Re: Orchids summer\autumn 2008

[Slug Killer]

Hi Craig, sorry to say it's not in the book. Closest is Habenaria glaucifolia. Sorry I can't be of more help.



Dave

[Slug Killer]

Craig,

Chen Yi has also confirmed it is Habenaria balfouriana named in 1924 but no other info I'm afraid.

Dave

[Craig]

Cheers Dave Still looks like a book I'd like to own...not to mention another Habenaria
Thanks to Fred on the Terrestrial orchid forum http://forum.terrorchid.org/ for this link to Flora of China http://hua.huh.harvard.edu/china/mss/volume25/Orchidaceae_coauthoring.htm Habenaria balfouriana ( No.12 in the Habenaria list) is found in "Forests, shrubby grasslands; 2200--3600 m. SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan." I've been growing it on my windowsill but considering the altitude it's found at I wonder how hardy it might be... Any thoughts ?
Best Wishes,

Craig

[Craig]

 One of my favourites flowering : Pecteilis radiata. The Japanese call it  Sagi-so, which translates as Egret grass !

[Maggi Young]

One of my favourites flowering : Pecteilis radiata. The Japanese call it  Sagi-so, which translates as Egret grass !

I see where they get that name from....what a pretty thing... is it hardy, Craig?

[Craig]

"is it hardy, Craig ?"

I believe so Maggi, although I've heard it's prone to winter rots and consequently have always stored the dormant tubers in the fridge over winter (with a little moist vermiculite to avoid dessication). They're only about the size of jelly beans so they don't take up much room. One of these years I will construct a proper bog garden and give a few a try in it. When happy they make two or three extra tubers each year so by that time I should have a few to play with

[WimB]

Hello Craig,

thats a very nice orchid, where did you buy it?

[Maggi Young]

"is it hardy, Craig ?"

I believe so Maggi, although I've heard it's prone to winter rots and consequently have always stored the dormant tubers in the fridge over winter (with a little moist vermiculite to avoid dessication). They're only about the size of jelly beans so they don't take up much room. One of these years I will construct a proper bog garden and give a few a try in it. When happy they make two or three extra tubers each year so by that time I should have a few to play with

Somehow the idea of jelly bean sized orchids living in th fridge overwinter, to happily increase the next year , makes me feel happy..and hungry, of course

[Paul T]

Craig,

That Pecteilis radiata is a cutie.  Never seen an orchid quite like it.  Is it as small as it appears in the picture?  I just love terrestrial orchids, so I find new genus and species fascinating.  See so many different ones here.

[Craig]

Wim, these came from Paul Christian originally but I noticed Thompson and Morgan were also selling them this year !
Paul, these birds have a "wingspan" of about 3cm.The leaves are very grass like, around 5 or 6cm long and 5mm wide.There are some very nice variegated cultivars with different coloured leaf margins or centres too.

Best Wishes,

Craig

[Slug Killer]

Wim

Hayleys Orchids on Ebay also sell Pecteilis (Habenaria) radiata.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/hayleys-orchids

Dave

[WimB]

Hello Craig and Dave;

Paul Christian and Hayleys no longer have it in stock and Thompson and Morgan does not ship to the EU mainland so I'll have to keep on searching.

@Craig: how do you grow your Habenaria radiata: in a mixture of peat and sand or in pure sphagnum? With a lot of water or not?

Thanks

Wim

[Slug Killer]

Hi Wim

She must have sold the last today as there was an auction running.

Dave

[DavMac]

When I was leaving England a couple of weeks ago I picked up a copy of the Daily Telegraph which had the "Telegraph Garden Autumn 2008" catalogue in it. On the back page was offered "White Egret Orchids" pack of 4, GBP14.99.

On the front of the catalogue it says "Products are supplied by Van Meuwen for readers of the Daily Telegraph".

If you go to http://www.vanmeuwen.com/ there is a special offer going, one free pack per order.

David

[Maggi Young]

Thanks, David, Thomson and Morgan have a pretty good deal for 6 tubers, though.