Australian Native Terrestrial Orchids - Wagga Wagga …€¦ · · 2017-01-08Australian native...
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Australian Native Terrestrial Orchids in the Riverina region of NSW Australia has approximately 1700 species of orchids. Of the named species, 82% are terrestrials and the remaining 18% are ether epiphytes or lithophytes (5). The terrestrials fall within 115 genera and typically grow in sclerophyll open forests and swampy coastal scrub and generally do not overlap with the epiphytes. All 115 terrestrial genera are found in coastal regions but 71 of these extend into lower rainfall inland areas (5). Terrestrials also can be found further inland than most epiphytes growing in areas receiving 500mm or less rainfall in the Riverina region of NSW. The map at right shows the distribution of the Fringed Spider orchid in NSW (11). The majority of Australian terrestrial orchids are adapted to the hot dry summers and moist cool winters typical of southern Australia although they can be found growing in the tableland areas of central Queensland. Their dormancy over summer and underground storage organs, (mostly tubers) protect them from the heat and dryness of summer (5). They reshoot in autumn with the arrival of cooler moist conditions. The Australian National Botanic Garden web site (5) gives a detailed description of where terrestrial orchids are found in Australia. Note: Native orchids are protected and it is illegal to take them or any part of them from the wild. Many are regarded as endangered. Only source plants from reputable growers. Most Australian native terrestrial orchids are deciduous, growing from autumn through to spring and dying back to an underground tuber over summer (4). Australian native terrestrial orchids rely on their associated mycorrhiza to absorb nutrients. Some orchids such as Gastrodia sesamoides (Potato Orchid), Dipodium punctatum (the Spotted Hyacinth orchid), and two species of Rhizanthella lack chlorophyll and rely on the mycorrhiza to provide essential carbohydrates (8). These orchids are called saprophytic. Terrestrial orchids need their associated fungal mycorrhiza for seedlings to survive and often throughout their life cycle to prosper. They can be arranged into 3 groups depending on how they grow (9); (1) Colony formers- these reproduce by producing extra tubers each year and are the best species to start growing (2) Solitary- these seldom ever produce more than a single replacement bulb and are more difficult to grow (3) Non-photosynthetic- these orchids get their nutrients from decaying organic matter and mycorrhiza and are impossible to cultivate. Les Nesbitt prepared the following list of terrestrial orchid genera as being suitable for cultivation (3). Acianthus Corybas Eriochilus Malaxis Spathoglottis Caladenia Cryptostylis Geodorum Microtis Spiranthes Calanthe Cyrtostylis Glossodia (not easy) Phaius Thelymitra Chiloglottis Diuris Lyperanthus Pterostylis Of these, he recommends the following 10 deciduous terrestrial orchid species for growing in southern Australia. • Caladenia menziesii (Spider orchids) • Chiloglottis trapeziformis (Broad-lip bird orchid) • Corybas diemenicus (Helmet orchid) • Cyrtostylis reniformis (Mosquito orchids) • Diuris lanceolata (Donkey orchid) • Eriochilus cucullatus (Bunny Orchids) • Microtis unifolia (Mignonette orchid/common onion orchid) • Lyperanthus suaveolens (Rattle beaks) • Pterostylis curta (Common Nodding Greenhood) • Thelymitra antennifera (Sun orchid) Glossoda major Waxlip Orchid Caladenia tentaculata Green comb or Fringed spider orchid Eriochilus cucullatus Parson’s Bands orchid
Transcript of Australian Native Terrestrial Orchids - Wagga Wagga …€¦ · · 2017-01-08Australian native...
AustralianNativeTerrestrialOrchidsintheRiverinaregionofNSW
Australiahasapproximately1700speciesoforchids.Ofthenamedspecies,82%areterrestrialsandtheremaining18%areetherepiphytesorlithophytes(5).Theterrestrialsfallwithin115generaandtypicallygrowinsclerophyllopenforestsandswampycoastalscrubandgenerallydonotoverlapwiththeepiphytes.All115terrestrialgeneraarefoundincoastalregionsbut71oftheseextendintolowerrainfallinlandareas(5).Terrestrialsalsocanbefoundfurtherinlandthanmostepiphytesgrowinginareasreceiving500mmorlessrainfallintheRiverinaregionofNSW.ThemapatrightshowsthedistributionoftheFringedSpiderorchidinNSW(11).
