IROM ELIAD v3.1! 312; Society of New Zealand Inc. ' k BROMELIAD SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND (INC). Affiliated with the Bromeliad Society International. The Society was officially formed on the 28th. August, 1962. The objects of the society are to encourage the cultivation and study of bromeliads grown indoors or outdoors and in particular - (a) To promote discussion and arrange instruction on cultivation, propagation and control of diseases. (b) To provide a library for members. (c) To assist members to identify plants. (d) To make awards for outstanding new bromeliads. (e) To hold shows or public exhibitions. (f) To promote the distribution of bromeliads amongst members by exchange, purchase and sale, and to encourage the importation of new plants. (9) To affiliate with any Society or other body, and to do such things as may be deemed necessary or desirable in the furtherance of these objects. (h) To accept affiliation from other Societies having similar objects. MEETINGS Held on the FOURTH Tuesday of each month except December, at Greyfriars Church Hall, 544 Mt. Eden Road, Auckland at 7:30pm. MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS New Zealand NZ$20.00 Ordinary , NZ$ 5.00 Associate (same household) Overseas A$30.00 Australia US$20.00 United States and other overseas Send all payments to the Treasurer, Peter Waters, 22 Halfmoon Rise, Bucklands Beach, AUCKLAND. CORRESPONDENCE All general correspondence should be sent to the Secretary, Bromeliad Society of New Zealand, 33 Marsden Avenue, Mt. Eden, AUCKLAND. 4. OFFICERS PATRON & LIFE MEMBER Mrs. Bea Hanson (09)527-6830 HISTORIAN & LIFE MEMBER Laurie Dephoff (09)527-7789 PRESIDENT Graham West (09)298—3479 VICE-PRESIDENTS Lester Ching (09)576-4595 Marjorie Lowe (09)376-6874 SECRETARY Dave Anderson (09)638-8671 TREASURER Peter Waters (09)534-5616 EDITOR Marjorie Lowe (09)376-6874 LIBRARIAN Des Yeates (09)838-6535 COMMITTEE Owen Bird (07)576—2766 Bev Ching (09)576-4595 Brian Dawson (09)837-4598 Wilma Fitzgibbons (09)624-6469 Murray Math ieson (09)418—0366 Chris Paterson (09)625-6007 Noelene Ritson (09)625-8114 AUDITOR Colin Gosse LIFE MEMBERS Harry Martin Patricia Perratt Patricia Sweeney SCIENTIFIC OFFICER Peter Waters CULTIVAR REGISTRAR Gerry Stansfield JOURNAL Please send articles, photographs and advertisements to the Editor, PO. Box 91-728, AUCKLAND. Phone/ Fax (09) 376-6874. Deadline for copy is the FIRST Tuesday of each month. ADVERTISING RATES One third page (12 — 13 lines) $10.00 FRONT COVER Aechmea retusa x chantinii A tall, upright plant about 800m high with inflorescence from within, to well above the top of the leaves. The leaves are light green on top and silver-grey on the underside with brown banding — very stiff and sharply spined. As the inflorescence ages, it gets larger with the branches extending horizontally 15-200m, which makes a very large and impressive show. The completion of the small white flowers lasts 8-10 weeks. A glasshouse subject, this plant requires very warm conditions and bright light where it is fast growing. Text, photographed and grown by Graham Alderson BACK COVER Top: The celadon green of the wall makes a lovely background for the (mostly) grey, silver and grey-green tillandsias shown in Anne Connolly’s garden in Otumoetai, Tauranga. Bottom: A view of the planting in front of the ponga fence with live treeferns supporting Vn'esea vegans, Tillandsia usneoides and pink Aechmea pine/iana. Below are various vrieseas, including Vriesea platynema (with flower spike) and some large Vriesea hieroglyphica. Photos: Anne Connolly 2 ¥ Printed by Balmoral Office Systems Ph (09)631—5693 Fax (09)623-7440 23 Aechmea — bracteata, coelestis v. coelestis, coelestis (from albomarginata), lueddemanniana (from medio-picta), mexicana, nudicaulis v. cuspidata, recurvata spectabilis, williamsii Billbergia - decora, vittata, zebrina Dyckia - altissima, brevifolia, platyphylla, rariflora, remotiflora var. montevidensis Edmundoa — lindenii v. rosea Fosterella - penduliflora Guzmania - Iingulata v. Iingulata Neoregelia - pascoaliana Nidularium — amazonicum Pitcairnia — flammea var. roezlii Puya — coerulea v. violacea, grafii, mirabilis, venusta Racinaea - fraseri Tillandsia — bartramii, belloensis, balbisiana, capillaris, fasciculata, gardneri, hotteana, juncea (large form), Iimbata, myosura, paucifolia, plagiotropica, polystachia, pseudobaileyi, pohliana, schiedeana (small form), stricta (green leaf), tricolor, viridiflora Ursulaea — macvaughii (ten seeds while stocks last). Vriesea - Corralina, fosteriana (rubra), hieroglyphica, platynema, schwackeana ' Werauhia - gigantea New seed received from Ken Woods but stocks of some seed are running low, especially tillandsias. More Is needed so see what you can find to send us. . The seedbank will exchange two packets of 20 seeds for one (1) large packet of your seed. Make sure it is labelled correctly. Please send in a large stamped envelope. Packets (of at least 20 seeds) are 50 cents. Limited to one packet of seed per kind per address. ORDERS: with large, stamped, addressed envelope and spare seed to: Gerry Stansfield, 7 Noall Street, Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland. Telephone (09) 834-7178 22 CONTENTS From the President Graham West 5,6 June meeting news Dave Anderson 6 New members 7-11 Neoregelia carolinae and carolinae f. tricolor and their cultivars Gerry Stansfield 10,11 Tillandsia capitata 12,13 The first patented bromeliad in America Racine Foster 14,15 Bromeliads are the stars Murray Mathieson 17 Winter drawers on ? Laurie Dephoff 18 Bay of Plenty Bromeliad Group Kevin Schollum 19,20 An experiment in Mother Nature's laboratory Nina Rehak 20 Winter cheer Marjorie Lowe 21 Eastern Bay of Plenty Group Christine Borlase 22 Seedbank Gerry Stansfield 23 Officers, journal and advertising COMING EVENTS JULY . 22"d Eastern Bay of Plenty Bromeliad & Orchid Group. Meet at Shirley Lichfield's at Te Puke at 9am (with lunch) for visit to the Tauranga Group. 24th Auckland meeting, Greyfriars Hall at 7: 30pm. Slides: Peter Waters — taken at Graham & Judith Alderson’ 3. Brian Dawson — taken at Huntington Gardens, USA. Monthly plant competition: Guzmanias AUGUST 7th Deadline for copy for the August Journal. 8'h Bay of Plenty Bromeliad Group — Annual General Meeting. Please bring finger food for afternoon tea. 28th Auckland meeting, Greyfriars Hall at 7:30pm Talk: Bromeliads and cold. Mini-talk: Differentiating the genera. Monthly plant competition: Billbergias SEPTEMBER 4th Deadline for copy for the September Journal. 25th Auckland meeting, Greyfriars Hall at 7:30pm. Talk: Importing plants Mini-talk: Differentiating the genera. FROM THE PRESIDENT As I said in my June report, this is the coldest winter- we have had for some years. There is no growth in the garden at all as the ground is so cold and wet. At our last meeting, 104 members and visitors braved the elements. I thought it was a very interesting evening and we finished nice and early which was good. It was very pleasing to read in last month’s Journal that the Tauranga club joined forces with the Whakatane group and had a day together. 61 attended. I also noted that 40 of those people were from Whakatane. Congratulations, as this group was only formed a few months ago. These exchanges must be of benefit to all attending with their interaction of ideas. Last month’s plant sales were well down from previous months — it could be due to the weather. if you can, please bring plants along to sell. With the attendance averaging over 100 for the last few months, the demand is there for them. The silent auction was considerably better last month. Please note that quality plants will sell well, so if you can spare any, try that table. . The 2003 Conference preparations are starting to gain momentum. Lester will bring you up to date, as he will be taking the Chair for the next meeting. Graham (Graham West lives in wintry Papakura) JUNE JOURNAL Last month’s Journal was late arriving because the editor was ill. The telephone calls received were, without exception, all complaints. Erratum: In the article on page 15 by Graham Alderson on Aechmea biflora, the inflorescence was described as “approximately 100m in diameter, protrudes 60cm”...Wow! Now that is something! It should have been 60mm but we can all hope. Editor 4 EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY BROMELIAD AND ORCHID GROUP The June meeting was held at the home of Alison Jarrett, 42 Victoria Street Whakatane. Sue Laurent welcomed all members, existing and new. As usual, there was a good turnout, despite the