About
A rare epiphytic orchid of southern India, thought extinct for a long time after its 1849 description until it was rediscovered in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
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. General guidance for the genus
- Water
- Water often in the growing season, 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; 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
Stems 15–22 cm long, rooting heavily at the base, with thick, fleshy, V-channelled leaves 7–35 cm long. Racemes 6–17 cm long carry two or three flowers 4–4.5 cm across, dull brownish greenish-yellow with faint chequering, pleasantly fragrant at dusk.
Distribution & habitat
Southern India (Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu); it has also been attributed to Sri Lanka.
History & etymology
Named by Reichenbach after the botanist and collector Robert Wight. It is closely related to Vanda thwaitesii.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- India, Sri Lanka
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
- Humidity
- High humidity.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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