Volume 12 No.5 October 2000

CONTENTS

FRONT COVER: : Cymbidium Cricket 'The Don' introduces Peter Chile's article entitled "The Perfect Cymbidium" in which he reflects on 100 years of hybridizing in this genus.

Selected Species - Zygopetalum maxillare. - Peter Taylor's regular page on species brings us this very striking orchid, with a superb photograph by James Indsto. The flower is somewhat different to the more common of the genus. As usual Peter delves into the history of the species as well as its cultivation.

AOC Orchid of the Year 1999 Nominations. - Australian Orchid Council judging panels across the country are called upon to submit nominations early each year for the Orchid Hybrid, Orchid Species and the Award of Distinction of the Year from those awarded in the previous calendar year. There is then a process of selection which results in the judges voting for their pick in each category. The results are announced at the AOC's Annual General Meeting. Here we present the finalists with seven pages of the top orchids of 1999. Results will be published in the December issue.

Our Favourite Orchids. - Chris and Phyl Nicholas have grown orchids in Tasmania for many years. Here they present a collection of their favourites. Chris is also an excellent photographer and shows his skills in the five illustrations that accompany the text.

Colourful Allure of Fiji. - Gary Yong Gee is well known for his superb orchid photography and travels extensively. Gary takes us with him on a visit to Fiji and introduces us to the orchid species that inhabit the island group. Nine photographs illustrate the article.

Mexipedium xerophyticum. - Rita Cusack and Clive Hayman thought all their Christmases had come at once when they finally got hold of a plant of this rare species, but when they flowered it as well they decided to share their joy with our readers. This species was only found in Mexico in 1985 and was Phragmipedium xerophyticum.

Book Review - Orchids of South Africa. - Ruth Rudkin reviews this recently released book by Linder and Kurzweil. It is 600 pages and contains 500 colour photographs. Published by Balkema Publishers, Rotterdam.

AOC Slide Library. - The AOC Slide Library has been enhanced considerably with the addition of a number of programs on AOC Awards. All is explained on how these may be obtained and the conditions which apply. Illustrated is a group of seven Paphiopedilum orchids from Program No. 143.

Innovative and Low Cost Ideas. - Jim Quinlan of Mackay shares some of these novel ideas he discovered on a recent trip north.

Tasmania's Dainty Epiphyte - Sarcochilus australis (Gunn's orchid) - Ron Kerr makes a welcome return to our author's listing with a story of this not so well known orchid from our southern island state.

Colour behavious of Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii 'Lorraine' - W.D. Morris delves into the famous almost pure red clone of this Australian species and investigates the inter-relationship between the anthocyanin pathway and the growth pathways for an explanation.

Plus… - All the regular features of what's winning at Shows around the country, Cultural Notes for various parts of Australia, and our list of upcoming International orchid events through to 2005. There is also a surprise for some lucky Australian subscriber - Orchids Australia free for one year, provided it is claimed in 14 days.

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