Vanda wightii

Species of the Month – October 2016

Vanda wightii Rchb. f. 1867

Distribution:
Vanda wightii endemic to low land decidous forests of Western Ghats.
It can grow big and foliage looks very similar to Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. ex G.Don

Culture:
Vanda wightii is not as hardy as Vanda tessellata and can get burnt if over exposed to too much of sun in peak summers. Grow them between Cattleya and Vanda light levels with some shading during peak summers.

Flowers measure smaller than Vanda tessellata and have faint tessellations. Lip is pure white with a tinge of yellow in the side lobes. One more noticeable difference is that the side lobes of Vanda wightii are blunt. Size if flower is 4-4.5cm across.

Number of flowers are usually lower (5-7 per inflorescence) but even a small plant can produce multiple inflorescence and it blooms from September-December. Leaves are deeply channelled and unequally bilobed at apex (size 7-35 cm)

Flowers are fragrant during late evening and smells of cinnamon.
Vanda wightii is endemic and rare in Western Ghats. Some conservation and restoration work has been done at National Orchidarium and Experimental Garden, Botanical Survey of India, Yercaud and also at Tropical Botanical Garden & Research Institute, Trivandrum.

Article and Photos by: Mr. Sriram Kumar