Journal Number 100
August 2006

FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GROUPS

The Native Orchid Society of South Australia
By Cathy Houston, Secretary

The Native Orchid Society of S.A. owes its foundation primarily to Roy Hargreaves and Les Nesbitt, the latter now being our Patron. Both saw a need in South Australia for a group to cultivate and propagate rescued native orchid species and to promote the need to conserve and protect South Australia's native orchids. We promote the conservation of native orchids through cultivation, and preservation of naturally occurring plants and habitat.

Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month (February - November) and visitors are welcome. Eleven Journals are published through the year. We have well over 100 financial members with about 50 attending monthly meetings.

Both terrestrial and epiphytic orchids, including hybrids, are benched and judged at each meeting. Donated plants are raffled; there is a trading table and a library from which books can be borrowed.

We've had a wonderful variety of speakers in the last year: Reg Shooter on the Dijon orchid conference, Tom Milne on reptiles, the Tindalls on highland orchids, Brendan Killen on orchids of Lord Howe Island and Qld, Renate and Susan on their postgraduate orchid projects, Dr. Topa Petit on studies of the endangered orchid Caladenia behrii and Les Nesbitt on his AOF project on growing spider orchids from seed. Les is one of two members who received an AOF grant for research into SA orchids.

In addition to these sociable occasions there are other events such as the Annual dinner in May, the Christmas party and fund raising auction in November plus an end of year Society barbecue.

NOSSA has a highly motivated and dedicated conservation group which participates in various conservation projects. Much of the work undertaken by members is associated with the management and actions designed to conserve species now listed as nationally endangered.

It is done in association with Lofty Block Threatened Orchid Recovery Program (LBTORP) and Threatened Plant Action Group. Actions include weed control, monitoring populations and life stages, searching, protecting plants and more. This group attended over 20 working bees last year. We have an appointed conservation officer, who helped to save two areas of bush from damage or development last year.

We have many subgroups working on projects: the conservation group has already been
mentioned, a terrestrial study group meets irregularly to share knowledge and observations
of S.A. orchids, new members' activities encourage and teach members about a wide variety of subjects relating to orchids and members help to run stalls at Garden Shows, Australian Plant Society sales etc., thereby bringing their knowledge to the public. There are regular judges' meetings which assist judges and wouldbe judges in their understanding of orchids. A tuber bank is available to members.

Each year a Conservation Park is nominated for special survey. The electronic report for Caroona Creek C.P. is available. Field trips are held regularly during the main orchid season so that members can appreciate orchids in their natural setting.

There is an orchid in flower every month of the year, but the main flowering starts gradually from about June and continues to near the end of November. South Australia is the only Australian state that has just terrestrial orchids.

Our Spring Show is held in mid September when members show their skills at growing
Australasian orchids. A great array of flowering orchids is on display to the public.
Sales of orchid plants raise funds for the Society.

The last 12 months has seen NOSSA join the electronic age in many ways as our journal can now be delivered electronically; our photographers use digital cameras and anyone who receives their journal by email receives a colour supplement; our editor now receives most articles in electronic form; our Treasurer keeps the books on an electronic spreadsheet; our resident computer whiz Ben has set up an excellent and evolving NOSSA website at www.nossa.org.au and we have bought a data projector to replace our slide projector which will, of course, be kept for speakers with slides.

Members found/recognised several new orchid species in SA last year. The 1978 Flora of South Australia recognised 120 species, Orchids of South Australia in 1990 treated about 150 species, the 2005 Systematic Census Report recognised 240 species and the new Electronic Orchids SA 2006 treats 300 species!

This incredible increase in understanding of our native orchids is due almost solely to NOSSA members. South Australia has a number of endemic orchids.

One of these is Caladenia macroclavia (photo), recognised as critically endangered. Known numbers for this orchid were about 50 plants in 2005. By the end of the season, through the LBTORP, numbers had been lifted to about 75. That is, the whole world population is about 75 mature plants! Orchids such as this need our help.

The new Electronic Orchids of South Australia 2006 will soon be available on www.nossa.org.au.