Arundina graminifolia

Arundina graminifolia [D Don] Hochr. 1910

Common Name: The Grass-Like Leaf Arundina - The Bamboo Orchid

Rhizome of Arundina graminifolia is used in extraction of certain anti-viral/anti-bacterial compounds. Flowers and stem extract is used in Chinese medicine as anti-cholesterol compound.

Distribution & Occurrence:

Many parts of south east Asia at various altitudes

The Plant

Giant sized (upto 2 meters) warm to hot growing terrestrial orchid with tall and thin stems like bamboo

Blooms throughout the year on a terminal inflorescence that carries 2 to 6 fragrant cattleya like flowers but flowers open one at a time. Flowers are short lived

Flower color and lip shapes are extremely variable

Cultural Requirements and Nutrition

Grow in bright light with atleast few hours of direct sunlight and medium should dry out soon. Water and fertilize all around the year

Though it is a terrestrial, it should be potted in a loose and fast draining medium. I grow in 50% charcoal and broken tiles 50%

Pest and Diseases

No specific pests or disease.

Hybrids

No registered hybrids

Bloomed in Oct 2014

Vanda tessellata

Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. 1850 SECTION Longicalcarata

Common Name: The Lattice-Like Paterned Flower Vanda

Juice of the compressed plant is used as a cure all drink in Malaysian peninsula. V. tessellata plants have been used in the indigenous medicine such as Ayurveda and local traditional medical practices. The leaf juice is used for the treatment of certain inflammatory conditions. It is also instilled into the ear as a remedy for otitis. The leaves paste is applied to the body to bring down fever. Root paste is applied to the affected area for the treatment of rheumatism. The root paste is also used in treatment of nervous problems, bronchitis, dyspepsia and fever. Unani practitioners hold it to be laxative and tonic to the liver. It is also used to treat hiccough, piles & boils in head.

Distribution & Occurrence:

Western Himalayas, Burma to south India & Srilanka @ elevations of 1200 to 3000 Meters.

The Plant

Medium to large sized warm to cold growing vandaceous epiphyte with climbing stems and semi terete leaves

Flowers around the year in summer, autumn and winter. Inflorescence carries 6-12 fragrant long-lived flowers. Flower shade and lip shade are very variable ranging from yellow to blue.

There is also a difference in flower size and bloom frequency, The North Indian varieties are the smallest but flower more frequently while the Sri Lankan varieties are bigger, of better form and some of them come in various shades of red and grey though they are not as floriferous as the North Indian ones. The South Indian ones are somewhere in between in terms of size and they do bloom quite often.

Vanda tessellata can be identified by it's fish bone pattern of leaf arrangement the side lobes on the lip have a very characteristic pointed curve which is not seen even in its first generation hybrids.

Cultural Requirements and Nutrition

Grow in moderate strong light with long hours of direct sunlight. Water and fertilize throughout the year.

Pest and Diseases

No specific pests or disease.

Hybrids

Vanda tessellata has been used extensively in hybridization, with Vanda Mimi Palmer a very striking lookalike being one of the most famous and V Cindy Banks and V Arjuna Wink being other famous hybrids

Bloomed in Oct 2014