Vanda
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Vanda, abbreviated in the horticultural trade as V., is a genus in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. There are 90 species, and the genus is commonly cultivated for the marketplace. This genus and its allies are considered to be among the most specifically adapted of all orchids within the Orchidaceae. The genus is highly prized in horticulture for its showy, fragrant, long-lasting, and intensely colorful flowers. Vanda species are widespread across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea, with a few species extending into Queensland and some of the islands of the western Pacific.
Etymology
The generic name Vanda is derived from the Sanskrit (वन्दाका) name for the species Vanda roxburghii (a synonym of Vanda tessellata).
Distribution
These mostly epiphytic, but sometimes lithophytic or terrestrial orchids, are distributed in India, Himalaya, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, southern China, and northern Australia.
Description
The genus has a monopodial growth habit with flat, typically broad, ovoid leaves (strap-leaves). Species with cylindrical (terete), fleshy leaves, which are adapted to dry periods were transferred to the genus Papilionanthe. The stems of these orchids vary considerably in size; some are miniature plants and some have a length of several meters. The plants can become quite massive in habitat and in cultivation, and epiphytic species possess very large, rambling aerial root systems. The roots have pneumatodes.
The few to many flattened flowers grow on a lateral inflorescence. Most show a yellow-brown color with brown markings, but they also appear in white, green, orange, red, and burgundy shades. The lip has a small spur. Vanda species usually bloom every few months and the flowers last for two to three weeks.
Ecology
Pollination
Vanda falcata has been reported to be pollinated by several hawkmoth species of the genus Theretra, namely Theretra japonica and Theretra nessus.
Conservation
Many Vanda orchids, particularly V. coerulea, are endangered. These species have never been common in the wild and are typically encountered only infrequently in their natural habitats. They grow mainly in disturbed forest areas with high light levels and are therefore especially vulnerable to habitat destruction. The export of wild-collected specimens of the blue orchid (V. coerulea) and other wild Vanda species is prohibited worldwide, as all orchids are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Cultivation
This genus is one of the five most horticulturally important orchid genera, because it has some of the most magnificent flowers to be found in the orchid family.[citation needed] This has contributed much to the work of hybridists producing flowers for the cut flower market. V. coerulea is one of the few botanical orchids which can produce varieties with blue flowers (actually a very bluish purple), a property much appreciated for producing interspecific and intergeneric hybrids.
The color blue is rare among orchids, and only certain species of Thelymitra, a terrestrial species from Australia, produces flowers that are truly "blue" among the orchids. These species, much like Vanda, also have a bluish-purple tint towards the inner petals of the flowers.
Vanda dearei is one of the chief sources of yellow color in Vanda hybrids.
The plants do not possess pseudobulbs, but do possess leathery, drought-resistant leaves. Almost all of the species in this genus are very large epiphytes found in disturbed areas in habitat and prefer very high light levels, the plants having large root systems. Some of these species have a monopodial vine-like growth habit, and the plants can quickly become quite massive.
These plants prefer consistent conditions day-to-day in cultivation to avoid dropping their bottom leaves. The epiphytic species are best accommodated in large wooden baskets, bare rooted, which allows for the large aerial root systems. Disturbing or damaging the roots of large, mature vandaceous orchid plants, and in particular, Vanda and Aerides species, can result in the plants failing to flower and going into decline for a season or more. These plants do not tolerate disturbance or damage of their root systems in cultivation when they become mature. The terete-leaved terrestrial species are very easy to cultivate.
When grown bare-rooted, the epiphytic species require daily watering and weekly feeding and are very heavy feeders in cultivation. They can be grown out-of-doors in Hawaii and the like provided they are given some shade.
Fungal infections
Unfortunately fungal infections are not uncommon in cultivated plants. A variety of phytopathogens may infect Vanda orchids. Vandas may be affected by Fusarium wilt. This disease is characterized by purple discolouration in the vascular tissue, which results in the loss of their function. The hyphae and spores block the conductor vessels. Affected plants may superficially appear healthy, as they continue to grow, the oldest parts of the plants can be affected and the disease will eventually progress throughout the entire plant. If cutting tools are not sterilized the infection may spread to other plants.
Systematics
In a recent molecular study of the genus Vanda , several Genera including the former Genus Ascocentrum, Neofinetia and Euanthe were brought into synonym with Vanda.