dubious weather. Sue informed us of the arrangements so far for the next meeting, which will be our trip to the Tauranga group. These arrangements will be confirmed in writing before the date. The meeting is to be on the 22nd July, meeting at Shirley Lichfield’s, Te Puke at 9am and then on to lsabel Clotworthy, Gladys Fisher, Anne Connolly and Johanna Elder. The early start is needed with five gardens to visit. We will be taking our lunch. Christine Borlase suggested that perhaps some of our members could be on an e-mail address list to save postage. We will follow this up later. Trevor Signal displayed various orchids and Sue Laurent bromeliads — including Neoregelia Happy Thoughts, grown in full sun and has not been hurt by the frost so far. Sue was asked the names of several potted plants growing around the terrace and Alison was brought fon/vard to give us some growing tips. Her Vriesea hieroglyphica was much admired and illustrated what a good plant could be obtained in just a few years with attention to feeding. The raffle was drawn and four lucky people are a plant richer. Afternoon tea was followed by a wander around the unusual garden, almost subtropical in feel, with the bromeliads sheltered beneath palms, bananas, cordylines and several other trees not normally found in this area. Until they are more mature, Alison said that she has to protect them from frost. The afternoon was concluded with sales table purchases, and Eureka! for once I got the one I wanted (I guess we all feel like that). Christine Borlase 21 convincingly demonstrated by the original inventor of fertiliser. My previous belief that bromeliads growing outside as garden plants do not need additional food has been proven wrong. The plants, if left to fend for themselves, will grow, flower and reproduce but “Mother Nature” cannot distribute available resources evenly and a little human help will not go astray. I suppose the kookaburra, in its own way, was thanking us for the tasty meals provided on demand. However, in practical terms this is not a very efficient way to fertilise plants. The bird (or birds) was consuming about 100 grams of meat a day. Its preference was for beef or lamb. Multiply this by a time factor of 3-4 months...well, education, in my opinion, is worth something! By the way, my oft asked question “Are you the only kookaburra we are feeding" was answered with a long, intensely concentrated look into my eyes, probably meaning “Work it out for yourself, I’ve done my bit”. Reprinted from the Bromeliad Newsletter Volume 15 Number 1 — the Bromeliad Society of New South Wales. WINTER CHEER Everyone seems to be complaining about how cold this winter is. But many days have been sunny and, outdoors in the sun, it has felt quite warm (maximums of 14-16°C, even an 18°C in mid June - like a Dublin summer). Brightening dull days is that reliable winter bloomer, Canistropsis billbergibides (orange form). Now a good-sized clump with five flowerspikes, it starts in autumn and stays in colour until spring. Aechmea weilbachii, another winter bloomer, becomes brighter in colour (red stem & bracts with bright purple sepals and lilac flowers), as the days grow longer. Vriesea carinata spikes are showing red and yellow/green but become more colourful as spring approaches. Aechmea recurvata v. benrathii has bright pink flowers & red leaves. Flowering is over, but the colourful bracts of Aechmea fasciata (bright pink), Tillandsia guatemalensis (bright red including the stems), Nidularium fulgens (very hardy with red or orange centres), Nid. innocentii (still a very bright orange/red), a Nid. cultivar that has been a luscious pink for months and the striking yellow seedheads on the variegated Aechmea caudata brighten up the garden. And these are only a few of the many! ‘ ' Marjorie Lowe: from frost free and sunny Freemans Bay 20 JUNE MEETING NEWS Another large number of members attended the meeting and once again the hall was almost filled to capacity. The trading table was not very well stocked but this can happen at this time of the year. However, members were treated to a very informative talk on Neoregelia carolinae and its cultivars by Gerry Stansfield. First up in the Show & Tell was an Aechmea Royal Wine. The plant had been bought at a nursery in Auckland, labelled only