Vanda coelestis

Vanda coelestis is a species of orchid native to Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Description

These epiphytic herbs form distiched, hard, deeply grooved, arching leaves that are up to 17 cm long and 2 cm wide. The branched stems can grow up to 10-25 cm tall. The 20 to 50 fragrant, white, pink or blue flowers, 2.2 cm wide, are in dense, upright racemes. The spur is flat but the distal half is curved forward.

Cytology

The chromosome count of Vanda coelestis is 2n = 38.

Taxonomy

The former placement of this species within Rhynchostylis has been disputed. One study identifies this species as the sister group to all other Rhynchostylis species on the basis of Amplified Fragment [Length Polymorphism].

Etymology

The specific epithet coelestis, derived from the Latin caelum meaning the sky, heavenly, refers to the blue floral colouration.

Pollination

Pollination occurs during daytime through bees.