Species
The following is a list of Vanda species recognised by Plants of the World Online as of January 2025 separated by sections:
| Section | Image | Name | Year | Distribution | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section Ascocentrum Gardiner | Vanda ampullacea (Roxb.) L.M.Gardiner | 1914 | Nepal, China (southern Yunnan), India (Sikkim, Andaman Islands, Assam), Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam | 300–1,500 metres (980–4,920 ft) | |
| Vanda aurantiaca (Schltr.) L.M.Gardiner | 2012 | Bali, Sulawesi and the Philippines | 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) | ||
| Vanda aurea (J.J.Sm.) L.M.Gardiner | 2012 | Maluku (Sula) | |||
| Vanda curvifolia (Lindl.) L.M.Gardiner | 2012 | India (Assam), Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, southern China and Vietnam | 0–700 metres (0–2,297 ft) | ||
| Vanda garayi (Christenson) L.M.Gardiner | 2012 | Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam | 0–1,000 metres (0–3,281 ft) | ||
| Vanda insularum (Christenson) L.M.Gardiner | 2012 | Maratua island to the east of Kalimantan, Borneo | |||
| Vanda karinae Motes | 2021 | India (Assam) | |||
| Vanda miniata (Lindl.) L.M.Gardiner | 2012 | Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and the Philippines | |||
| Vanda rubra (Lindl.) L.M.Gardiner | 2012 | Myanmar, Vietnam | |||
| Section Ascocentropsis Gardiner | Vanda christensoniana (Haager) L.M.Gardiner | 1993 | Vietnam | 0–700 metres (0–2,297 ft) | |
| Vanda hienii (Aver. & V.C.Nguyen) R.Rice | 2019 | Vietnam (Cao Bang) | 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) | ||
| Vanda malipoensis L.H.Zou, Jiu X.Huang & Z.J.Liu | 2014 | China (Yunnan) | |||
| Vanda nana L.M.Gardiner | 2012 | Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia | |||
| Section Cristatae Lindl. | Vanda alpina (Lindl.) Lindl. | 1853 | India (Assam, Sikkim), Nepal, Bhutan, China (Yunnan) | 1,200–2,000 metres (3,900–6,600 ft) | |
| Vanda chlorosantha (Garay) Christenson | 1992 | Bhutan | |||
| Vanda cristata Wall. ex Lindl. | 1828 | Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, China (Yunnan, Xizang) | 600–2,300 metres (2,000–7,500 ft) | ||
| Vanda flavobrunnea Rchb.f. | 1886 | India(Sikkim), Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Sumatra | 700–1,400 metres (2,300–4,600 ft) | ||
| Vanda griffithii Lindl. | 1851 | Nepal, Bhutan | 1,500–1,800 metres (4,900–5,900 ft) | ||
| Vanda jainii A.S.Chauhan | 1984 | India (Assam) | |||
| Vanda longitepala D.L.Roberts, L.M.Gardiner & Motes | 2008 publ. 2009 | Myanmar | 1,200–1,500 metres (3,900–4,900 ft) | ||
| Vanda sathishii Motes | 2022 | India (Kerala) | |||
| Section Dactylolobatae W. Suarez & Cootes, Philipp | Vanda aliceae Motes, L.M.Gardiner & D.L.Roberts | 2015 | Bacan Island, North Moluccas | ||
| Vanda celebica Rolfe | 1899 | Indonesia (Sulawesi) | 500–600 metres (1,600–2,000 ft) | ||
| Vanda crassiloba Teijsm. & Binn. ex J.J.Sm. | 1905 | Maluku (Ambon, Seram) | |||
| Vanda frankieana Metusala & P.O'Byrne | 2011 | Borneo (Kalimantan) | |||
| Vanda gibbsiae Rolfe | 1914 | Borneo | 800–1,100 metres (2,600–3,600 ft) | ||
| Vanda hastifera Rchb.f. | 1877 | Borneo | 600–1,200 metres (2,000–3,900 ft) | ||
| Vanda lindenii Rchb.f. | 1886 | New Guinea | |||
