Vanda

Vanda
Vanda coerulea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Vandeae
Subtribe: Aeridinae
Genus: Vanda
Gaud. ex Pfitzer
Type species
Vanda roxburghii R.Br.
Synonyms
  • Ascocentrum Schltr.
  • Euanthe Schltr.
  • Finetia Schltr.
  • Neofinetia Hu
  • Nipponorchis Masam.
  • Eparmatostigma Garay
  • Trudelia Garay
  • × Trudelianda Garay
  • Christensonia Haager
  • Ascocentropsis Senghas & Schildh.
  • Gunnaria S.C.Chen ex Z.J.Liu & L.J.Chen

Vanda is a genus of plants in the family Orchidaceae native to tropical and subtropical Asia to the northwestern Pacific, New Guinea, and Australia. It is highly prized in horticulture for its showy, fragrant, long-lasting, and intensely colorful flowers.

Description

Vanda are epiphytic, monopodial herbs with ascending or rarely arching, usually rather long, stout, rigid stems with short internodes and many distichous leaves. Thick roots emerge from the lower part of the stem. The stems of these orchids vary considerably in size; some are miniature plants and some have a length of several meters. The plants can become quite massive in habitat and in cultivation, and epiphytic species possess very large, rambling aerial root systems. The roots have pneumatodes.

The few to many flattened flowers grow on a lateral inflorescence. Most show a yellow-brown color with brown markings, but they also appear in white, green, orange, red, and burgundy shades. The lip has a small spur. Vanda species usually bloom every few months and the flowers last for two to three weeks.

Taxonomy

It was described by Robert Brown in 1821. The type species is Vanda roxburghii R.Br. In a recent molecular study of the genus Vanda, several genera including the former genus Ascocentrum, Neofinetia and Euanthe were brought into synonym with Vanda.

Etymology

The generic name Vanda is derived from the Sanskrit (वन्दाका) name for the species Vanda roxburghii (a synonym of Vanda tessellata).

Species

The following is a list of Vanda species recognised by Plants of the World Online as of January 2025 separated by sections:

