orchids and orchidology in central america. 500 ... - lankesteriana.org

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native and exotic. The Society supports the maintenance
and preservation, as well as the proper handling of the
natural habitats of the orchids. Several years later, in 1979,
the “Asociación Altaverapacense de Orquideología” (=
Orchid Society of Alta Verapaz) was founded in Cobán,
Guatemala, after a visit by Dr. Karlheinz Senghas of the
University of Heidelberg.
In the year of 1977, a large number of orchid
enthusiasts came together in Panama to listen to the
experiences in orchid growing of Robert Dressler,
renowned scientist of the Smithsonian Institute.
LANKESTERIANA
LANKESTERIANA 9(1—2), August 2009. © Universidad de Costa Rica, 2009.
During this meeting Walter Maduro was elected as
the first president of a new association, called the
Panamanian Society of Orchidology. One year later
the first national orchid show was held at the Museum
of the Panamanian Man, an exhibition that brought
together the native and exotic species and hybrids of
orchids owned by the members of the new society.
In the month of October of 1992 the association was
finally registered in the Public Registry. Its logo shows
Panama’s National Flower, Peristeria elata, popularly
known as the Holy Ghost Orchid.
aCknowleDgeMenTs. Many friends have helped to make this book a reality. To try and comment on each one’s specific
contribution could lead to unjust appreciations and unforgivable oversights. Therefore, I will limit myself to mentioning them
in alphabetical order, begging for excuses if I forgot anybody: Fredy Archila, Joseph Arditti, Michael J. Balick, Moisés Behar,
Eduardo Bitter, Mario Blanco, Paloma Blanco, Pilar Casasa, Pilar de San Pío, Susan Donogue, Kerry Dressler, Robert Dressler,
Jaime García, Günter Gerlach, Luis Diego Gómez, Eric Hágsater, Hedwig Hamer, Barry Hammel, Stanley Heckadon-Moreno,
Leonardo Hernández, Wesley Higgins, Luko Hilje, Pierre Jacquet, Rudolf Jenny, Pavel Kindlmann, Stephen Kirby, Isobyl
la Croix, Ricardo Lankester, Hilda León-Paéz, Jorge León, Leoncio López Ocón, Steve Manning, Stuart McCook, Helga
Nevermann, Marc Nir, Mary Noble McQuerry, Henry Oakeley, Gabriela Ossenbach, Enid Picado, Franco Pupulin, Leonora
Rodríguez, Gustavo Romero, Willy Salazar, Luis Sánchez Saldaña, Esthela Sandoval, Walter Schug, Philip Seaton, Michael
Seaward, Miguel Ángel Soto Arenas, Angela Todd, Silvia Troyo, Erich Vogt Sartorius, James Watson, and Mayela Zamora.
To all, once again, a thousand thanks!