| Vanda mindanaoensis Motes, L.M.Gardiner & D.L.Roberts | 2015 | Philippines (Mindanao) | 500 metres (1,600 ft) | ||
| Vanda saxatilis J.J.Sm. | 1926 | Buru Islands, Maluku, Indonesia | |||
| Vanda scandens Holttum | 1950 | Philippines ( Mindanao, Palawan) | |||
| Section Deltoglossa Christenson | Vanda arcuata J.J.Sm. | 1907 | Indonesia - Sulawesi | ||
| Vanda bartholomewii Motes | 2021 | Maluku | |||
| Vanda chirayupiniae Wannakr. | 1894 | Malaysia, the Philippines | 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) | ||
| Vanda cootesii Motes | 2016 | Philippines (Mindano) | 400–1,500 metres (1,300–4,900 ft) | ||
| Vanda dearei Rchb.f. | 1886 | Borneo | 0–300 metres (0–984 ft) | ||
| Vanda devoogtii J.J.Sm. | 1932 | Sulawesi | |||
| Vanda emilyae Motes | 2021 | Papua New Guinea to Bismarck Archipelago. | |||
| Vanda floresensis Motes | 2021 | Lesser Sunda Islands (Flores) | |||
| Vanda foetida J.J.Sm. | 1906 | S. Sumatra | |||
| Vanda furva (L.) Lindl. | 1905 | Java, Maluku | 100–600 metres (330–1,970 ft) | ||
| Vanda helvola Blume | 1849 | Java, Sumatra, Borneo and western Malaysia, Philippines | 400–1,500 metres (1,300–4,900 ft) | ||
| Vanda hindsii Lindl. | 1843 | Papuasia, Australia (N. Queensland) | 0–450 metres (0–1,476 ft) | ||
| Vanda insignis Blume ex Lindl. | 1849 | Lesser Sunda Is., Malaysia, the Moluccas | |||
| Vanda jennae P.O'Byrne & J.J.Verm. | 2005 | Sulawesi | |||
| Vanda limbata Blume | 1849 | Java, Lesser Sunda Is., the Philippines (Mindanao) | 3–700 metres (9.8–2,296.6 ft) | ||
| Vanda lombokensis J.J.Sm. | 1925 | Lesser Sunda (Lombok Island) | 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) | ||
| Vanda luzonica Loher ex Rolfe | 1915 | Philippines (Luzon) | 500 metres (1,600 ft) | ||
| Vanda mariae Motes | 2016 | Philippines (Mindanao) | |||
| Vanda merrillii Ames & Quisumb. | 1932 | Philippines (Luzon) | 500 metres (1,600 ft) | ||
| Vanda metusalae P.O'Byrne & J.J.Verm. | 2008 | Moluccas, Sulawesi | 100–600 metres (330–1,970 ft) | ||
| Vanda perplexa Motes & D.L.Roberts | 2013 | Komodo Island of the Lesser Sunda Islands | |||
| Vanda punctata Ridl. | 1923 | Lesser Sunda Islands (Tanimbar Islands) | |||
| Vanda suavis Lindl. | 1848 | Java | |||
| Vanda sumatrana Schltr. | 1911 | Sumatra | 300–1,000 metres (980–3,280 ft) | ||
| Vanda tricolor Lindl. | 1849 | Laos, Java, Bali | 700–1,600 metres (2,300–5,200 ft) | ||
| Vanda ustii Golamco, Claustro & de Mesa | 2000 | Philippines (Luzon) | 1,250 metres (4,100 ft) | ||
| Section Eparmatostigma Gardiner | Vanda dives (Rchb.f.) L.M.Gardiner | 2012 | Vietnam, Laos | ||
| Section Flabellatae Gardiner | Vanda flabellata (Rolfe ex Downie) Christenson | 1985 | Thailand, Myanmar, China (Yunnan) | 200–1,700 metres (660–5,580 ft) | |
| Vanda lilacina Teijsm. & Binn. | 1862 | China (Yunnan), Thailand and Laos | 100–1,000 metres (330–3,280 ft) | ||
| Vanda vietnamica (Haager) L.M.Gardiner | 2012 | Vietnam | 0–700 metres (0–2,297 ft) | ||
| Section Lamellaria Lindl. | Vanda barnesii W.E.Higgins & Motes | 2012 | Philippines (North Luzon) | 1,200–1,600 metres (3,900–5,200 ft) | |
| Vanda javierae D.Tiu ex Fessel & Lückel | 1984 | Philippines (Luzon) | 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) | ||
