PORT MORESBY,17 MAY 2018 (POST COURIER) – The dendrobium APEC PNG orchid will be the official flower for APEC.
The orchid is a unique blend of hybrid orchids from Central, East Sepik, Morobe and the New Guinea Islands.
It took three years to grow.
Minister responsible for APEC Justin Tkatchenko, in announcing the orchid, said that the Dendrobium APEC PNG will promote the different orchids which is unique to this country.
He said that the road to have an orchid that was unique and different was long and it took three years of breeding to ensure the orchid was ready for this year’s APEC 2018 Leader’s Summit.
“We wanted to do something different for this APEC, something that was unique to this country, we thought with the wealth of flora and fauna and animals that is unique to this country, we decided on promoting APEC and PNG through a flower,” Tkatchenko said.
“Everyone loves flowers, orchids are exotic and different, it took three years but we bred the orchid and it was grown in Singapore and Port Moresby.”
It was officially registered through the Royal Horticulture Society in the United Kingdom, he said.
“Dendrobium is the genus name of all orchids. It is a Latin name meaning ‘stringy’ and its stems are like cane the canes we use to build in our country,” he said.
The orchid will be on display at the 17th Annual National Orchid Spectacular on Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, at the National Parliament House.
