Vanda coerulea
Vanda coerulea
The orchid Vanda coerulea is an epiphytic growing plant from Southeast Asia.
Description
Vanda coerulea grows as monopodial epiphyte. The offspring reaches a length of 5 to 23 cm, according to other data to 80 or 150 cm, 0.8 to 1.5 cm in diameter. The arranged in two rows, thick leathery leaves are 7.5 to 26 cm long and 1.3 to 3 cm wide. The peak is asymmetric bilobed.
In October to November to three inflorescences appear from a leaf axil, respectively. The inflorescence axis is 20 to 60 cm long, 6 to 15 flowers standing in the slightly zigzag growing front half. The wide - oval bracts are about 1 cm in size. Pedicel and ovary are bluish white and measure 4.5 to 6 cm. The non- fragrant flowers are paper- thin, blue, open wide, its diameter is 6-9 cm. The sepals are broad reverse- ovate, 3.5 to 5 cm long and 1.7 to 3.5 cm wide, narrowed at the base for a short piece of abrupt ( nailed ). The petals are similarly shaped and about the same size as the outer petals, the nail is slightly twisted. Sepals and petals are covered by darker veins with a reticular pattern. The lip is fleshy and has, on the basis of a slightly tapered, blunt-ended spur. The side lobes of the lip three-lobed stand upright and are white on the outside with yellow dots. The end of the middle lobe is cut off and easily absorbed. On the lip there are three longitudinal keels. The column is 0.4 to 0.6 cm long, with white stamen.
The chromosome number is 2n = 38
Dissemination
Vanda coerulea is native to Southeast Asia, their range spans the north-east of India, south of China's Yunnan province, Myanmar and northern Thailand. It occurs at altitudes 800-1300, more rarely to 1700 meters. It grows as an epiphyte in sparse trees in open forests and trees along rivers.
Systematics and botanical history
Vanda coerulea was found in 1837 by William Griffith in India and described by way of Herbarexemplars of Lindley 1850. In the same year the plant collector Thomas Lobb sent live plants to the English nursery Veitch and Sons.
Use
This orchid was because of their large and colored with rare color blue blossoms into a popular ornamental plant. The mass gathering of wild plants led to Vanda coerulea was temporarily listed in Appendix I of CITES. Vanda coerulea was also important in breeding, it is a parent of the "classical " hybrid Vanda Rothschildiana and was introduced mainly because of their color into numerous further intersections.
In Vanda coerulea culture requires a bright location. During the dry period of rest, the temperature can drop to 12 ° C.