ORCHIDACEAE
Vanda Jones ex R. Brown, Bot. Reg. 6: t. 506 (1820).
Ascocentrum Schltr.; Trudelia Garay
By: Bhakta B. Raskoti
Taxon Description
Epiphytic, monopodial herbs. Rhizome stout with fibrous roots. Stem ascending or arching, stout, nodded, with thick roots in lower portion. Leaves leathery, distichous, conduplicate, sheathing or nodding at base, base clasping, apex notched or acute or obtuse. Inflorescences arising from leaf axil, erect or suberect, racemose, laxly flowered. Flowers often fully opening or rarely only half opening. Sepals usually contracted toward base, free. Petals similar to sepals, slightly wider. Lip adnate to column foot, spurred, 3-lobed, lateral lobes erect, mid-lobe often with longitudinal keels. Column suberect, stout, rostellum 2-lobed or beaked, pollinia 2, subglobose, attached by a short stipe to viscidium. Capsule oblong-fusiform, ridged.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide 87 species, distributed in tropical Asia and Australasia. 8 species in Nepal.
Key to Species
1a Flower 4–5 cm across. Sepals and petals tessellated…………………………….……2
b Flower 1–2 cm across. Sepals and petals not tessellated……………….………..…..3
2a Sepals and petals with brown spots. Mid-lobe of lip subpandurate……7. V. tessellata
b Sepals and petals pink. Mid-lobe of lip hastate……………………………3. V. bicolor
3a Flower only partially opening. Lip reddish purple with white or yellowish stripes……4
b Flower fully opening. Lip pink or violet without stripes…………………….…………6
4a Sepals oblong-spathulate. Petals linear-lanceolate. Lip with spur……..….4. V. cristata
b Sepals elliptic-ovate or lanceolate. Petals oblong-lanceolate or linear-oblong. Lip without spur………………………………………………………………………………..5
5a Sepals elliptic-ovate. Petals oblong-lanceolate…………………………..….1. V. alpina
b Sepals lanceolate. Petals linear-oblong…………………………………. 5. V. griffithii
6a Stem unbranched. Sepals, petals and lip uniformly pink. Spur 6–8 mm….2. V. ampullacea
b Stem branched Sepals and petals yellowish, lip white with violet flushed or spots. Spur 2–3 mm………………………………………………………………………………………………………7
7a Sepals oblong. Petals linear-spathulate……………………….….…..…6. V. parviflora
b Sepals and petals obovate-oblong………………………………….…..…8. V. testacea
1. Vanda alpina (Lindl.) Lindl., Fol. Orchid. 4: 10 (1853).
uisia alpina Lindl., Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 24(Misc.): 56. (1838); Trudelia alpina (Lindl.) Garay
Plants 7–21 cm tall. Roots fibrous, arising from leaf sheaths. Stems branched, covered by overlapping sheaths, 10–12 cm. Leaves oblong, 5–12 × 0.8–1 cm, base sheathing, apex unequally 2-lobed. Inflorescences 2 or 3, axillary, 2–5 cm. Peduncle 1–2 cm, rachis 0.5–1 cm, 1–3-flowered. Peduncle bracts ovate, 3–5 × 3 mm, apex truncate. Floral bracts ovate-triangular, 2–4 × 1.5–2 mm, apex acute to obtuse. Flowers with sepals and petals yellowish green, not tessellated and lip reddish purple with yellowish stripes, flower 1–2 cm across, half opening. Pedicel and ovary 10–15 mm. Dorsal sepal elliptic-ovate, 10–18 × 4–6 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire. Lateral sepals elliptic-ovate, 10–18 × 5–8 mm, apex obtuse-acute, margin entire. Petals obliquely oblong-lanceolate, 10–16 × 3.5–5 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire. Lip 12–17 × 6–7 mm, 3-lobed, spurless, lateral lobes suberect, suborbicular, ca. 3 × 3 mm, apex rounded, margin entire, mid-lobe ovate, 8–10 × 5–8 mm, apex retuse or lobed, margin entire, disk ridged. Column 2–4 mm. Capsule oblong, 5–6 × 2 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, W Himalaya, Assam-Burma, East Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1100–1800 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks in evergreen woodland and forests.