as an Aechmea species. It was identified by its discolor leaves (green with maroon underneath) and the inflorescence. Next was an Aechmea gamosepala with a faint but stable variegation to its light green leaves. Other members had had similar plants with stripes in the leaves. As an aside, this species is differentiated from Aechmea cylindrata by having a glabrous (shiny) inflorescence whereas Ae. cylindrata has a lepidote (fuzzy) inflorescence. (See page 17, February 2001 issue for photograph and more information). Erik Wetting had brought in a Vriesea corcovadensis for ' identification. This plant has been in New Zealand for many, many years. A comparison with the botanical description concluded that it is a very close match with the species. A second pup that Erik had was a Neoregelia ampullacea cross, possibly ‘Tigrina' or something similar. Win Shorrock had brought in an Aechmea orlandiana clump to show what can happen when you are away and a frost attacks the plant. What had been a lovely coloured clump had had its leaves turn brown. Hopefully the parent plants will shoot some more pups. Lester Ching had a Neoregelia carolinae with grass pups. Gerry Stansfield remarked that this can occur with mericloned (tissue cultured) plants which this one was. Peter Waters had brought in a plant that had markings similar to Aechmea fosteriana, with very dark bands, that was Hohenbergia disjuncta and a very attractive plant it was. A Neoregelia concentrica with a red centre was brought in for identification. It appeared to be the plant known as Red Concentrica. A similar plant was sent to Harry Luther for confirmation that it was indeed a form of Neoregelia concentrica. Finally, an Aechmea fasciata ‘Kiwi' with its distinctive red stripes wanted a name. The special raffle prize this month was won by Betty Beadle. The 2003 Conference prize (donated by Joe Murray) was won by Barbara Murray. The door prizes went to Maureen Fifield, Louise Howarth and Louise Joyce. COMPETITIONS Open flowering: 1St Peter Waters (Guzmania squarrosa) and 2"d Len Trotman (Vriesea elata). Also in the competition were Aechmeas fasciata and fulgo ramosa, Billbergia Hawaiian Sunset, Neoregelias Chirripo and cruenta x concentrica (Head). Open foliage: 1St Peter Waters (Neophytum Galactic Warrior and 2nd Len Trotman (Neoregelia Scarlet Charlotte). In the competition were Androlepis skinneri, Neoregelias Crimson Glory and Cherry Smash, Aechmea fasciata ‘Kiwi’, Vrieseas Peru x Red Chestnut, fosteriana (Rubra) and hieroglyphica, and Edmundoa lindenii roseum. Tillandsia: 15‘ Peter Waters (T. stricta — out in flower with six heads) and 2'"d Win Shorrock (also T. stricta but with five heads). There were also on the table kirchhoffiana, hondurensis, brachycau/os ‘Select’, straminea and gardneri with twin spikes. Plant of the month — Nidularium & Canistropsis: 1St Bev Ching (Nidularium procerum and 2nd Len Trotman (Nid. innocentii Nana). In the competition were Nid.’s atalaiaensis, scheremetiewii and RaRu and Canistropsis billbergioides. Novice flowering: 1St Sandra Moselen (Guzmania Orangeade) and 2nd Betty Goss (Billbergia vittata). Novice foliage: 1St David Goss (Vriesea lntermedia), and 2"d Lani Yates (Neoregelia Morris Henry Hobbs). Best plant of the month: Len Trotman (Neoregelia Scarlet Charlotte) My apologies to Allan Thomson who has been placed first and second in the last two months Novice competion and | incorrectly misplaced his name. Congratulations to all the winners. . Dave Anderson NEW MEMBERS Cliffe, Mike, 197 Carter Road, Oratia, Ak. Gray, G & V, Box 54-177, Bucklands Beach, Ak. Hinchco, Margaret, 19'Almond Grove, Greenhithe, Ak. Rosie, Liz, 17 Fairview Road, Mt. Eden, Ak. The opinions expressed in letters or articles in this magazine are the authors’ own views and do not necessarily express the policy of the Bromeliad Society of New Zealand. 