Vanda coerulescens
Vanda coerulescens
The orchid Vanda coerulescens is an epiphytic growing plant from Southeast Asia. It is occasionally used as an ornamental plant.
Description
Vanda coerulescens grows as monopodial epiphyte. The rung reaches a length of 2 to 8 cm, in accordance with other information, to 10 or 15 cm, is 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter. The arranged in two rows, fleshy leaves are 7 to 12 cm ( 25 cm ) long and 1 to 1.8 cm wide. The tip is cut irregularly and sharply toothed.
In March-April one or two inflorescences appear each from a leaf axil, they are horizontally or hang down. The inflorescence axis is 14 to 36 inches ( 50 cm ) long, 10 to 16 flowers standing in the front half. The oval - triangular bracts are 1.5 to 3 mm in size. Pedicel and ovary are bluish white and measure 1.5 to 3 cm. The flowers are paper- thin, light blue, they open wide, its diameter is 1.5 to 3.5 cm. The sepals are reversed - ovate to spatulate, 1 to 1.7 cm long and 0.6 to 0.8 cm wide at the base tapering wedge-shaped. The petals are similarly shaped but slightly narrower. The lip is dark blue and has at the base of a curved, cylindrical-shaped, blunt-ended spur. The side lobes of the lip three-lobed stand upright and are light blue. The end of the middle lobe is rounded and slightly retracted. On the lip, there are three to five longitudinal keels. The blue column is 0.5 to 0.7 cm long, with bright yellow stamen.
The chromosome number is 2n = 38 or 2n = 40
Dissemination
Vanda coerulescens 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 of 300 to 500 meters in front ( to 1600 meters). It grows as an epiphyte on tree trunks in open forests.
Systematics and botanical history
Vanda coerulescens was in 1837 by William Griffith in Burma ( Myanmar) found, he published the first description in 1851. Live plants sent first General Benson in 1868 to the English nursery Veitch and Sons.
We have described three varieties: var boxallii, var and var hennisiana lowiana, but these are all considered synonyms of the type.