Vanda cristata
Vanda cristata
The orchid Vanda cristata is an epiphytic growing plant from Southeast Asia. It is occasionally used as an ornamental plant.
Description
Vanda cristata grows as monopodial epiphyte. The offspring reaches a length of 6 to 18 cm at 0.6 to 0.8 cm in diameter. The arranged in two rows, thick leathery, strap- shaped leaves are 7.5 to 15 cm long and 0.6 to 1.8 cm wide. The tip is cut off, tridentate or serrated irregular.
In March to June ( according to Flora of China in May) two or three inflorescences appear from a leaf axil, respectively. The inflorescence axis is 3 to 4.5 cm long, one to six flowers standing in the front, slightly zigzag half. The wide oval support sheets 4 to 6 mm long and 2-4 mm wide. Pedicel and ovary are yellowish green and measure 2 to 3.5 cm. The flowers are fleshy, yellowish green, they open quite wide, its diameter is 3.5 to 5 cm. At higher altitudes are more than two flowers that are very large, formed while forming plants from lower altitudes several small flowers. The sepals are lanceolate, 2-3 cm long and 0.5 to 1 cm wide at the base tapering wedge-shaped. The petals remain narrow. The white to yellow lip along dark purple to reddish - brown striped and provided with five to seven longitudinal keels. It has a wide conical shaped spur at the base. The side lobes of the lip three-lobed stand upright, outwardly they are yellowish green, inside with reddish stripes. The middle lobe is divided at the end into two pointed solid cloth. The white column is 0.4 to 0.8 cm long, with yellow stamen.
The chromosome number is 2n = 28, 2n = 38 or 2n = 76
Dissemination
Vanda cristata is native to Southeast Asia, their range extends across India, Bhutan, Nepal, the southern Chinese provinces of Xizang and Yunnan, to the north of Vietnam. It occurs at altitudes 700-1700 meters in front ( to 2000 meters). It grows as an epiphyte in evergreen forests.
Systematics and botanical history
Vanda cristata was collected in 1818 by Nathaniel Wallich, he sent living plants to the Kew Gardens in England. The first description was published in 1832 by John Lindley. Classification as Trudelia cristata in the genus Trudelia is regarded as a synonym of Vanda cristata, as Vanda striata.