6 AN EXPERIMENT IN MOTHER NATURE’S LABORATORY Nina Rehak New South Wales During our winter, a kookaburra would spend long hours perched on a tree branch outside our kitchen window waiting for someone to appear in the kitchen. Then, obviously agitated, it would move from side to side stretching its neck following our movements, sometimes even flying into the glass to make sure its presence was noticed. Out would come the meat, the window would be opened and the bird would settle on the windowsill to be served. When it had eaten its fill, it would retreat to the same branch to rest. Since that procedure was repeated several times daily, the plants underneath were getting rather heavily discoloured. Could it be possible that one bird was responsible for that much natural fertilisation, or was some sort of co-ordinated cheating taking place? The following incident deepened the mystery. While being fed, “our bird” was dive-bombed by another of its kind. Their beaks looked as they began tearing at each other, and they fell inside onto the kitchen floor, furiously rolling around under my feet. Frightened to move in case I should step on them, I remained standing still not knowing how to referee the fight. Then in an unexpected fit of bravery, I picked up the feathery ball and quickly returned it to the windowsill. That ended the fight and both of them departed in a hurry. Next day one bird returned, nervous and very hungry, and all was back to normal. With the early arrival of spring the kookaburra started to miss a day or two and then was gone altogether, probably rejoining its tribe to help the family bring up the next generation. Result: The rains have washed clean all traces of the bird’s (whether singular or plural) presence and the patch of nidulariums under the bird’s branch has turned dark green and glossy in sharp contrast to the rest of the plants around them. A closer look revealed something quite unexpected. Where the birds had “scored a hit” on only the outer leaves, they had not shared their good fortune with the rest of the plant. Those sections of the leaf were greener and glossier. Conclusion: Here we have foliar feeding of bromeliads very 19 BAY OF PLENTY BROMELIAD GROUP On Wednesday, June 20‘“, our garden visits came to a close for winter. About twenty-five of us went first to Anne Connolly's garden which has an abundance of bromeliads gathered over the last eight years, all looking good in their respective beds (see photos on the back cover). On from there to Gladys Fisher where we ate lunch and wandered around her beautifully set out garden. Actually, I don't think she has room for any more! Then to Lorna Grey’s place where we saw different houses (built by Lorna) with bromeliads showing up at regular intervals. She also grows orchids. The July 11th meeting was held with a good attendance. We have been invited by the Tauranga Orchid Society to stage a bromeliad display and sales area at their show on September 14th 15th 16“1 Also in September, we are pleased to announce that Peter Waters is to speak to us on the 12‘“. Please bring something for a Potluck lunch at 11:45am. July plant of the month was any seedling bought at the meetings. It brought fonNard plenty of interest. It does seem as if seedlings pup far more quickly than offsets do. Plant of the month — August...Aechmea September...Billbergia The Show & Tell table had many plants, amongst them were Vrieseas bleheri, hieroglyphica and p/atynema, Tillandsias orogenes and viridiflora, and Aechmea Little Harv. Competition plants were numerous, among them being: 1“ lsabel Clotworthy (Tillandsia cyanea ‘Anita) 2nd Bertha Schollum (Neoregelia Sweetheart and 3rd Johanna Elder (Aechmea Black Jack) Raffles: 1St Grace Christie (Billbergia Vesuvius) 2'1d Fred Wright (Tillandsia Iindenil). The next meeting is our Annual General Meeting. Please bring finger food for afternoon tea. Kevin Schollum 18 NEOREGELIA , CAROLINAE AND CAROLINAE FORMA TRICOLOR 8: THEIR CULTIVARS Gerry Stansfield June talk In the bromeliad world as we know it today, Neoregelia carolinae and Neoregelia carolinae f. tricolor could be considered Regal plants. When I say bromeliad world, I mean all those people who are very much connected with the culture and the promoting of bromeliads — botanists, curators, hybridists, collectors and all the way down to you and me. The term ‘Regal’ has been loosely suggested to represent their contribution as parent plants. Mulford Foster and a number of others have considered them outstanding parents. ’ So let us take a look at what has been achieved with Neoregelia carolinae and f. tricolor. If we look at the BSI Cultivar‘ Registry, we can see that there are. more than 100 cultivars attributed to these two plants and we