Vanda tessellata
grey orchid
Family OrchidaceaeAlso called checkered vanda
About
Vanda tessellata, the grey orchid or checkered vanda, is an epiphytic orchid found from the Indian subcontinent to Indochina, with yellowish flowers chequered in brown and a bluish lip. It has a long history in traditional medicine.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Not recorded. We have no source on whether this plant is safe for cats, dogs or other pets — that is not the same as safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked.
- People
- Not recorded.
- Light
- Bright light, such as a south-facing window or bright greenhouse; strap-leaf vandas want 3,000–5,000 foot-candles. General guidance for the genus
- Water
- Water often, even several times a day in summer, but keep water off leaves and flowers to avoid rot. General guidance for the genus
- Humidity
- High humidity. General guidance for the genus
- Soil
- Fast-draining, quick-drying medium (lava rock, coarse bark, kiln-fired aggregate) or an open basket with no medium; do not trim the aerial roots. General guidance for the genus
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Morphology
An epiphyte with stout stems 30–60 cm long that climb by stout, simple or branched aerial roots. Succulent, linear, recurved leaves are 15–20 cm long. Racemes of 6–10 flowers reach 15–25 cm; sepals and petals are yellow, chequered with brown lines and edged white, and the 16 mm lip is bluish dotted with purple. Ribbed capsules are 7.5–9 cm long.
Distribution & habitat
From the Indian subcontinent to Indochina.
History & etymology
Its roots and leaves have long been used in traditional medicine in India, including the Unani system, for complaints such as fever and rheumatism, and Santhal girls use the leaves to make anklets.
Conservation
Assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- IUCN status
- Least concern
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
- Humidity
- High humidity.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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