THE NEW WORLD ORCHID SPECIES
AND DISPLAY COLLECTION
OF ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS
680
Plains Road West Burlington, Canada L7T
4H4
University, the Los Angeles Arboretum, and many interested individuals. At the present time flowering orchid plants are displayed in an enclosed case in the main lobby of the headquarters building of the RBG. At present, the collection is not open to the general public. Even before the proposed tropical houses constructed, additional exhibition space could be found in already existing areas of the greenhouse complex. In the recent catalogue of Orchid collections listed in the October edition of ORCHIDS the official bulletin of The American Orchid society, the RBG was noticeably absent. Part of our concern seeks to remedy this so that the RBG will expand into tropical horticulture and extend its mandate as a world class botanical gardens.
The collection is the property of the Royal Botanical Gardens and under the general supervision of the Interior Plantscaping department. Maintenance of the collection is under the jurisdiction of the RBG which is responsible for the greenhouse structure, heating, shading, air movement, watering and humidity. An "greenhouse auxiliary" made up of members of the Orchid Society assists the horticulturists of the RBG in caring for the collection. Financing of the collection, beyond the above mentioned requirements is generally managed by the Orchid Society of the RBG. Construction labour is generally provided by the RBG.
Most of the financing of the collection is taken care of by the profits of the annual orchid exhibition, generally held in March. A committee made up of three members of the orchid society and three members of the RBG staff allocates funds and provides general policy directives for the collection. An endowment fund has been initiated in order to ensure the continuation of the collection and donations are encouraged from the general public.
At present there are about 2000 plants in the collection housed in the greenhouse attached to the headquarters of the RBG. Donations of species native to North and South America are especially encouraged. Plants must be mature, robust, well-rooted, pest and disease-free and accurately labeled. Donors whose annual contributions are over $100 (independently assessed) are entitled to a tax receipt. Although some display and hybrid plants have been received, they along with duplicates will be the first plants to be disposed of as space requirements demand. The proceeds of such disposal will be used entirely for the maintenance of the collection. At the moment donations of species cattleyas and oncidiums are especially preferred. Donations must be mature plants and disease and pest free and become the property of the RBG.
It is hoped that the research dimension of the collection will be developed in the near future. To this end and for the instruction of the members of the RBG the Orchid society has developed a substantial library. Donations are also requested for the library and members of Canadian orchid societies who come into possession of rare documents related to orchid research are encouraged to deposit them with the professional staff of the RBG library for safe-keeping and expanded circulation. The educational dimension, at present is currently managed through a speaker's program administered by the RBG's Outreach Program and an annual course, "Getting Started with Orchids" taught by members of the society under the auspices of the RBG's educational program.
Application has been made to the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada to designate the RBG collection as a rescue centre for plants seized by Agriculture Canada or CITES administrators because their importation has not followed proper procedures. This arrangement has been sought with the advice of similar centers in the United States administered by the Los Angeles Arboretum and The Smithsonian Institute in Washington. The application is under consideration, but so far the necessary cabinet orders have not been processed. The appointment of a specialist in tropical horticulture would facilitate such a designation. In September the first shipment of about 350 seized plants was transferred to the RBG.
This application is only one aspect of the conservation of endangered species which is foremost in the program of the New World species collection. In the near future it is expected that propagation programs, research projects, visitations to native orchid habitats, virus identification programs and collecting trips will expand the already substantial program of the Orchid Society of the Royal Botanical Gardens. By means of donations, visits exchange of speakers and an exchange of mutual concerns for the conservation of orchids and development of the collection, all members of Canadian orchid societies interested in expanding orchid conservation are invited to contribute to the collection. The appointment of a tropical horticultural specialist would facilitate and coordinate all such programs.
Currently the successful mounting of the web site for Canadian terrestrial orchids has attracted considerable attention and is very much in line with international and national conservation enthusiasms. Two members of the society are members of international organizations dedicated to rescue and preservation of orchid species. The RBG should be a the centre of such efforts and do everything possible to promote such conservation. A specialty in terrestrial orchids should be considered as one priority for the expected appointment.
The outstanding results of the Alexander Parker Orchid Propagation Laboratory warrants further expansion and could become not only an important aspect of both tropical and native orchid conservation, but also a significant source of income. The current enthusiasm in many horticulturalists is the propagation of native orchids with a view to replanting them in the wild and such participation by our lab facilities would make the RBG a leader in this field. Expansion of the web page on the RBG web site would distribute information about Canadian orchids on a world wide scale.
Not only would the further development of the orchid collection add to the year round tourist attractions to the RBG, but a number of activities could generate significant income which would help to offset the cost off appointing a qualified specialist. Listing the orchid collection as a "winter" activity would become a significant addition to the Ontario Government's attempts to attract larger numbers of tourists to Canada during the winter season. This could amount to considerable increase in revenue for the RBG and the Government or Ontario. This is certainly the case at the Montreal Botanical Gardens. Applications to the Ministry of Tourism should be explored as well as requests from the American Orchid society, and the Conservation committee of the Mid American Congress of the American Orchid society.
In addition the following sources of revenue could profit the RBG and contribute to the expense of the cost of employing a full time specialist: proceeds from the annual Christmas Orchid Auction; a portion of the profits from the annual Orchid show held in March; the sale of endangered tropical and native orchid flasks; possible institution of an annual "Summer Orchid Fair" and many other activities which carry potential revenue because of our central location to the major societies in southern Ontario.
It is with considerable satisfaction that the current members of the orchid society have recently learned that orchid display and preservation will be central to the new expansion program recently undertaken by the Royal Botanical Gardens.
James D. Brasch
THE
NEW WORLD SPECIES AND DISPLAY
ORCHID COLLECTION
OF THE ROYAL
BOTANICAL GARDENS
The
RBG Orchid Society wishes to solicit donations or purchased specimens
of the following species. Specimens
should be flowering size, well-rooted and pest free.
These plants become the property of the RBG and any donation over $100 CN would be eligible for a tax receipt. Enquiries should be addressed to Doris Jensen (519-647-2331), Jim Brasch (905-335-1713). Many other species would of course be welcomed.
C. albida
C. Alexandrae
C. alutaceae
C. amabilis
C. amethystina
c. brownii
C. citrina
C. deckeri
C. dormaniana
C.elongata
C. granulosa
C. guttata
C. iricolor
C. lawrenciana
C. schilleriana
C. velutina
C. violacea
C. walkeriana
Laelia cinnabarina
L. pumila
L. gloriosa
L. pumila
L. speciosa
L. superbiens
L. tibicinis
L. undulata
L. humboltii
L. lyonsii
L. thomsoniana
L. wendlandii