must accept that there are probably just as many (or more) that have not been registered. That is more than any other bromeliad that we know — many times more than Neoregelia concentrica. A cultivar may be created in two different ways. A shoot or pup that develops from the parent plant but is in some way different from the parent is called a sport. If that new plant grows on to become consistent through second and third generations, it can be given a name and become a cultivar. So a sport can become a cultivar, but a cultivar is not necessarily a sport as the term cultivar also refers to individual plants, selected from seed batches, that are thought worthy of consideration as a new plant. The term grex refers to all the seedling plants resulting from a hybrid cross. If one includes hybrids then the numbers rise into the thousands. The most unusual thing about these two plants is that, even today, cultivars and hybrids are still being produced from them. Neoregelia carolinae: This plant was discovered by the Austrian botanist, Georg Beer, in 1856. (It grows as a terrestrial in the state of Rio de Janeiro at Teresopolis, Brazil from sea level to 1200metres). Beer was the Director of the Berlin Botanical Gardens, with a great love of bromeliads, and he named the plant after Caroline Morren, the wife of his good friend and colleague, Professor Edouard Morren. At the time, 7 Morren was the Director of the Botanical Gardens at Liége, Belgium, which had the largest collection of bromeliads in the world. “Beer called the plant Bromelia carolinae. Subsequent botanists changed it to Billbergia, Guzmania, Nidularium (Lemaire 1889), Karatas, ‘Regelia then Aregelia (Carl Mez 1934 after the German botanist Carl von Regel). It wasn’t until 1939 that Dr. Lyman B. Smith (Curator of the Smithsonian Institute) changed the name to Neoregelia to clarify any confusion with plants of an entirely different group, as there were a number credited to von Regel's name. There are a number of forms of Neo. carolinae. The most well known form has leaves approximately 4cm wide, a brilliant cerise centre and the inflorescence and leaves are more rounded, forming a nice rosette. This is one of the strong genes in carolinae, along with its shiny leaves, making it such a good subject for hybridising. Another has more pointed leaves and inflorescence and a somewhat darker red centre. Then there are the narrow leaf types that pup all the year round from all over the plant. There is also a cherry-red form which Avon Ryan has hybridised. CULTIVARS Meyendorffii — a smallish form but very lovely, with cherry-red all over even before flowering. Princeps - the inflorescence at flowering is a vibrant, intense amethyst or deep violet Marechalii - a large plant (and one of my favourites) with very much wider leaves — not glossy — with an outstanding, brilliant red centre inflorescence. Orange Glow - needs very high light to bring out the orange in the foliage, with just a hint of red tips. Cherry Red — similar to Meyendorffii but the whole top of the plant colours up as well as the inflorescence at flowering. Neoregelia carolinae forma tricolor My research into this plant was both intriguing and somewhat amazing. After contacting Harry Luther at the Marie Selby Gardens and the Foster Identification Centre in Florida, no one could tell me just who grew the first sport of this plant. However, it is thought that a number of seed raising growers such as Mulford B. Foster (USA), Marcel Lecoufle (France) and Walter Richter (Germany) among others, produced a variegated sport from seed and that all of these were the beginnings of the plant we know today. 8 LOOKING BACK August 1989 Winter drawers on? Laurie Dephoff This winter in Auckland has been quite a bit colder than I can remember for some years and after a series of six or seven frosts, some of the bromeliads in the garden are showing the effects of the low temperatures. The days have been sunny and cool with no rain, so the plants have not suffered from damp and cold at the same time. Worst hit and now completely brown (or white) are: Aechmea fasciata Billbergia pyramidalis Billbergia pyramidalis striata Neoregelia magnifica x Painted Lady Neoregelias (2) — unnamed with reddish leaves Vriesea schwackeana Those with about 75% damage are: Aechmea