August 2018 Plant of the evening
Dendrobium teretifolium (Dockrillia teretifolia)
It is an orchid that we are fortunate enough to still be able to find and enjoy in its natural habitats while in bloom around Sydney. The Plant of the Evening was a small but very well grown specimen of Dendrobium teretifolium. This orchid, commonly called the Bridal Veil Orchid, when in full bloom with its massive floral display hanging and swaying on tree trunks always looks impressive. In addition to being floriferous and in good condition, the flowers of this specimen were of superior quality in a number of ways, namely large size (~ 60mm across), good shape (with the tepals widely open and spreading, straight tips which did not recurve). The colour of the tepals was white but with an unusual yellow tinge. Interestingly, some of the awarded orchids of this species were described as having yellow tepals.
Flowers of Dendrobium teretifolium,
the Bridal Veil Orchid
Dendrobium teretifolium is widespread and common. In Queensland, it grows on rocks and rainforest trees, particularly Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), along stream banks and in mangroves. In southern NSW, it grows almost exclusively on Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca) and is locally common in coastal districts. The flowers are white, cream, or greenish with red or purple central stripes and strongly scented.
The plant was mounted on a fern slab. According to Barry Moore, he grows this orchid in the open by hanging it under large trees in his backyard. During autumn when flowering commences, he waters the plant nearly daily (particularly this autumn which was exceptionally dry) and moves the plant to sunnier spots.
In breeding, this orchid species has often been used to increase the flower count of the offspring. Sounds incredulous but true, this orchid was confused with another Dockrillia orchid from PNG, Dendrobium fuliginosum by certain hybridiser(s). As a result, unfortunately, some earlier hybrids using the latter as parent were registered as offspring of Dendrobium teretifolium. As a consequence, the exact parentage of these earlier hybrids cannot be ascertained.