ThemajorityofAustralianterrestrialorchidsareadaptedtothehotdrysummersandmoistcoolwinterstypicalofsouthernAustraliaalthoughtheycanbefoundgrowinginthetablelandareasofcentralQueensland.Theirdormancyoversummerandundergroundstorageorgans,(mostlytubers)protectthemfromtheheatanddrynessofsummer(5).Theyreshootinautumnwiththearrivalofcoolermoistconditions.
TheAustralianNationalBotanicGardenwebsite(5)givesadetaileddescriptionofwhereterrestrialorchidsarefoundinAustralia.
Note:Nativeorchidsareprotectedanditisillegaltotakethemoranypartofthemfromthewild.Manyareregardedasendangered.Onlysourceplantsfromreputablegrowers.
MostAustraliannativeterrestrialorchidsaredeciduous,growingfromautumnthroughtospringanddyingbacktoanundergroundtuberoversummer(4).
Australiannativeterrestrialorchidsrelyontheirassociatedmycorrhizatoabsorbnutrients.SomeorchidssuchasGastrodiasesamoides(PotatoOrchid),Dipodiumpunctatum(theSpottedHyacinthorchid),andtwospeciesofRhizanthellalackchlorophyllandrelyonthemycorrhizatoprovideessentialcarbohydrates(8).Theseorchidsarecalledsaprophytic.Terrestrialorchidsneedtheirassociatedfungalmycorrhizaforseedlingstosurviveandoftenthroughouttheirlifecycletoprosper.
Theycanbearrangedinto3groupsdependingonhowtheygrow(9);(1)Colonyformers-thesereproducebyproducingextratuberseachyearandarethebestspeciestostartgrowing(2)Solitary-theseseldomeverproducemorethanasinglereplacementbulbandaremoredifficulttogrow(3)Non-photosynthetic-theseorchidsgettheirnutrientsfromdecayingorganicmatterandmycorrhizaandareimpossibletocultivate.
LesNesbittpreparedthefollowinglistofterrestrialorchidgeneraasbeingsuitableforcultivation(3).
Acianthus Corybas Eriochilus Malaxis Spathoglottis
Caladenia Cryptostylis Geodorum Microtis Spiranthes
Calanthe Cyrtostylis Glossodia (not easy) Phaius Thelymitra
Chiloglottis Diuris Lyperanthus Pterostylis
Ofthese,herecommendsthefollowing10deciduousterrestrialorchidspeciesforgrowinginsouthernAustralia.
• Caladenia menziesii (Spider orchids) • Chiloglottis trapeziformis (Broad-lip bird orchid) • Corybas diemenicus (Helmet orchid) • Cyrtostylis reniformis (Mosquito orchids) • Diuris lanceolata (Donkey orchid) • Eriochilus cucullatus (Bunny Orchids) • Microtis unifolia (Mignonette orchid/common onion orchid) • Lyperanthus suaveolens (Rattle beaks) • Pterostylis curta (Common Nodding Greenhood) • Thelymitra antennifera (Sun orchid)
GlossodamajorWaxlipOrchid
CaladeniatentaculataGreencombor
Fringedspiderorchid
EriochiluscucullatusParson’sBandsorchid
BeginnersarerecommendedtogrowspeciesthatcolonisequicklysuchasPterostyliscurta,P.pendulata,P.nutansandP.truncata(9).Theseareallcolonyformingandmultiplywell.OtherspeciestotryincludeDiuris,Thelymitra,Acanthus,Chiloglotis,Cyrostylis,Spiranthes,CorybasandCorysanthes.ThesedowellintheCanberraenvironment(9)andsoshouldbesuitedtotheRiverinaregion.Canberragrowersreportthatmostcoastalnativeterrestrialorchidsgrowinthehot/coldCanberraenvironmentsoshouldalsogrowintheNSWRiverinaenvironment(9).
