Cape and Islands Orchid Society

March 8, 2020                                            CAIOS Monthly Meeting

12:30 p.m.

Virus Testing of Orchids

Bob Findlay will demonstrate virus testing of orchid plants. Members can bring 1 plant for free testing. Contact Tina if interested so enough kits are ordered.

THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING OF THE CAPE COD FAIRGROUNDS

        1220 Nathan Ellis Hwy, (Rt. 151) East Falmouth MA 02536 (White fences on North side of Hwy.)

Bulbophyllum dayanum

By Tom Sampliner

   The large genus of Bulbophyllum at 1800 species worldwide is noteworthy for having some unusually configured flowers. They have a distribution primarily in the tropics. Perhaps these two traits assure popularity among orchid growers. The particular species of this article is available to collectors. Several internet sites claim to stock them such as Orchid Web; Andy’s Orchids; Orchid Species Plus and Marni Turkel; however, though she provides some basic cultural information her stock is presently sold out.

   I encountered this charismatic species in the wild in Northern Thailand during a visit in March of 2019.

It was growing upon a large mossy boulder within an upland mixed scrub, dipterocarp and pine forest. The boulder was cracked and creviced due to weathering and liberally covered with mosses, lichens and liverworts which aid in both decomposition of the boulder, buildup of some organic debris, and retention of some moisture. Its creeping growth habit over the boulder qualifies the species as a lithophyte. March is late dry season in Northern Thailand. Watch your footing as everything is covered in a rather solid layer of dry leaves crunching under foot hiding roots, twigs, rocks and crevices.  I was able to see florets in prime bloom as I hope my pictures establish. The perimeter of each floral part (sepals and petals) are deeply fringed with long stringy yellowish-brown hairs. This and the forward projection of each of the flower parts making a hooded cavity make for an orchid one could easily associate with Halloween.

    The orchid can be found from sea level up over 4000 feet. Don’t let the height fool you because I can attest that during the dry season, the daily temperature can easily reach 40 degrees centigrade (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit). While there can be significant night time temperature drop off, freezing is never a possibility. Humidity in the dry season can be low say 40-50% but combined with the day temperatures, this is downright beastly to us Great Lakes residents. Maroon color within the flower indicate a foul odor reminiscent of carrion. This in turn indicates beetle, fly and other insect visitors.

   Acquire and grow it for a conversation piece.

American Orchid Society Judging

Northeast Judging Center - Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, MA. The meeting will take place with educational forums and discussions in the morning beginning at 10:30 on a wide range of topics related to orchid judging, then an educational program beginning around 11 AM. Plants for judging, as always, should be delivered by noon; judging will start no later than 1 PM.

American Orchid Society provides judging to New England, New York and Northern New Jersey.

The Northeast Judging Center of the American Orchid Society sponsors 2 monthly judging events at the following venues:

1) First Saturday of the month - Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston MA

2) Third Saturday of the month - Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens, Stamford, CT

On these days, each site holds educational forums and discussions in the morning beginning at 10:30 on a wide range of topics related to orchid judging. Plants being submitted for judging should arrive no later than noon that day; actual judging of plants begins after a lunch break, generally no later than 1 PM.

In addition to our monthly judging, we participate in a number of orchid shows throughout the center, providing AOS judging as well has taking part in ribbon and trophy judging at the show.

Finally, we have many knowledgeable and helpful individuals in the center who can speak on a wide variety of topics related to orchids and judging. We encourage all of the orchid societies in our region to utilize this resource.

"You can get off alcohol, drugs, women, food, and cars, but once you're hooked on orchids, you're finished.  You never get off orchids...never".

CAIOS is an officially affiliated organization of the American Orchid Society and the Orchid Digest.

March 8, 2020 

CAIOS Monthly Meeting

"Virus Testing of Orchids"

Speaker - Bob Findlay

RING ESTATE

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