| Vanda lamellata Lindl. | 1838 | Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Philippines, Borneo (Sabah), and the Marianas Islands | 0–300 metres (0–984 ft) | ||
| Vanda roeblingiana Rolfe | 1894 | penninsular Malaysia,the Philippines (Luzon) | |||
| Vanda sanderiana (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f. | 1882 | Philippines (Mindanao) | 0–500 metres (0–1,640 ft) | ||
| Section Neofinetia Gardiner | Vanda falcata (Thunb.) Beer | 1854 | Japan, China (Fujian, S Gansu, SW Hubei, W Jiangxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang), Korea and the Ryukyu Islands | 1,500–1,600 metres (4,900–5,200 ft) | |
| Section Longicalcarata Christenson | Vanda coerulea Griff. ex Lindl. | 1847 | China (Yunnan), India(Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya), Myanmar and Thailand | 800–1,700 metres (2,600–5,600 ft) | |
| Vanda coerulescens Griff. | 1851 | India(Assam, Arunachal Pradesh), China (Yunnan), Myanmar, Thailand | 300–1,200 metres (980–3,940 ft) | ||
| Section Obtusiloba Christenson | Vanda bicolor Griff. | 1851 | India (Assam), Bhutan and Myanmar | 700–2,000 metres (2,300–6,600 ft) | |
| Vanda brunnea Rchb.f. | 1868 | India, Myanmar, Thailand, China (Yunnan) | 800–1,550 metres (2,620–5,090 ft) | ||
| Vanda denisoniana Benson & Rchb.f. | 1869 | China (Yunnan), Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam | 450–1,200 metres (1,480–3,940 ft) | ||
| Vanda gardinerae Motes | 2021 | Thailand. | |||
| Vanda vipanii Rchb.f. | 1882 | Myanmar | |||
| Section Testacea Gardiner | Vanda bensonii Bateman | 1866 | India (Assam), Myanmar and Thailand | ||
| Vanda funingensis L.H.Zou & Z.J.Liu | 2016 | China (Yunnan) | |||
| Vanda liouvillei Finet | 1912 | India (Assam), Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos | |||
| Vanda parviflora Lindl. | 1844 | Myanmar and Thailand | 780–2,000 metres (2,560–6,560 ft) | ||
| Vanda testacea (Lindl.) Rchb.f. | 1877 | Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India(Assam), China, Nepal and Bhutan | 780–2,000 metres (2,560–6,560 ft) | ||
| Section Vanda | Vanda bidupensis Aver. & Christenson | 1998 | Vietnam | 1,450–1,750 metres (4,760–5,740 ft) | |
| Vanda concolor Blume | 1849 | China (Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan), Vietnam | 700–1,600 metres (2,300–5,200 ft) | ||
| Vanda esquirolii Schltr. | 1921 | China (SW. Guizhou, Guangxi), Laos, Vietnam | |||
| Vanda fuscoviridis Lindl. | 1848 | China (Guangdong) to Vietnam | |||
| Vanda gracilis Aver. | 2015 | Vietnam | 200–250 metres (660–820 ft) | ||
| Vanda hennisiana Ormerod & Kurzweil | 2022 | Myanmar, Vietnam | |||
| Vanda motesiana Choltco | 2009 | India (Arunachal Pradesh ) | |||
| Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. ex G.Don | 1830 | China (Yunnan), India (Assam), Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar | 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) | ||
| Vanda thwaitesii Hook.f. | 1898 | India (Kerala, Karnataka), Sri Lanka | 800–1,000 metres (2,600–3,300 ft) | ||
| Vanda wightii Rchb.f. | 1864 | India(Karnataka, Kerala) and Sri Lanka |
Natural hybrids
- Vanda × amoena O'Brien 1897 (V. coerulea × V. tessellata) (Assam)
- Vanda × boumaniae J.J.Sm. 1931 (V. insignis × V. perplexa) (Lesser Sunda Is.)