Flowering: June–July. Fruiting: September–October.
2. Vanda ampullacea (Roxb.) L.M. Gardiner, Phytotaxa 61: 48 (2012).
Aerides ampullacea Roxb., Fl. Ind., ed. 1832, 3: 476 (1832); Ascocentrum ampullaceum (Roxb.) Schltr., Saccolabium ampullaceum (Roxb.) Lindl.
Plants 7–18 cm tall. Roots fibrous, arising from leaf sheaths. Stems unbranched, covered by overlapping sheaths, 2–6 cm. Leaves oblong, 8–17 × 0.9–1.5 cm, base sheathing, apex unequally lobed. Inflorescences 2–4, axillary, 2–10 cm. Peduncle 1.5–4 cm, rachis 1–7 cm, 4–20-flowered. Peduncle bracts triangular 1.5–5 × 1–3 mm, apex acute. Floral bracts ovate-triangular, ca. 1 × 1 mm, apex subacute. Flowers sepals, petals and lip uniformly pinkish red, not tessellated, flower 8–15 mm across, widely opening. Pedicel and ovary 10–15 mm. Dorsal sepal broadly elliptic-ovate, 5–9 × 3–5 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals broadly elliptic-ovate, 6–8 × 4–5 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire. Lip 5–9 × 2–3 mm, 3-lobed, spurred, lateral lobes erect, subtriangular, 2 × 2 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire, mid-lobe ligulate, 4–7 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire, base with 2 calli at spur entrance. Spur cylindrical, 6–8 mm. Column 2–3 mm. Capsule fusiform, 15–20 × 5–6 mm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, W Himalaya, Assam-Burma, East Asia, SE Asia and S Asia.
Altitudinal range: 100–1500 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks in broadleaved woodland and forests.
Flowering: April–May. Fruiting: June–October.
3. Vanda bicolor Griff. Not. Pl. Asiat. 3: 354 (1851).
Plants up to 1 cm tall. Roots fibrous, arising from leaf sheaths. Stems branched, covered by overlapping sheaths, 12–16 cm. Leaves oblong, 8–14 × 1–2 cm, base sheathing, apex praemorse. Inflorescences 2 or 3, axillary, 10–18 cm. Peduncle 4–9 cm, rachis 4–6 cm, 3–6-flowered. Peduncle bracts ovate, 8–15 × 2–2.5 mm, apex obtuse. Floral bracts triangular, 2–3 × 2–2.5 mm, apex acute. Flowers sepals and petals pink, tessellated, lip violet, flower 4–5 cm across, widely opening. Pedicel and ovary 3–5 cm. Dorsal sepal obovate-spathulate, 15–22 × 9–10 mm, apex obtuse, margin undulate. Lateral sepals obovate-spathulate, 15–22 × 15 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire. Petals ovate-spathulate, 17 × 15 mm, apex obtuse, margin undulate. Lip 15 × 10 mm, 3-lobed, spurred, lateral lobes broadly ovate, 5 × 4 mm, connate with column base, apex obtuse, margin entire, mid-lobe hastate, 10 × 10 mm, apex 2-lobed, margin entire, disk with 2 calli. Spur conical, 2–4 mm. Column 4–5 mm. Capsule oblong, 10 × 2 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma and Tibetan Plateau.
Altitudinal range: 700–2000 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks in woodland and forests.
Flowering: September–April. Fruiting: May–October.
