Vanda
(pronounced: VAN-dah)
Classification
Vandeae subtribe Aeridinae. An infrageneric classification was proposed by Christenson (1994) in which the genus was divided into two subgenera and six sections on the basis of floral morphology. One subgenus (subg. Euanthe (Schlechter) Christenson) is m
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Overview
Small to massive monopodial epiphytes and lithophytes. Stems erect to pendent with upturned apices, leafy, rooting towards the base. Leaves numerous, alternate, distichous, strap-shaped, irregularly toothed at the apex, v-shaped in cross-section, leathery. Inflorescences axillary racemes, rarely branched, shorter than the leaves or long-scapose and longer than the leaves, laxly few-flowered to densely many-flowered. Flowers showy, usually fragrant. Sepals and petals free, spreading, subsimilar, subequal or the petals wider, often clawed, often with undulate margins. Lip three-lobed, saccate-spurred, fused to the column foot, the midlobe often flexibly hinged, the spur projecting backwards parallel to the column. Column short, stout, fleshy, often lobulate at the base, the foot short; pollinia 2, notched, on a common oblong stipe and large viscidium.
Etymology
From a sanskrit term referring to Vanda tessellata.
Distribution
A genus of about 53 species distributed from Sri Lanka north to Nepal and southern China, east to New Guinea and northeast Australia, north to Taiwan and the Philippines.
Care and Culture Card
See basic growing conditions and care information below.
Vandas are coarse, lowland epiphytes or lithophytes. All species should be given very bright but not direct light, intermediate to warm temperatures, and abundant watering. Under most growing conditions daily watering is recommended provided that the plants have healthy root systems. Only a few higher elevation species, represented here by V. coerulea, V. coerulescens, V. javierae, and V. roeblingiana, should be given cool intermediate to cool temperatures. Vandas may be grown in pots with medium to coarse grade potting media, but most species will prefer growing in open baskets without any potting medium. Aerial roots are common and abundant. They may be trimmed with a sterile tool to about two ft. (60 cm) long to keep the plants manageable in limited space without harm. Success with Vandas depends on steady conditions. Fluctuations in temperature and watering will cause the plants to drop their lower leaves resulting in an unattractive “tree,” a long bare stem surmounted by a few ungainly leaves. Flower quality is directly linked to light quality. Under most conditions, the flower quality is superior in summer with bright light conditions and inferior during the winter months. The opposite is true of V. coerulea and its hybrids which typically produce better quality flowers during cooler winter months.
Literature
Cheng, S. and Z. Tang 1986. The study on genus Vanda (Orchidaceae) in China. Acta Bot. Yunnan. 8(2):216-221 (reprinted in English: Orchid Digest 52:38-46. 1988). Christenson, E. A. 1994. Taxonomy of the Aeridinae with an infrageneric classification of Vanda Jones ex R. Br. Proc. 14th World Orch. Conf., pp. 206-216. Christenson, E. A. and M. Motes 1996. Vanda brunnea. Orchids 65(10):1070-1072. Comber, J. B. 1975. Sumatran vandas, a new addition. Malayan Orchid Rev. 12:38-41. Comber, J. B. 1982. The genus Vanda in Java. Orchid Digest 46: 125-129. Fessell, H. and E. Luckel 1990. Eine neue Vanda von den Philippinen: V. javierae. Die Orchidee 41:143-148. Fowlie, J. A. 1993. China: Awash in a bitter sea, Part X. A trip to the Yunnan-Guangxi frontier to study a new subspecies of Paphiopedilum micranthum and the discovery of a new species of Vanda. Orchid Digest 57(4):183-188. Garay, L. A. 1986. Trudelia, a new name for Vanda alpina. Orchid Digest 50(2):73-77. Grove, D. L. 1995. Vandas and Ascocendas and their combinations with other genera. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. Kumar, C. S. and P. C. S. Kumar 1998. The reappearance of Vanda thwaitesii J. D. Hook. (Orchidaceae). Rheedea 8(2):249-253. Lamb, A. 1983. Notes on Sabah orchids: Vanda gibbseae Rolfe and Vanda helvola Blume. Orchid Digest 47:95-97. Lavarack, B. 1992. Vanda hindsii, the Cape York Vanda. Australian Orchid Rev. 57(2):11-12. Lavarack, P. S. and N. H. S. Howcroft 1982. Vanda hindsii in New Guinea and Australia. Orchadian 7(5):100-102. Lim, S.-H., P. C.-P. Teng, Y.-H. Lee and C.-J. Goh 1999. RAPD analysis of some species in the genus Vanda (Orchidaceae). Ann. Bot. 83:193-196. Phukan, S. 1996. Vanda liouvillei Finet, a new record from India. Orchid Rev. 104(1209):189-190.
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