Cym. canaliculatum

[sabredance2]

Couldn't believe my eyes reading a letter I received from Miles Seton 13 Feb. 1992. Buried within a 9 page communication was the following:
"canaliculatum, its colours range from white to the deepest of reds. Frank Slattery gave me his range of the species, but through ignorance I lost them. As I said before, I think canaliculatum has so much potential".
A white canaliculatum ...

[Gary S]

Probably the closest to a white canaliculatum, would be the pale lemon alba form that has a pure white lip.

Speaking to 2 experts here on the species - neither have ever seen a white canaliculatum flower.

[sabredance2]

We need a time capsule to interrogate this aspect - but it seems likely it was an alba form. Thanks Gary.

[Murph]

Do either of you know if anyone is still doing a bit of plant hunting in Australia for Cyms? Especially Cym. canaliculatum.
Or is this a futile exercise nowadays.

[MrCym]

I think you'd be surprised at the number of non-Orchid Society types who have a super range of this species in their collections and who know precisely where special forms are established!

[Gary S]

Well Murph, I can report that a prominent member of an orchid society in NSW was spotted hauling out of a forest in QLD (not private property) a trailer full of the species. He was dobbed into the the National Parks in that state and he was also dobbed in by a member of his own society after they found out what he was up to. The fine unfortunately fell way short of the retail value of the haul.

Most people here will approach an owner of private property (mostly cattle stations and farms) and collect in small quantities to maintain the species. A prolific area around Roma in QLD was very good location, but an area of around 100 square kilometers there has been in a rain shadow for the past 3 years without any rain - consequently that entire population in that area has perished.

One prominent grower takes all his seed pods that form naturally back to the bush and spreads them around on host trees in protected areas - he has had very good germination, so that is good for the species to survive.

[MrCym]

Marvelous. A national treasure.

[Gary S]

Yes Andy, Ken well fits that description. He has been spreading seed back in the bush for years and the results speak for themselves. The locations are well guarded secrets however, and though they should be.