- Vanda × charlesworthii Rolfe 1894 (V. bensonii × V. coerulea) (Myanmar)
- Vanda × feliciae Cootes 2019 (V. lamellata var. boxallii × V. ustii) (Philippines (Luzon))
- Vanda × hebraica Motes & L.M.Gardiner & D.L.Roberts 2016 (V. denisoniana × V. brunnea) (Myanmar)
- Vanda × leucostele Schltr. 1911 (V. foetida × V. helvola) (Sumatera)
- Vanda × loii Motes 2021 (V. lamellata × V. merrillii) (Philippines)
- Vanda × peetersiana (Cogn.) André 1898 (V. coerulea × V. coerulescens) (Assam)
Intergeneric hybrids
The following is a list of hybrid genera (nothogenera) in which hybrids vandas with orchids of other genera are placed although many of these are invalid because of recent taxonomic changes. For instance, × Ascocenda (Ascocentrum x Vanda) and × Vandofinetia (Vanda x Neofinetia) are no longer valid because both Ascocentrum and Neofinetia have been reduced to synonyms of Vanda by RHS, which is in charge of the International Orchid Register:
- × Aeridovanda (Aerides × Vanda)
- × Aeridovanisia (Aerides × Luisia × Vanda)
- × Alphonsoara (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Andrewara (Arachnis × Renanthera × Trichoglottis × Vanda)
- × Aranda (Arachnis × Vanda)
- × Ascocenda (Ascocentrum × Vanda)
- × Ascovandoritis (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Vanda)
- × Bokchoonara (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
- × Bovornara (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Burkillara (Aerides × Arachnis × Vanda)
- × Charlieara (Rhynchostylis × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Christieara (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Vanda)
- × Darwinara (Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Debruyneara (Ascocentrum × Luisia × Vanda)
- × Devereuxara (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
- × Eastonara (Ascocentrum × Gastrochilus × Vanda)
- × Fujiora (Ascocentrum × Trichoglottis × Vanda)
- × Goffara (Luisia × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Hawaiiara (Renanthera × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Hagerara (Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
- × Himoriara (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Holttumara (Arachnis × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Isaoara (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
- × Joannara (Renanthera × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Kagawara (Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Knappara (Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Knudsonara (Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Renanthera × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Leeara (Arachnis × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Luisanda (Luisia × Vanda)
- × Luivanetia (Luisia × Neofinetia × Vanda)
- × Lewisara (Aerides × Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Vanda)
- × Maccoyara (Aerides × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Macekara (Arachnis × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Micholitzara (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Vanda)
- × Moirara (Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Mokara (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Vanda)
- × Nakamotoara (Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Vanda)
- × Nobleara (Aerides × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Okaara (Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Onoara (Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Opsisanda (Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Pageara (Ascocentrum × Luisia × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Pantapaara (Ascoglossum × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Paulara (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Pehara (Aerides × Arachnis × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Pereiraara (Aerides × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Phalaerianda (Aerides × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
- × Raganara (Renanthera × Trichoglottis × Vanda)
- × Ramasamyara (Arachnis × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Renafinanda (Neofinetia × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Renanda (Arachnis × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Renantanda (Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Rhynchovanda (Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Ridleyare (Arachnis × Trichoglottis × Vanda)
- × Robinaria (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Ronnyara (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Sanjumeara (Aerides × Neofinetia × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Sarcovanda (Sarcochilus × Vanda)
- × Shigeuraara (Ascocentrum × Ascoglossum × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Stamariaara (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Sutingara (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Teohara (Arachnis × Renanthera × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Trevorara (Arachnis × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
- × Trichovanda (Trichoglottis × Vanda)
- × Vascostylis (Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Vandachnis (Arachnis × Vandopsis)
- × Vancampe (Acampe × Vanda)
- × Vandachostylis (Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Vandaenopsis (Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
- × Vandaeranthes (Aeranthes × Vanda)
- × Vandewegheara (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
- × Vandofinetia (Neofinetia × Vanda)
- × Vandofinides (Aerides × Neofinetia × Vanda)
- × Vandoritis (Doritis × Vanda)
- × Vanglossum (Ascoglossum × Vanda)
- × Wilkinsara (Ascocentrum × Vanda × Vandopsis)
- × Yapara (Phalaenopsis × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
- × Yusofara (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Vanda)
- × Yonezawaara (Neofinetia × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
Further reading
- Grove, D. L. 1995. Vandas and Ascocendas. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. 241 pp.
- Motes, Martin R., and Alan L. Hoffman. 1997 Vandas, Their botany, history and culture. ISBN 0-88192-376-1
External links
- Media related to Vanda at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Vanda at Wikispecies