Housingandwatering
NativeterrestrialorchidsinsouthernAustraliaarebestgrowninashadehousewith50-70%shade(3)althoughsomegrowersuse90%shadecloth(9).Mostwilltoleratealightfrostdownto-2°C.Theyneedgoodairmovementandmaygetfungaldiseasesiftheairishumidandstagnant(4).
Potsshouldbekeptoffthegroundtodeterpestssuchasslugsandsnails.Theyarebestgrownunderasolidroofinsummertoprotectthemfromsummerrainifthisislikely(4).
Oncefloweringhasfinishedandleavesturnyellow,stopwateringandletthepotdry(9).Tuberswillrotiftheystaywetafterfloweringisfinished(4).
Repottingandpottingmedium
RepotplantsannuallyinDecember-Januarywhentubersaredormant(9).Asuggestedsoilmixis2partscoarsesand,1partrichloam,1partcoarsewoodchips,1partleafmould.Use10-15cmdiaplasticpotswithsufficientholesforgooddrainage(2).Anotherrecommendedmixis45%loam,50%coarsesand,and5%peatmoss(3).Othersusestraightseedraisingmixwithoutaddedfertilizer(9).Drainagemustbeverygood.Asmallamountofbloodandbonecanbeaddedtothemix(4).Typically1dessertspoonofbloodandboneperlitrepottingmix(6).Tubersshouldbeplacedabout30mmbelowthefinalsurfaceandthesurfacecoveredwithafinechoppedmulchofpineneedles.Trytouseequalquantitiesofthenewpottingmixcombinedwithlastyearspottingmixasthisensuresthemycorrhizalfungiistransferredtothenewmix(6).Upto20tuberscanbeplacedina150mmpot.Thefrequencyofrepottingvarieswiththegenus,someneedrepottingeveryyear,otherseveryseveralyears,dependingonhowquicklythemultiply.
Fertilizers
MostAustralianterrestrialorchidsgrowonlowfertilitysoils(5).Asaresultfertilizersarenotnecessarywithsufficientnutrientscomingfromdecomposingsurfacelitterandleafmouldaddedtothepottingmedium.Asmallamountoforganicfertilizersuchasbloodandbonecanbeaddedtothepottingmixwhenrepotting(seeabove)butliquidfertilizersmaykilltheplants(4).PterostylisandDiurisaremorehardyandrespondtoveryweakliquidfertilizer(3,4).MostAustralianterrestrialorchidshavedevelopedonacidsoilsbutafewarefoundonalkalinecalcareoussoils(5).
Mulching
Mulchingofterrestrialorchidsisveryimportant(1).• Itprovidesnutrientstofungiassociatedwiththeorchids• Protectstheorchidsfromdamagingrain• UseafinemulchsuchaschoppedSheoakorRadiatapineneedlesor
smalldiametermulchthatdoesnotsmothertheleaves(3).• Don’tuseamulchthatbecomessoggyasthiscancauseleafrot.• ApplymulchyearlyfromFebruarytoMarch
AcianthuscollinusInlandMosquitoOrchid
ThelymitirasppSunorchid
Pests
Snails,slugsandmealybugsaremajorpests.Mealybugswillgoundergroundandfeedonthetuberwhendormant.Tocontrolthem,whenrepottingsoakthetubersinasystemicinsecticide(9).
CareofnativeterrestrialsthroughtheyearinsouthernAustralia(2).
MostAustralianterrestrialorchidsinsouthernAustraliagrowintheautumn-winterperiodandaredormantoversummerwhichistheoppositetomostexoticandepiphyticorchids.Theircareisthereforeverydifferent.
