Terrestrial Orchids 2017

[Maggi Young]

My Greek friends have published her ATLAS of the Greek Orchids:

http://www.mediterraneo.gr/Product.aspx?ProductName=ATLAS_of_the_Greek_Orchids__VOL_I___VOL_II&ProductID=238

I think it is very helpful for everybody who will travel to Greece because of orchids.

Two volumes for the price,  so not so expensive as one first thinks. 
 

[Gabriela]

It will take a while to go through all pictures taken in the Carpathian Mts. and others this summer, so I'll start with the easy part - late July and August is hardly a time for orchids except Gymnadenia conopsea, but there were two notables: my first encounter with Epipactis atrorubens - in Postavarul Massif (part of the Barsei Mts.) around 1700 m alt.





Then, Coeloglossum viride, the frog orchid (I understand some give it as a Dactilorhiza now) found at above 2000 m alt. in Bucegi Mts. Not new but I never saw it so high up and even not a showy orchid, the place where it grew and its small size gave it a particular charm
On hummocks formed by Rhododendron myrtifolius, Dryas octopetala; nearby also Pinguicula alpina, Pulsatilla Soldanella pusilla, to mention just a few.

[Yann]

great atrorubens colors, the plant has received a nice amount of sun 

[gerrit]

A promising start. Great pictures of the epipactis. Do we get more?

[Gabriela]

A promising start. Great pictures of the epipactis. Do we get more?

There will be more pictures from the mountain but not of orchids Gerrit.
The region is not particularly rich on orchids (except Gymnadenia which can grow en masse) and it was too late in the season as well. In early July if lucky, you can find some Nigritellas, Traunsteinera and few others.

[gerrit]

Please, go on, orchids or not, it will be a pleasure, definately.

[Steve Garvie]

Platanthera ciliaris -A couple of flower stems were blown over by strong winds, this one survived:

[Steve Garvie]

I have long lost the label from this plant but I think it might be Pterostylis coccinea-what do you think?

[Erwinia]

I think you're right. Certainly one of the more attractive members of the genus, and well captured.

[Anders]

The last orchid to flower in my garden is as always Spiranthes cernua. Actually, they grow in the greenhouse, those in the garden are totally leveled out by slugs by now.

Anders

[brianw]

I bought a Chadd's Ford recently after not growing it for many years. I forgot how scented it is. Guess it must be to attract some local bug somewhere.

[Jan Jeddeloh]

Patting myself on the back here but I have successfully germinated dactylorrhiza seed in vitro!  I used a closed pod technique last August and today I checked the them and found tiny little (pinhead sized or smaller) protocorms.  Closed pod technique involves sterilizing the unopened pod, opening it and sowing the seed.  This avoids having to sterilize tiny little orchid seed which is not fun.  This project wasn't a big stretch for me because a friend and I have been doing tissue culture of lilies and trilliums for a while.  Anyway I'm thrilled to see these tiny babies. 

For the media I used Malmgren Modified Terrestrial Orchid Media from Phytotek labs.  I have a simple transfer box, no fancy laminar flow hood, with a glass front to work in.  Here's the link to Malmgren's website on growing orchids from seed.  http://www.lidaforsgarden.com/Orchids/engelsk.htm

Now I'd love to get my hands on some hybrid pleione seed.  I live in the US and you can pretty much count on one hand the number of available pleione cultivars.  I see the pictures of Ian Butterfield's hybrid and start drooling.  Phytos and CITES can be such a hinderance to the proper care and feeding of my plant addiction.

Jan

[Tony Willis]

Paphiopedilum armeniacum

[Alex]

Very nice, Tony. What temps do you give it?

[Tony Willis]

Sits on an unheated bedroom windowsill. Probably about 15c in the winter