Lewsletter from 15th European Orchid Congress and Show

15^th EUROPEAN ORCHID CONGRESS AND SHOW

BUDAPEST, 12-15 APRIL, 2012

The Hungarian Orchid Society (H.O.S)  on behalf of Eurpean Orchid Council (E.O.C.) is happy to invite you to attend

The 15^th Eurpoean Orchid Congress and Show 2012

“   Enjoy and catch the fever  “

at SYMA Event Centre, Budapest, 12-15 April, 2012

During the Exhibition you will experience many displays by orchid societies, botanical gardens, commercial nurseries and amateur growers.

On the Conference you will attend new lectures and conferences hosted by the most important orchid scientists and experts.

You will have the opportunity to buy botanical rarities and new hybrids, and specific products.

You will be apply to the international jury.

All the Congress delegates and visitors are welcome to enjoy the scheduled professional and social programs to the Botanic Garden of the Hungarian Academy of Science, Vácrátót, the Budapest sightseeing, and an unforgettable excursion to the Lake Balaton and the Mount  Badacsony.

On the evening of Saturday (14^th April) you could participate a wonderful Gala Dinner on the board of Cruise Budapest with a three-hour cruising on the river Danube, where the best of Hungarian food and wine will be served.

On behalf of the Organising Committee and the Hungarian Orchid Society, I invite you to attend this most representative and important European Orchid Congress and Show.

     Budapest, 16 May, 2011

     www.eocbudapest.hu

                                                                                             Ildikó Pálmai

                                                                                       President EOC 2012    

Turkish Butterflies

     As you know Turkey is known for its awsome natural beauties. One of them is butterflies. Today I strongly recommend you a Turkish butterflies' photo gallery and scientifi descriptions site. www.trakel.org

     Trakel means: Turkish Anonymous Butterflies. The site is Turkish but you easily translate with google translate or babelfish. Please check it out and watch the nature of Turkey !

     Sincerely

Kaan HÜRKAN

How to register your own Orchid Hybrids?

     Dear Orchid Lovers,

     In this post, I would like to tell you how to register your own Orchid hybrids. I am sure you don't know how easy it is. First of all, I recommend to visit Royal Horicultural Society web page. You may find a lot of tips and scientific information about gardening. 

     Every Orchid grower's dream to become the owner of a new and special hybrid. Hundreds of trials, dozens of hours and inestimable expectations are your friend in this way. If you want to immortalize your works, you may register your hybrid. You only need to fill this simple form . Make your dreams come true ;)

     Waiting for yours. 

     Sincerely

     Kaan HÜRKAN

www.orchidologist.com is available with its new content and layout. Please check it !

Orchids and Their Lives Full of Fame Vol. 2

     Have you ever thought about whether there is an unlimited food resources in nature? Think about water cycle while drinking some water. Biologically usable fresh water percent is only 0.0001 of total water reserve of earth. As an Orchid researcher, I should focus your interest to Orchids. I think most of you know that salep is made from grinding the dried tubers of some terrestrial Orchids. This Orchids should have ovoid tubers such as Orchis mascula, Orchis militaris etc. I’ ve told about etymology of salep word in my previous article. So it is time to talk about how many Orchid tubers are collected to make salep every year. I know your answer will be “many”, but nobody knows how wild Orchid population is destroyed to make salep. According to Table 2 from Sezik (1984), in first column you see local names of some Orchids using to make salep. The most widely used Orchid is “Muğla Salebi”, its scientific name is Orchis anatolica. Near 4.348.000 tubers for 1000kg. Please think that near 15.000 kg of salep is being exported every year. Total number increases to 65.220.000 tubers. You should add same number for domestic use. Total 130.440.000 tubers.

Table 2: Tuber numbers in 1000g and 1000kg salep (from Sezik, 1984) (6).

     Good news, salep exports were prohibited in 1996 in Turkey. Please check The List of Prohibited Goods to International Trade. But still salep collectors destroy Orchids in Turkey for domestic trade. Millions of Orchid tubers are collected every year. 

     We are as Orchid lovers, have to make people conscious about saving natural resources and their sustainability. This natural resources are not only belong with us, but also next generations have right on them. 

     In the third part of article I try to explain “The Orchid Wealth of Turkey” with numbers.


                                                                                                  Kaan HÜRKAN
                                                                                                 Biologist, M.Sc.

References

6) Sezik, E., 1984. Orkidelerimiz. Sandoz Kültür Yayınları No:6.