weilbachii Neoregelia concentrica ‘Plutonis' Pitcairnia heterophylla Quesnelia arvensis (on a 900m stump has the outer leaves burnt) Vriesea fosteriana (has frosted patches on the leaves) ‘ ' What is surprising is the fact that seemingly tender plants, growing with the above, appear to be undamaged: Billbergia Santa Barbara Neoregelia carolinae forma tricolor Nidularium fulgens Even the glasshouse did not escape. For two years now, I have not used the kerosene heater on frosty nights. On several of these last cold nights, the temperature has been down to 0°C and several bromeliads are showing a bit of damage. They had not been watered much for several weeks. Aechmea fulgens discolor (variegata) is not looking very well 'and Billbergia Fantasia has its usual brown patches. The lower leaves of Racinaea fraseri at ground level, look frosted and Tillandsia rothii has brown spots, which could be caused by cold. As the frosts were widespread, other members may be able to report on damaged (or undamaged) bromeliads. fi- Sounds just like this winter is turning out to be — follow Laurie’s advice and report any damage (or undamage) to the editor, for the information and future benefit of members. 17 EXOTICA ' TROPICAL DISPLAY GARDENS NEW ZEALANDS LARGEST BROMELIAD NURSERY $5.00 plants in flower now! Aechmea apocalyptica Aechmea apocalyptica x gamosepala Aechmea cylindrata hybrid Aechmea gamosepala Aechmea gamosepala var. nivea Aechmea kertesziae Aechmea winkleri Also many other bromeliads at reduced prices. More vriesea and neoregelia species and hybrids are now being placed in the sales area each week as production comes on line. Of course you can also visit just to lie in the hammock and bask in the warmth of the tropical area while you look at the display of flowering bromeliads! Our open hours are 7 days 10am — 5pm 111 Point Wells Road, Matakana Warkworth (Take the Leigh Road to the Omaha Beach Turnoff then head into Point Wells Village). Phone (09) 422-9646 Fax (09) 422-9647 email mauao@wave.co.nz 0800-111 BROM (2766) In Smith & Downes the only reference is to an article by Foster in the BSI Journal 1953, number 3, page 29, in which Foster says that he had cultivated the plant in Orlando, Florida since 1944. It goes on to say that the plant, which had been known for several years in Europe and the United States, was listed as Nidularium tricolor. (We now know that if you grow Neo. carolinae f. tricolor in quantity from seed there is a high possibility that you will get a variegated plant). The plant very quickly gained recognition both in collections and as a parent plant for hybridisers looking for that elusive variegated hybrid. No doubt many of you have experienced your Neoregelia carolinae f. tn'color reverting and sending up plain green pups. Even Mulford Foster observed this skittish behaviour — “This variegated form does not come true from seed and therefore, must be propagated from offshoots to continue its variegated colouration. Even then, one may occasionally find a perfectly green offshoot just as seedlings would be". CULTIVARS Meyendorffii (variegated) - similar to tricolor but smaller and sometimes has a few more stripes than tricolor. ' Meyendorffii (albomarginated) - where the white stripes are on the outside of the leaves. Inferno — the whole top of the plant becomes inflamed like a large red fire. Medallion - this is one of the fluting neoregelias, where the top few leaves rise above the plant to form what appears to be a second plant. All the outer leaves are brushed with deep red as if painted. (See back cover and page 26 in the March 2001 , .Journal). Orange Crush — a variegated form with somewhat wider leaves than tricolor and very flowing foliage that tends to hang down rather than straight out from the pup, the foliage takes on an orange to pink appearance. Perfecta — another variegated form that at flowering time forms a red blushing over the whole plant. Outstanding. Wango Tango - is a cultivar of Perfecta and is similar but the variegations are albomarginated. Yellow King - this is a very striking plant with its variegations and all over yellow appearance. it does tend to revert so it is necessary to keep only the very best of the variegated pups to continue the life of the plant. See photograph at the top of page 11. Next >