Summer• Waterdormantplantsverylightlytopreventtubersdesiccating,perhaps
every3weeks.• DivideovercrowdedpotsinlateDecember-January• Addfreshleaflitter
Autumn• StartheavierwateringfrommidMarchanddon’tletpotsdryout,but
theymustnotbetoowet.• LeavesappearfromlateAprilonwardstomidwinter.
Winter• Flowerbudsmaycommenceappearing
Spring• FlowerspresentfromAugusttoOctober• Allowpotstoslowlydryoutandplantstodiedown
PterostylisnutansParrot’sBeakorchidor
NoddingGreenhoodorchid
CaladeniacarneaPinkfingersorchid
PterostylisfalcataSickleGreenhood
GlossodiamajorWaxliporchid
CalochilusplatychilusPurpleBeardOrchid
Photographs
AlltheimagesinthisgrowingguideweretakenoforchidsgrowinglocallyintheRiverinaregionofNSWbyDavidOrchard.Theycanbefoundathiswebsite(7)listedbelow.
DiurispardinaLeopardorchid
CaladeniafuscataDuskyfingerorchid
DiurissppDovetailorchid
ThelymitrapaucifloraSlendersunorchid
CaladeniacaeruleaBluefingersorchid
FieldGuideandonlineresources
PhotographsanddetaileddescriptionsofPterostylis(Greenhoodorchids),Diuris(Donkeyorchids)andCaladeniaspp(SpiderOrchids)canbefoundattheOznativeplantswebsite(10).
Thebook“OrchidSpeciesoftheShoalhaven”byAlanStephensonisahandyfieldguidefullofcolourphotographsthatwillassistinidentifyingmanyofthenativeterrestrialorchidspeciesfoundinsoutheasternNSW.Itisavailablefromaffine@tpg.com.au.
ThePlantNETsiteisanothergoodsourceofinformationshowingthedistributionofbothterrestrialandepiphyticnativeorchidsinNSW(11).SimilarlytheAustralianNationalBotanicGardenwebsite(5)describesthediverserangeoforchidhabitatsacrossAustralia.
Referencesandfurtherreading
Theinformationcitedinthisinformationsheetisdrawnonthereferenceslistedbelow.Pleaserefertothemwherepossibleformoredetailedinformation.
1. NativeOrchidSocietyofSouthAustralia.Orchidblog.http://nossa.org.au/tag/growing-terrestrial-orchids/
2. HowtogrowAustralianNativeTerrestrialOrchids.ANOSVIC.http://www.anosvic.org.au/ANOS_Terrestrial_Cultivation_Notes.pdf
3. AustralianNativeOrchidsbyLesNesbitt.http://anpsa.org.au/APOL19/sep00-1.html4. AustralianNativeTerrestrials.OSONSW.
http://www.orchidsocietynsw.com.au/AustralianNativeTerrestrials.htm5. IntroductiontoAustralianOrchidaceae.https://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/orchidkey/html/intro-
c.html6. Nativeterrestrialorchids-givethemagobyFrankieFraser.OSCOV.
http://www.oscov.asn.au/articles5/terrestrials.html7. BirdwatchinginWaggaWagga.https://waggabirds.wordpress.com/category/flora/8. Australianfungi.AustralianNationalHerbarium.https://www.anbg.gov.au/fungi/mycorrhiza.html9. Australianterrestrials.GrowingOrchidsinCoolClimateAustralia(secondedition).EdbyMJFraser,J
Wright,WFerris.OrchidSocietyofCanberra.(2013).10. Oznativeplants.http://www.oznativeplants.com/plant/Greenhood-Orchids.html11. PlantNET.NewSouthwalesFloraOnline.http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-
bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Caladenia~tentaculata
Updated2/12/15
Thesenotesareintendedasaguideonlyandarecomposedfromavailableinformationandlocalexperience.TheWaggaWaggaOrchidSocietyanditsmembersarenotresponsibleforanylossordamagetoplantsthatmayoccur.
DiurissulphureaTigerorHornetorchid
DistributionofTigerorchidinNSW
