths on Cattleyas and really working in all the nooks and joints of the leaves is important. Of course its best to do this outside the growing area. 1-2% solution of horticultural oil works best after that for good contact kill. Of course you must be careful of hort oil in high temperatures as it can smother the plants and cause them to burn as well. The best insecticide i have found for Boisduval scale is an insect growth regulator called Distance. It is trans-laminar (working through the leaf) and I have used it with phenomenal results in a very large mixed genera collection with no ill effects to the plants. I have heard that in very high concentrations and repeated applications it can cause floral deformities in developing buds. marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Den. chrysanthum
As for the Den. chrysanthum I like to grow the plant two different ways either potted in a tree fern pot or a small wooden slat/vanda basket. To establish the plant you can grow it upright until it sends out its flush of new roots as the new growth is elongating. Once established then hang the basket on its side to allow for the pendant growth of the species. While in active growth water and feed liberally and cut back slightly in the fall and winter - almost like a Den. nobile. The plant grows pretty quickly and my specimen has canes easily 7 feet long. I have seen the plant successfully grown mounted but find that unless you are able to water heavily every day the plant has better growth in something where it can get a good root system established. I am now growing many of my pendant Dendrobium species this way and am getting wonderful results with better growth and blooming than the plants when they were grown mounted on cork. sincerely marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] from seed to bloom
Dear All- It is easy to be doubtful of the flowering of these new hybrids if you take into consideration that it is not widely reported that the length of time that it takes to produce a blooming plant is greatly reduced over the old assumption that orchids take years to flower. If you look at modern production facilities in the Netherlands, The continental USA, and Hawaii the length of time that it takes for some of these hybrids to bloom is much less than the traditional 3-4 years that most of us learned from our amateur orchid references. It is now not uncommon to have some Phalaenopsis, maudiae type paphs, and yes Phragmipediums blooming in sometimes as short as 14 months from flask. This is obviously still not true of some plants like multifloral paphs (but now rather than 10-12 years they are flowering in around 3-4 years for some of the hybrids). I have seen this evidence first hand without a doubt that the proof is true and can give many examples of such. Under excellent culture I have flowered maudiae type paphs in 20 months from flask - the same plants that were grown in Hawaii and at a facility in the netherlands bloomed some two months earlier. And if you speak to Mr. Decker he will tell you that the hybrids are growing quickly and that the pure species is growing much slower - exactly what you would expect in this case. If you use just simple thought about a nursery in Hawaii that receives no seasonal change in day length, relatively no seasonal fluctuation in temperature, giving the plants the ideal amount of water and fertilizer- it essentially gives you near perfect conditions for growth - plants growing in these environments will mature at a much faster rate than on a windowsil or hobby greenhouse. If this is not true - do you really think that it would be profitable to be growing the millions of orchids that are sold each year if you had to grow them in a greenhouse for 3-4 years before they flowered and were capable of being sold? Sincerely Marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Hydrogen peroxide
Dear All The use of Hydrogen Peroxide is something that is not uncommon in modern horticultural practice. There are greenhouse operations that use injector systems to add it to irrigation and fertigation water sources to help with the prevention of bacterial and fungal diseases. There is even a product on the market at the moment called Zerotol that is a solution of highly reactive hydrogen dioxide and Peroxycetic Acid that is very effective for sterilization of surfaces and disease prevention in plants. It is very soft on the environment breaking down into water and oxygen very quickly. Zerotol is not currently available to the home owner and caution must still be used when applying it because in its undiluted form it is very caustic. Marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] INRENA web address
In the letter about INRENA sanctions the incorrect address was listed. The correct address is http://www.inrena.gob.pe/index_inicio.htm ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Neem
Dear All- I have tried Neem Oil with some mixed results. Although described as a safe insecticide there is an immediate assumption that because it's natural it is harmless. The odor of neem can be a strong irritant to some people and can especially irritate sinuses and eyes if there is prolonged exposure in a confined area. People who have problems with chemical sensitivities on their skin should take precautions as well. I have also seen people react to the oil if it has been allowed to remain on the skin for periods of time. The active chemical in Neem has been supposedly extracted and is sold in some commercial insecticides (eg. Azatin) When Azatin was used there were some plants that exhibited phytotoxicity over time. It is unsure whether it was because of it being an oil or the chemical itself. Some plants with thin leaves (Phaius, Calanthe and some Lycaste) didn't particularly enjoy it either. It was certainly something that was very noticeable in periods of higher temperatures. In my professional opinion the results were mixed for controlling mealybug and broad mites. I find that there are many other safe insecticides that are just as effective. Even something as simple as a solution of a detergent/dish soap provided similar and in some cases superior results than neem did. Marc ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
