20th WOC Singapore 2011 (Part 3- Orchid Parade)

 ..................continued from my previous blog post '20th WOC Singapore 2011 (Part 2- V.I.P Orchids)'.

During the show, I have taken photographs of many interesting orchid display by various organization. Following is the selected photos that I'll like to share with you:

Plot display by 21st World Orchid Conference Bidding Committee, South Africa

Plot display by Taiwan Orchid Growers Association, Taiwan

20th WOC Singapore 2011 (Part 2- V.I.P Orchids)

..........continued from my previous blog post '20th WOC Singapore 2011 (Part 1- Winners & Show Centrepiece)'.

The following display was put up by Singapore Botanic Garden (SBG) that featured local orchid hybrids named after various V.I.P.

These orchid hybrids were contained in a metallic mesh in the shape of a floral petal.

20th WOC Singapore 2011 (Part 1-Winners & Show Centrepiece)

Theme of 20th WOC 2011

I have attended the 20th World Orchid Conference (WOC) held on November 2011. This memorable orchid show is truly the event of the year, as the last WOC held in Singapore was in 1963 (48 years ago!).  

Unlike the previous Singapore Garden Festival that was held at Suntec Convention Centre, WOC was held at Sands Expo and Convention Centre.This was the first time Sands Expo held a orchid event.

Decorative wall at the entrance to event hall

Bulbophyllum purpurascens

Top view of flower

Bulbophyllum purpurascens 

Teijsm & Binn

Section: Cirrhopetalum

Geographic Distribution: Malaysia, Thailand, Java, Borneo and Sumatra.  

Elevation/ Temperature: 900-1700 m lowland forest/ warm-cool growing species.

Plant Type: epiphytic.

Growing Habit: sympodial

Cultivation Treatment: mounted on mesh covered with sphagnum moss.

Flowering Month(s) in Singapore: November.

Flowering Period: 2-3 days.

Flower Colour: pale yellow. 

Flower Scent: not scented.

Flower Count: 10 flowers per inflorescence.

I have acquired this miniature bulbophyllum from a thai vendor during the 20th World Orchid Conference 2011 (WOC) held between 13th-20th November in Singapore. The orchid is also commonly known as 'The Purple Bulbophyllum' with reference to its leaf color. 

Flower budding

Bulbophyllum pileatum

Bulbophyllum pileatum

(Lindley) 

Section: Sestochilus

Geographic Distribution: Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra.  

Elevation/ Temperature: sea level- 200m lowland swamp forest/ hot- warm growing species.

Plant Type: epiphytic.

Growing Habit: sympodial

Cultivation Treatment: mounted on fern slab.

Flowering Month(s) in Singapore: October- November.

Flowering Period: 7 days.

Flower Colour: orangey petal with brown marking on long slender lip. 

Flower Scent: odor scented.

Flower Count: single flower per inflorescence.

This bulbophyllum has bloomed in mid October and early November 2011. Although the first bloom lasted only 1 day, the orchid produced another flower after a few weeks.

First bloom only lasted 1 day, as the pollen was 'harvested' by insect.

Bulbophyllum maxillare (syn. blumei)

Bulbophyllum maxillare (syn. blumei)

(Lindley) J.J. Sm. 

Section: Ephippium

Geographic Distribution: Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo to Philippines, PNG and Australia.  

Elevation/ Temperature: sea level - 800m lowland forest/ hot- cool growing species.

Plant Type: epiphytic.

Growing Habit: sympodial

Cultivation Treatment: plastic pot with sphagnum moss as main medium. Small-medium sized rocks at pot bottom.

Flowering Month(s) in Singapore: February, May-June, August-October, November.

Flowering Period: 2- 3 days.

Flower Colour: red petal with yellow margin. 

Flower Scent: not scented.

Flower Count: single flower per inflorescence at leaf length.

I have been growing this beautiful orchid since April 2011. After a 2-3 months of adjustment to the new environment, the plant started to grow new leads. I have observed that the plant continue to throw out a few slender inflorescences that hold a single reddish flower since May to October. The flower form is in a bow-legged fashion.

Pleurothallis quadrifida

Pleurothallis quadrifida

(La Llave & Lex) Lindley 1842

Subgenus: Specklinia 

Section: Acuminatae Lindley 1859

Geographic Distribution: Caribbean, Mexico to Venezuela.

Elevation/ Temperature: up to 1800m/ hot- cool growing species.

Plant Type: epiphytic and lithophytic.

Growing Habit: sympodial
Cultivation Treatment: plastic pot with small-medium sized rock pieces and top-dressed with sphagnum moss.
Flowering Month(s) in Singapore: October.

Flowering Period: 10 days.

Flower Colour: yellow.

Flower Scent: slight sweet fragrance. 

Flower Count: 18-20.

This small sized orchid have been growing at the bright spot of my balcony since July 2010. This is the plant first flowering in the month of October 2011. The flowering may have been triggered by temperature drop for the past days in Singapore, due to the sudden heavy rain coupled with strong Northeastern wind.