Phalaenopsis bellina

 Species
Dec 012009
 

This species is a small sized, hot growing, pendant growing epiphyte from Malaysia and Borneo in shady, humid, lowland and swampy riverine forests low down on trees often near or on branches overhanging stream banks at elevations of sealevel to 200 meters with an erect to ascending, short stem completely enveloped by persistant leaf-bearing sheaths and carrying pendulous, broad, rounded, light green leaves that blooms in the summer and fall on a suberect or arcuate, 2 3/4″ [7 cm] long, racemose or paniculate, few flowered inflorescence with a flattened, fractiflex rachis and small ovate bracts and has only 2 to 3, highly fragrant flowers open at a time. The inflorescence on older plants can rebloom year after year so do not cut off green viable inflorescence.

Vanda cristata

 Species
Dec 012009
 

Vanda cristata Lindl. 1833

Distribution: Himalayas, Tibet and Assam

Contributors: Roman Maruska and Ian Walters

Vanda cristata is found at between 1200-2300 m in the Himalayas (Garhwal to Bhutan), Tibet and Assam (Khasia). Vanda cristata, aka Trudelia cristata, is an intermediate strap-leaf species of northern India, Nepal and Bhutan which has short spikes of several medium-sized greenish flowers with proportionately large elongate red-striped lips. Grow this compact plant in a small basket.

Peristeria elata

 Species
Dec 012009
 

Peristeria elata by Maurie Page

This plant has long been one of my favourites. It is a terrestrial and loves warm growing conditions. It is the national flower of Panama where it grows as a terrestrial in loamy soil and humus pockets among rocks. Cultural notes suggest that it prefers hot conditions with 30-50% light. It grows exceptionally well in North Queensland conditions with little attention to cultural niceties. The plant grows with an enormous egg shaped pseudobulb which on my mature plants have been 12 to 15 cm across and 15 to 20 cm high. The long arching single leaf is about 15 cm wide at the middle tapering at each end. The leaf has many transverse corrugations that remind you of the immature growth on palm leaves.

The flower spike can be two metres in length. The spike emerges from the base of the bulb like a new growth. The flowers are brilliant white and have a hard waxy texture. They are cup shaped and can be 5cm across. If you look through the opening of the flower the column and lip combined is shaped like a dove looking back at you and has reddish spotting. Hence a common name the Dove orchid. These flowers last from three to seven days each and flower consecutively up the spike. My plant has twenty flowers opened or in bud. This should mean a flowering period of two months.

The thing I like most about this orchid is the perfume. In the middle of the day it has a most pleasant heady aroma. It is quite spicy and appealing.

These plants like moist growing conditions. If you can’t provide the warmth it won’t flower. I have found from bitter experience the difficulties in growing in Brisbane. I grow in good quality potting mix. Slugs are particularly fond of the new tips of the large roots. For years I had a mature plant that survived without thriving. I decided to repot and found every new root had a couple of fat juicy slugs suckling on the end. I now take steps to deter the slugs. The plants are susceptible to sunburn. I grow mine under fifty percent shade.

Dr. Sandra L. Schultz Named 2009 Florida Professor of the Year

 Floridians
Dec 012009
 

Editor note: Sandy Schultz is Past President of the SFOS and an active volunteer for the society.

Sandra L. Schultz, a 30-year Miami Dade College North Campus Professor has been named the 2009 Florida Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Schultz was selected from among more than 300 top professors nominated by colleges and universities throughout the country. She was honored at a reception Wednesday night at the Folger Shakespeare Library Exhibition Hall in Washington, D.C.

Schultz is the third MDC professor to receive this top recognition, which is given jointly by the Council for Advancement and Support Education. The other winners were: In 2003, Alberto Meza, professor of fine arts at the Kendall Campus. In 2005 Ana M. Cruz, School of Business at the Wolfson Campus.

Dr. Schultz is the recipient of four Endowed Teaching Chairs, most recently the Anastasios and Maria Kyriakides Chair. “This is an incredible homor. It’s a great way to end my career,” Schultz, who plans to retire next year, said in a statement released by the college. “I have really enjoyed my years at MDC.”

Schultz began her career at MDC in 1977 as a volleyball and softball coach, and then teaching several physical education and activity courses. She also helped develop the fitness and wellness for life course, which provides instruction on how to improve health and nutrition, as well as reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Recently, she began to teach the course online to students living all over the world.

In addition to teaching, Schultz is the author of several fitness textbooks. She is chair of the North Campus Wellness Day Committee, which annually draws in more than 700 participants. The Carnegie Fundation’s Professors of the Year awards program was established in 1981 and is the only advanced-study center for teachers in the world.

The U.S. Professors of the Year awards program was established in 1981. TIAA-CREF, one of America’s leading financial services organizations and higher education’s premier retirement system, became the principal sponsor for the awards ceremony in 2000. Additional support for the program is received from a number of higher education associations.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching was founded in 1905 by Andrew Carnegie “to do all things necessary to encourage, uphold and dignify the profession of teaching.” The foundation is the only advanced-study center for teachers in the world and the third-oldest foundation in the nation. Its nonprofit research activities are conducted by a small group of distinguished scholars.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is the largest international association of education institutions, serving nearly 3,400 universities, colleges, schools, and related organizations in 59 countries. CASE is the leading resource for professional development, information, and standards in the fields of educational fundraising, communications, marketing and alumni relations.