BP SPECIES NEWSLETTER MARCH 2002

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January02  February Grammatophyllum elegans
Photos in this issue. Grammatophyllum elegans above, Bulbophyllum masdevalleacum, Laelia purpurata semialba, Grammatophyllum measuresianum and Grammatophyllum multiflorum 'Alba Lutino'
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A. What's New in flask.

Phalaenopsis schilleriana, the delicate pink flowered species from the Philippines, likes a well drained media and a shady spot. A warm growing species.
Dendrobium atroviolaceum x Dend. tetragonum var giganteum. A hybrid between two different sections of Dendrobium. Yellow flowers with some red spotting, the plants need a small well drained pot or basket and a bright sunny spot.
Stanhopea candida is a warm growing species from Central America. Best grown in a basket for the pendulous flower spike, S.candida produces pure white fragile flowers, highly scented. Stanhopeas are amenable to many medias, and a media that will drain well but retain moisture is needed as the plants do not like to dry out hard.

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B. What's ready to replate NOW.

Laelia purpurata Semi Alba Grammatophyllums elegans, papuanum, speciosum and wallisii are all in vigorous growth ready for the final replate work. See Culture Grammatophyllums.
Laelia purpurata coerulea x semialba. The extremely diverse colour forms of Laelia purpurata make for a colourful collection. Two richly coloured forms will produce bright sparkling textured flowers to 15 cm across, sepals and petals from white to pale rose, the large flared labellum from red to violet. Best grown as a Cattleya, the media must be well drained and a short rest after the flowering is needed. A Brazilian species, likes intermediate conditions and plenty of sunlight.
Cattleya forbesii "pontal do sul", is another Brazilian species with pale yellow flowers, the labellum veined purple pink. A well drained media, intermediate conditions and maximum sunlight produces a plant with a many flowered spike of waxy large flowers. We recommend that you order flasks for delivery in Spring to Summer, so if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, NOW is the time to plan for Summer.

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C. What's new in Plants.

Bulbophyllum masdevalleacum Bulbophyllum masdevalleacum. A well drained media and a warm sunny spot is needed. Flowers to 8cm, yellow with red orange, in the shape of a Masdevallia, from which it gets its name of Bulbophyllum masdevalaceum. Section Cirrhopetalum. It clumps initially then spreads out so requires a large shallow container. A warm grower from Cape York Australia to New Guinea and the East Indies.
Bulbophyllum brevilabum, from New Guinea, produces a single flower on a tall erect spike. The flower is pale yellow, with redbrown markings on the labellum. The plant requires a well drained media and a shallow tray to spread out. Flowering size plants are growing well in a mix of isolite and spaghnam moss in a shallow pot.
Diplocaulobium arachnoides is a bulbous plant from New Guinea. The large spider like flowers, to 4 cm, come out white, then fade to pink. A densely clumping plant, it will develop into a large specimen in a small pot or basket using a well drained media that will stay damp but not wet. The flowers are short lived, but plants tend to flower frequently, probably after a change in temperature, to produce masses of elegant flowers. Small clumps are growing well in small baskets in spaghnam isolite mix.
Grammatophyllum measuresianum var erectum. A robust species with pseudobulbs to about 10 inches. This is a select form with the flower spike vertical, with up to 60 or so flowers each about 3 inches ( 7 cm) across. Flowering size plants are growing in a bark mix in slotted pots. TOP