4. Vanda cristata Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 216 (1833).
Aerides cristata (Lindl.) Wall. ex Hook.f.; Trudelia cristata (Wall. ex Lindl.) Senghas ex Roeth
Plants 12–27 cm tall. Roots fibrous, arising from leaf sheaths. Stems branched, covered by overlapping sheaths, 6–25 cm. Leaves oblong, 5–14 × 0.7–1.2 cm, base sheathing, apex unequally 3-lobed. Inflorescences 1–3, axillary, 3–9 cm. Peduncle 2–4 cm, rachis 1–4 cm, 1–3-flowered. Peduncle bracts ovate, 5–6 × 1–2 mm, apex obtuse. Floral bracts ovate, 4–6 × 2–3 mm, apex acute. Flowers sepals and petals yellowish green, not tessellated, lip reddish purple with white, violet-purple to red-brown or yellowish stripes, flower 1.5–3 cm across, half opening. Pedicel and ovary 1.5–3 cm. Dorsal sepal oblong-spathulate, 15–35 × 5–6 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire. Lateral sepals oblong-spathulate, 15–35 × 6–7 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire. Petals falcately linear-lanceolate, 15–30 × 3–4 mm, apex acute, margin entire. Lip 10–30 × 6–7 mm, 3-lobed, spurred, lateral lobes erect, ovate-triangular, 3–8 × 2–5 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire, mid-lobe ovate, 8–20 × 5–7 mm, apex with short lobes, margin entire, disk rugulose with 2 slender elongated processes on apical margin. Spur broadly conical, 6–10 mm. Column 4–6 mm. Capsule oblong, 2–6 × 1–1.5 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, W Himalaya, Assam-Burma, East Asia, SE Asia, S Asia and Tibetan Plateau.
Altitudinal range: 1200–2300 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks in woodland and forests.
Flowering: May. Fruiting: June–October.
5. Vanda griffithii Lindl. Paxton’s Fl. Gard. 2: 22 (1851).
Luisia griffithii (Lindl.) Kraenzl.; Trudelia griffithii (Lindl.) Garay
Plants ca.16 cm tall. Roots fibrous, arising from leaf sheaths. Stems branched, covered by overlapping sheaths, 8–9 cm. Leaves oblong, 8–11 × 0.8–1.5 cm, base sheathing, apex unequally 3-lobed. Inflorescences 2 or 3, axillary, 3–6 cm. Peduncle 3–4 cm, rachis 1–2 cm, laxly 2–4-flowered. Peduncle bracts ovate, 4–7 × 2 mm, apex obtuse. Floral bracts ovate, 2–5 × 2 mm, apex obtuse. Flowers sepals and petals yellowish green, not tessellated, lip reddish purple with whitish or yellowish stripes, flower 1.5–2 cm across, half opening. Pedicel and ovary 12–15 mm. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, 10–12 × 2 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire. Lateral sepals lanceolate, 10–12 × 2–2.5 mm, apex subacute, margin entire. Petals linear-oblong, 10–11 × 1.5 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire. Lip 6–11 × 4–5 mm, 3-lobed, spurless, base saccate, lateral lobes semi-circular, 2–4 × 2–5 mm, apex obtuse, mid-lobe broadly lanceolate, 11–20 × 4–5 mm, apex recurved, obtuse, margin undulate, disk rugulose with 2 slender elongated processes on apical margin. Column 1.5–2 mm. Capsule oblong, 5.5 × 1.4 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya.
Altitudinal range: 1500–1800 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks in evergreen woodland and forests.
Flowering: April–June. Fruiting: July–October.
6. Vanda parviflora Lindl., Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 30(Misc.): 45 (1844).
Vanda testacea var. parviflora (Lindl.) MR.Almeida
Plants 14–18 cm tall. Roots fibrous, arising from leaf sheaths. Stems branched, covered by overlapping sheaths, 4–8 cm. Leaves oblong, 4–13 × 0.6–1.5 cm, base sheathing, apex unequally 2-lobed. Inflorescences 1 or 2, axillary, ca. 10–17 cm. Peduncle 2–12 cm, rachis 1–8 cm, up to 10-flowered. Peduncle bracts ovate, 4–6 × 2 mm, apex subacute. Floral bracts broadly ovate, 1.5–2 × 1.5–2 mm, apex acute. Flowers sepals and petals yellowish, not tessellated, lip white, flower 1–1.5 cm across, widely opening. Pedicel and ovary 1.5–2.5 cm. Dorsal sepal oblong, 6–11 × 2–5 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire. Lateral sepals oblong, 5–9 × 2–5 mm, incurved and twisted, apex obtuse, margin entire. Petals linear-spathulate, 5–10 × 2–5 mm, base twisted, apex obtuse, margin entire. Lip 6–9 × 5–6 mm, 3-lobed, spurred, lateral lobes erect, oblong, ovate-oblong, 2–3 × 1– 2 mm, apex subacute, margin entire, mid-lobe oblong, 5–6 × 3 mm, apex emarginate, margin crenulate, disk ridged. Spur infundibuliform, 2–3 mm. Column 2–3 mm. Capsule oblong-fusiform, 2–3.5 × 0.5 cm.
