PL. 73. VANDA HOOKERIANA.
VANDA HOOKERIANA.
[[Plate 73].]
Native of Borneo.
Epiphytal. Stems elongate, rigid, terete, pale green, producing aërial roots from the joints, resembling in habit and character those of its near ally, Vanda teres. Leaves erect, terete, tapered to a subulate mucronate point, channelled on the upper side, two and a half to three inches long, of a pale green colour. Peduncles from near the top of the stem, opposite, and longer than the leaves, erect, bearing a two to five-flowered raceme (two-flowered in the examples bloomed in this country). Flowers large, two and a half inches in diameter, and extremely beautiful, white, heavily striped and venosely dotted with deep rich magenta; dorsal sepal obovate, cuneate, wavy, projected forwards, white, tinted with rose; the lateral sepals similar in form, but larger, apiculate, white; petals spathulate oblong, obtuse, undulately-crisped, standing right and left above the column and lip, white, spotted with magenta; lip with a pair of large triangular entire auricles standing erect, one on each side the column, of a deep purple colour, mottled with a paler hue, the front portion expanding from a cuneate base into a very broad transverse trifid limb, two inches broad, which is concave, the lower edge being projected forwards, the lateral lobes oblong obtuse, the central one shorter, bluntly ovate, crenate, undulate, white, the disk marked longitudinally with bold rich magenta-purple lines, from which diverge in the direction of the lateral lobes several parallel stripes of a similar colour, the front part of these lobes, as well as the front lobe itself, marked with dots of rich magenta-purple ranged in lines. Spur small, acute, with two blunt calli in front of its mouth. Column hairy below, white, tipped with purple.
Vanda Hookeriana, Reichenbach fil., in Bonplandia, iv., 324; Id. Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.S., xviii., 488. Moore, Florist and Pomologist, 1882, 155.
This lovely plant, which was unanimously awarded a First Class Certificate by the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, when shown for the first time in this country in September last, appears to have been originally discovered by Lobb, at Labuan, being represented by No. 347 of his Collection; and from Lobb’s specimen in the Hookerian Herbarium, it was named by Professor Reichenbach, in compliment to Sir William Jackson Hooker, and published amongst other Orchid notes and descriptions in the volume of the Bonplandia issued in 1856; so that, despite some well-merited laudatory remarks, such as “planta admirabilis inexspectatissima,” and “plantam insignem spectabilem,” it has been long in finding its way to our Orchid collections, which it appears to have done in the summer of 1873, according to Reichenbach, who adds, “I believe all went direct to Sir N. de Rothschild, Bart., and the plants one afterwards saw at other places were all presents from Tring Park. Now, after nearly ten years, Mr. Hill, Sir N. de Rothschild’s orchid grower, has succeeded in flowering the plant.” It was also flowered about the same time by Mr. Ebbage, gardener to J. S. Bockett, Esq., Stamford Hill, from whose plant our plate was prepared. Our impression is, though we have not had an opportunity of making the comparison, that Sir N. de Rothschild’s flowers were appreciably larger than those here delineated.
Vanda Hookeriana is a very distinct looking plant, It has terete foliage, resembling that of a slender form of the Vanda teres, but having the tips of the leaves more acute. The flowers are produced on short spikes, which are thrown out from the stem. As far as we have seen, only two flowers have been produced on a single spike, but since as many as five flowers have been counted on the imported spikes, we have no doubt that with judicious attention and cultivation it may produce more. The fact that it does so in the wild state speaks well for its free-flowering qualities. The flowers of this species are white, richly spotted with rosy purple, and the lip is longitudinally and transversely marked with lines of the same colour.
Vanda Hookeriana is a slender tall-growing plant, requiring an abundant supply of moisture during the growing season, after which it should be gradually dried off to predispose it to flower. A raft or block of wood will be found the best contrivance to grow it upon; this can either he plunged in a pot or hung up to the roof of the house, in a position where the plant may obtain plenty of sunlight and air. A little sphagnum moss about the roots will be found beneficial, since it will aid in keeping the young succulent points moist. While growing it should be placed in the East India house, and plenty of water should be given it. After flowering, a slight rest should be allowed, and after that water may again be given as soon as it shows signs of starting into growth.
This plant is subject to the attacks of scale and thrips, which should be disposed of by sponging and fumigation. Propagation is effected by cutting down the plants, care being taken to see that the shoots are furnished with roots. These cut portions should be put in pots, or placed on blocks or rafts, and kept in a shady position until established. After this operation has been performed, the old stem will throw out side shoots, which can again be detached when rooted should more stock be required.
PL. 74. EPIDENDRUM WALLISII.