D. Culture

Grammatophyllum measuresianum Var Erectum 'Burleigh Park' Grammatophyllums.
Two different plant types make up this tropical genus. One type grows into the largest orchid plant known, the other is a more modest species with pseudobulbs about the size of those of Cymbidiums or slightly larger. To understand the culture of these species, it is well to know how they grow in their native lands.
Basically plants of the wet rainforests, these species grow high in the trees, in hollows or crevises. They have a strong robust root system that produces aerial roots to form a saucer like mass under the plant. This acts as a leafmould and debris collector, thus providing a source of nourishment to the plant. When the plants are in active growth, maximum water and fertiliser is required. After the new bulbs have matured, a little less water is required, until the appearance of the new growths.
Grammatophyllums speciosum, papuanum and wallisii could be considered variable forms of the one species. These are large growing plants that produce canes up to 6 feet or more long, ( in the wild, even larger), the old canes yellow and almost pendulous. The plants require a large container or basket, will grow in almost full sun, and produce a huge flower spike with very large flowers. G. speciosum has yellow green flowers blotched red brown while G. papuanum, a somewhat smaller grower, has similar coloured flowers with finer spotting. G. wallisii has pale cream flowers with rose coloured spotting and blotching. All three will grow and reach flowering size in a 12 inch diameter container, and tend to start flowering when canes get about 4 feet high. They will grow under garden trees or in the fork of a tree provided extra growing media is placed at the roots until the root saucer forms.
Grammatophyllum multiflorum 'Alba Lutino' The other species of Grammatophyllum such as
G. elegans, scriptum, measuresianum and multiflorum (photo left) are plants with heavy robust pseudobulbs to about 10 inches or so high. These do best in a hanging basket, but will establish readily in the fork of a garden tree, and will require a little more shade for the larger broad leaves. Grammatophyllums are intolerent of wet soggy conditions, excellent drainage is a must, and require a media such as used for Cymbidiums.
Once established, the Grammatophyllums will grow into large spectacular specimens with lots of large showy flowers.

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E. Did you know ?

The CITES Secretariat has now announced that no CITES paperwork is to be accepted by signatory countries from Vietnam, Yemen or Fiji, apparently citing lack of proper internal control and organization for proper issuance in these countries. The effective date was January 14, 2002.
While flasks are CITES exempt, new or recent discoveries that have not been legally collected or exported are not exempt in flask as the seed is deemed to be from illegally collected material.
Apart from a few species, flasks are CITES exempt for international trade. Burleigh Park is fully CITES Authorised for species plants artificially propagated in the Nursery, including some Class 1 Paphiopedilum species.
Payments USA.
Because of the high Bank fees, the simplest payment method is to send US$ currency notes ( no coins) by Registered airmail letter or your USA Post Office Global Priority Mail envelope( flat rate envelope) which is hard cardboard and ideal for the purpose.

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F. Humour.

THE LOVE DRESS.
The mother-in-law stopped unexpectedly by the recently married couple's house.
She rang the doorbell and stepped into the house.
She saw her daughter-in-law standing naked by the door.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm waiting for my husband to come home from work," the daughter-in-law answered.
"But you're naked!" the mother-in-law exclaimed.
"This is my love dress," the daughter-in-law explained.
"Love dress? But you're naked!"
"My husband loves me to wear this dress! It makes him happy and it makes me happy.
I would appreciate it if you would leave because he will be home from work any minute.
The mother-in-law was tired of all this romantic talk and left.
On the way home she thought about the love dress. When she got home she undressed, showered, put on her best perfume and waited by the front door.
Finally her husband came home. He walked in and saw her standing naked by the door.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"This is my love dress, and I am waiting for you" she replied.
"Needs ironing." he said.

Texans are great people, explained a man to his friend, they welcome you to town, buy you food, all the drink you can want and even offer to put you up for the night.
Did this happen to you? asked the friend.
No said the man, but it happened to my sister.

No smoking Please. Signs in Pubs and Bars;
Please do not throw your butts into the urinal as they become wet and soggy and difficult to light.
Please do not throw your butts on the floor, the cockroaches are getting cancer.
Please do not throw your butts on the floor, they burn the knees and elbows of customers as they leave.

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G. Auctions.

Orchids Online Auctions
Use this FREE orchid auction service to sell your spare plants and orchid books or have a look at the offerings from other orchid enthusiasts on the net. This orchid auction service has categories to list species orchids and hybrids, subcategorized into plants, flasks, specimen plants and collections. You can also buy or sell orchid or plant books, place wanted ads or your own classifieds...FREE!
NOTE: Nurseries and businesses are more than welcome!

H. A special note on flasking orchids.

Due to the need for a filtered air vent on flasks to allow exchange of gasses, a reliable air filter medium is needed.
Non absorbant cotton wool allows gas exchange but does not absorb moisture. Thus the air filter will stay dry and prevent the growth of fungus thru the filter, a common problem with ordinary cotton wool which gets wet, goes mouldy and allows the mould to grow thru the filter to contaminate the flask.
Non Absorbant Cottonwool NOW AVAILABLE in 375 gram rolls, contact us NOW.

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