Distribution: Nepal and S Asia.
Altitudinal range: 700–2000 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks in open woodland and forests.
Flowering: April–June. Fruiting: July–October.
7. Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. ex G.Don, J.C. Loudon, Hort. Brit.: 372 (1830).
Epidendrum tessellatum Roxb., Pl. Coromandel 1: 34 (1795); Aerides tessellata (Roxb.) Wight ex Lindl.
Plants up to 1 cm tall. Roots fibrous, arising from leaf sheaths. Stems branched, covered by overlapping sheaths, 6–18 cm. Leaves oblong, 7–18 × 1–2 cm, base sheathing, apex unequally 3-lobed. Inflorescences 1–3, axillary, 12–21 cm. Peduncle 10–15 cm, rachis 4–7 cm, 2–7-flowered. Peduncle bracts ovate, 4–5 × 3–4 mm, apex acute. Floral bracts broadly ovate, 2–4 × 1–1.5 mm, apex obtuse. Flowers sepals and petals tessellated with brown spots, lip bluish with purple spots, flower 4–5 cm across, widely opening. Pedicel and ovary 3–3.5 cm. Dorsal sepal oblong-spathulate, 18–22 × 7–10 mm, apex obtuse, margin undulate. Lateral sepals oblong-spathulate, 18–22 × 8–12 mm, apex obtuse, margin undulate. Petals oblong-spathulate, 12–15 × 7–8 mm, apex obtuse, margin undulate. Lip 12–16 × 10 mm, 3-lobed, spurred, lateral lobes erect, ovate-triangular, 7 × 4 mm, apex obtuse, mid-lobe subpandurate, 8–10 × 4–5 mm, disk rugulose with 2 slender elongated processes on apical margin. Spur conical, 5–6 mm. Column 4–5 mm. Capsule oblong-fusiform, 10 × 2 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya and Assam-Burma.
Altitudinal range: 200–600 m.
Ecology: Scandent epiphyte on tall trees in tropical forests.
Flowering: March–November. Fruiting: Through out year.
8. Vanda testacea (Lindl.) Rchb.f., Gard. Chron., n.s., 8: 166 (1877).
Aerides testacea Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 238 (1833).
Plants 15–30 cm tall. Roots fibrous, arising from leaf sheaths. Stems branched, covered by overlapping sheaths, 6–25 cm. Leaves oblong, 4–14 × 0.6–1 cm, base sheathing, apex unequally 3-lobed. Inflorescences 1 or 2, axillary, 10–15 cm. Peduncle 3–9 cm, rachis 2–4 cm, up to 10-flowered. Peduncle bracts ovate, 4–5 × 2 mm, apex subacute. Floral bracts broadly ovate, 1.5–3 × 1.5–2 mm, apex acute. Flowers sepals and petals yellowish, not tessellated, lip violet, flower 1–1.5 cm across, widely opening. Pedicel and ovary 1.5–2.5 cm. Dorsal sepal obovate-oblong, 6–11 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire. Lateral sepals obovate-oblong, 5–9 × 2–4 mm, incurved and twisted, apex obtuse, margin entire. Petals obovate-oblong, 5–9 × 2–4 mm, base twisted, apex obtuse, margin entire. Lip 6–9 × 5–6 mm, 3-lobed, spurred, lateral lobes erect, ovate-oblong, 2–3 × 1.5–2 mm, apex obtuse, mid-lobe subquadrate, 5–6 × 2–3 mm, apex emarginate, margin crenulate, disk ridged. Spur infundibuliform, 2–3 mm. Column 2–3 mm. Capsule clavate, 2–3 × 0.5 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, W Himalaya, Assam-Burma and S Asia.
Altitudinal range: 200–2000 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on exposed tree trunks in margins of woodland and forests.
Flowering: May–June. Fruiting: July–October.
Dubious species:
Vanda flavobrunnea Rchb.f., Flora 69: 552 (1886).
Trudelia pumila (Hook.f.) Senghas; Vanda pumila Hook.f.;
This has been reported from Nepal, but no specimens have been seen to confirm its presence.