AUGUST 2005  (Vol. 17 No.4)

THIS MONTH'S FEATURES:

FRONT COVER:

Ascda. Anant Gold ‘Wendy Queen’ HCC/AOC 2005

A recent Award from Tasmania.  Owner: B Bugg  (Photograph by Rex Johnson)

AOC Orchids of the Year 2004

It’s that time of the year again.  The regional judging panels have received the nominations for the various categories of AOC Orchids of the Year.  Here we publish the finalists in glorious colour.  We invite you to pit your wits against the judges and make your selection in the various categories.  The results will be announced at the AOC meetings to be held in October, and the results published in the December edition of Orchids Australia.  Fifteen awarded orchids are shown.

AOC  - 10 years on the Internet

AOC Webmaster, Colin Hamilton, briefly relates the history of our website since it first appeared on the Internet on 8^th August 1995, the changes in appearance, and some Awards, culminating in our Gold Medal win at the World Orchid Conference earlier this year.  To cap off an incredible journey, we managed to score 1 million hits for the year July 2004 – June 2005.  Colin also briefly explains in simple terms how a website works and that all is not what it seems.

An Orchid By Any Other Name…..

Noted photographer and species expert, Gary Yong Gee, continues his series on species orchids, this month looking at the Australian native terrestrial orchids, and some of the recent changes in taxonomy thanks to work being carried out using morphological and DNA sequence studies at the Australian National Botanical Gardens.  Gary includes 28 excellent photographs.

Book Review: Orchids in Asia, 3^rd Edition

Teoh Eng Soon has updated and greatly expanded his popular book, first published in 1980.  Colin Jennings reviews this 3^rd edition just released, and now with 367 pages.  Not just a picture book, this publication contains plenty of information as well.  Colin states “This is not just a picture book of colourful orchids although there are many to admire and appreciate”  and “This is not a botanical work, but the author has carefully used terminology which is acceptable to the beginner and the experienced grower”. Published by Marshall Cavendish.

Lou Sasso - Centenarian

A brief tribute to highly respected member of the Cumberland Orchid Circle, who reached 100 years of age in May.  The COC presented Lou with a suitably inscribed memento to add to his other ‘trophies’ including letters from the Queen, the Governor General, the State Governor and his local Federal Member of the Australian Government.  Congratulations from us too, Lou.

Chiloschista phyllorchiza (with leaf like roots)

Alan Stephenson, AOC Conservation Officer, was handed a challenge by one of our readers, Robyn Godfrey, in an enquiry received via our website.  Robyn had been on a trip to Cape York and the tour guide pointed out this orchid that was not in flower.  Alan has tracked down some substantial information to share with us and includes his own photograph of the small white flowers.

Revealing the Secret Life of Orchids

This article comes from CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, for our overseas friends) and the Centre for Plant Biodiversity.  The joint venture is located at the Australian National Botanical Gardens, and the scientists include Dr. Mark Clements and Mr David Jones.  Both are known internationally for their work on our native orchids and the revision of genera and species.  This article gives a general overview of their work and some of the secrets in the life of our orchids.

Selected Species – Miltonia moreliana

Peter Taylor is back this month with another of his intriguing tales of the discovery, history, habitat and advice on how to grow this easy-to-grow and handsome species of rich purple colour.  (It is one that grows like a weed in my area!)  It was previously known as Miltonia spectabilis var. moeliana, but now known simply as Miltonia moreliana.

New Tool for Orchid Growers – the Pocket Diagnostic

We give an insight into a new simple tool to diagnose two main orchid viruses, Cymbidium Mosaic Virus and Odontoglossum Ringspot Virus, just released into the marked.  It is so small it can be carried in a pocket.  Well illustrated with photographs of symptoms and a diagrammatic representation of the use of the Pocket Diagnostic.  It is manufactured in the UK but there is an Australian agent.

Show Winners

The results of the annual Autumn Shows are in and we publish a quantity reports with photographs of the Show winners.  See what’s winning – you might have a winner right there in your orchid house.

Spring Shows

This month we publish a huge list of upcoming Spring Shows right across Australia.  This is a valuable reference list especially for travellers.