Contents of latest Issue

Thelymitra ixiodes

(Front cover) This striking terrestrial species is to be found among the Orchids of Tasmania.  Christine Howells continues with her second part of her continuing series of the orchids of our island state.  Colour photographs of 16 species accompany this installment.

2005 World Orchid Conference changes to Dijon

The 18th World Orchid Conference in 2005 was originally awarded to the city of Paris.  The World Orchid Conference Trust recently agreed to a proposal to change the host city to Dijon, in the Burgundy region of France.  The announcement included the dates of 11 to 20 March, and that it would be held in conjunction with Florissimo, one of Europe's largest flower exhibitions.

AOC Awarded Chinese Paphiopedilums  

The Australian Orchid Council's Registrar General of Judging, Colin Jennings, writes about this group of Paphs. which caused great excitement when first exhibited in Tokyo in 1987.  Since then these fascinating, unusual orchids has made their way to all corners of the globe.  Here in Australia, the AOC have since granted awards to Paph. micranthum (32), Paph. armeniacum (16), Paph. malipoense (8), and Paph. emersonii (2).  Four of the species and eight of their hybrids illustrate this in depth article.

Selected Species - Paph. bellatulum

Our regular contributor, Peter Taylor, this month provides an extended report on this strange but beautiful Paph. species.  In his usual style, Peter delves into the history and mystique surrounding the discovery near Lake Inle, Burma, and described for the first time in 1888 by Reichenbach, as well as its habitat, and Peter's experience in growing it.  A superb spotted form, grown and photographed by James Indsto, and the alba form grown by Peter and photographed by David Banks, illustrate this great read.

Weather creates challenge for Award Winner

The climatic challenges created by nature in Port Pirie, with its hot summers and frosty winter mornings, has not hindered orchid grower Bruce Mules.  Last year Bruce received an Ira Butler Silver Trophy for his show winning plant of Den. Elegant Heart 'Corella', as well as a Bill Murdoch Certificate for his Den. speciosum var. grandiflorum.  The awards were published in the February 2001 edition of Orchids Australia.  The awards were recently presented to Bruce at a meeting of the Northern and Eastern Districts Orchid Society in South Australia. 

Do You Bonsai Your Cymbidiums?

So asks Peter Chiles, our Publications Director, and Cymbidium grower.  Peter refutes the old adage never overpot an orchid, and finds that some commercial orchid interests are now potting their mericlones out into the size pot that the plant is expected to be grown in right through to flowering size.  If you are still using small pots, you may be restricting the growth of your cyms.

Paphiopedilum helenae Aver

This new and relatively new species (only discovered in 1995) was shown to the members of the South Australian Regional Judging Panel in April 2000, gaining a Certificate of Botanical Merit. In April 2001 the plant was presented again and received a HCC/AOC award.  AOC's Registrar General, Colin Jennings, gives a brief account of the short history of this species and the two awards for its owners, Ron and Irene Parish.

Clinging to Life

Dr. Bob Longmore provides a short, amusing and interesting piece on his experience in using old orchid potting mix as a mulch on a no-dig potato patch.  And the results?  You'll have to read that for  yourself.

Cymbidium Dean Roesler 'Jaffa' and My Friend Dr. Miles Seton

Cymbidium grower Dean Roesler reminisces on the life, times and Cymbidium hybridizing of Dr. Miles Seton.  In particular these hybrids were developed from our native species Cym. suave. Up to May 2001, some 20 hybrids using this species had been registered, with 11 of them being from Dr. Seton.  There are some beautiful hybrids shown in the article with particularly colourful and very different markings on the labellum.  Dr. Seton was taken from his developmental work on 1st August 1996.

Book Reviews

Gary Yong Gee gives his review of Jim Cootes' new book The Orchids of the Philippines, and Colin Hamilton takes a look at the controversial Orchid Fever by Eric Hansen, which has just been released in paperback edition in Australia. 

Tissue Culture - Recipes for Success

In this issue Kevin Western, of Western Orchids/Laboratories, South Australia, begins a series of articles on tissue culture of orchids.  This is an area which is little understood by orchid growers, so with Kevin's help we hope to provide an educational insight into this process which revolutionised the orchid world in the early 1960's.

RHS Orchid Hybrid Registrations

As usual we have the very latest list of orchid hybrid registrations, hot off the press.  Orchids Australia continues to provide these to orchid growers well in advance of many other orchid publications.  In face we are the first to reproduce the list after publication by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Plus… - All the regular features of Computer Corner,  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.