SectionImageNameYearDistributionElevation (m)
Section Ascocentrum Gardiner Vanda ampullacea (Roxb.) L.M.Gardiner1914Nepal, China (southern Yunnan), India (Sikkim, Andaman Islands, Assam), Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam300–1,500 metres (980–4,920 ft)
Vanda aurantiaca (Schltr.) L.M.Gardiner2012Bali, Sulawesi and the Philippines1,200 metres (3,900 ft)
Vanda aurea (J.J.Sm.) L.M.Gardiner2012Maluku (Sula)
Vanda curvifolia (Lindl.) L.M.Gardiner2012India (Assam), Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, southern China and Vietnam0–700 metres (0–2,297 ft)
Vanda garayi (Christenson) L.M.Gardiner2012Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam0–1,000 metres (0–3,281 ft)
Vanda insularum (Christenson) L.M.Gardiner2012Maratua island to the east of Kalimantan, Borneo
Vanda karinae Motes2021India (Assam)
Vanda miniata (Lindl.) L.M.Gardiner2012Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and the Philippines
Vanda rubra (Lindl.) L.M.Gardiner2012Myanmar, Vietnam
Section Ascocentropsis Gardiner Vanda christensoniana (Haager) L.M.Gardiner1993Vietnam0–700 metres (0–2,297 ft)
Vanda hienii (Aver. & V.C.Nguyen) R.Rice2019Vietnam (Cao Bang)1,300 metres (4,300 ft)
Vanda malipoensis L.H.Zou, Jiu X.Huang & Z.J.Liu2014China (Yunnan)
Vanda nana L.M.Gardiner2012Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia
Section Cristatae Lindl. Vanda alpina (Lindl.) Lindl.1853India (Assam, Sikkim), Nepal, Bhutan, China (Yunnan)1,200–2,000 metres (3,900–6,600 ft)
Vanda chlorosantha (Garay) Christenson1992Bhutan
Vanda cristata Wall. ex Lindl.1828Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, China (Yunnan, Xizang)600–2,300 metres (2,000–7,500 ft)
Vanda flavobrunnea Rchb.f.1886India(Sikkim), Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Sumatra700–1,400 metres (2,300–4,600 ft)
Vanda griffithii Lindl.1851Nepal, Bhutan1,500–1,800 metres (4,900–5,900 ft)
Vanda jainii A.S.Chauhan1984India (Assam)
Vanda longitepala D.L.Roberts, L.M.Gardiner & Motes2008 publ. 2009Myanmar1,200–1,500 metres (3,900–4,900 ft)
Vanda sathishii Motes2022India (Kerala)
Section Dactylolobatae W. Suarez & Cootes, Philipp Vanda aliceae Motes, L.M.Gardiner & D.L.Roberts2015Bacan Island, North Moluccas
Vanda celebica Rolfe1899Indonesia (Sulawesi)500–600 metres (1,600–2,000 ft)
Vanda crassiloba Teijsm. & Binn. ex J.J.Sm.1905Maluku (Ambon, Seram)
Vanda frankieana Metusala & P.O'Byrne2011Borneo (Kalimantan)
Vanda gibbsiae Rolfe1914Borneo800–1,100 metres (2,600–3,600 ft)
Vanda hastifera Rchb.f.1877Borneo600–1,200 metres (2,000–3,900 ft)
Vanda lindenii Rchb.f.1886New Guinea
Vanda mindanaoensis Motes, L.M.Gardiner & D.L.Roberts2015Philippines (Mindanao)500 metres (1,600 ft)
Vanda saxatilis J.J.Sm.1926Buru Islands, Maluku, Indonesia
Vanda scandens Holttum1950Philippines ( Mindanao, Palawan)
Section Deltoglossa Christenson Vanda arcuata J.J.Sm.1907Indonesia - Sulawesi
Vanda bartholomewii Motes2021Maluku
Vanda chirayupiniae Wannakr.1894Malaysia, the Philippines1,500 metres (4,900 ft)
Vanda cootesii Motes2016Philippines (Mindano)400–1,500 metres (1,300–4,900 ft)
Vanda dearei Rchb.f.1886Borneo0–300 metres (0–984 ft)
Vanda devoogtii J.J.Sm.1932Sulawesi
Vanda emilyae Motes2021Papua New Guinea to Bismarck Archipelago.
Vanda floresensis Motes2021Lesser Sunda Islands (Flores)
Vanda foetida J.J.Sm.1906S. Sumatra
Vanda furva (L.) Lindl.1905Java, Maluku100–600 metres (330–1,970 ft)
Vanda helvola Blume1849Java, Sumatra, Borneo and western Malaysia, Philippines400–1,500 metres (1,300–4,900 ft)
Vanda hindsii Lindl.1843Papuasia, Australia (N. Queensland)0–450 metres (0–1,476 ft)
Vanda insignis Blume ex Lindl.1849Lesser Sunda Is., Malaysia, the Moluccas
Vanda jennae P.O'Byrne & J.J.Verm.2005Sulawesi
Vanda limbata Blume1849Java, Lesser Sunda Is., the Philippines (Mindanao)3–700 metres (9.8–2,296.6 ft)
Vanda lombokensis J.J.Sm.1925Lesser Sunda (Lombok Island)1,200 metres (3,900 ft)
Vanda luzonica Loher ex Rolfe1915Philippines (Luzon)500 metres (1,600 ft)
Vanda mariae Motes2016Philippines (Mindanao)
Vanda merrillii Ames & Quisumb.1932Philippines (Luzon)500 metres (1,600 ft)
Vanda metusalae P.O'Byrne & J.J.Verm.2008Moluccas, Sulawesi100–600 metres (330–1,970 ft)
Vanda perplexa Motes & D.L.Roberts2013Komodo Island of the Lesser Sunda Islands
Vanda punctata Ridl.1923Lesser Sunda Islands (Tanimbar Islands)
Vanda suavis Lindl.1848Java
Vanda sumatrana Schltr.1911Sumatra300–1,000 metres (980–3,280 ft)
Vanda tricolor Lindl.1849Laos, Java, Bali700–1,600 metres (2,300–5,200 ft)
Vanda ustii Golamco, Claustro & de Mesa2000Philippines (Luzon)1,250 metres (4,100 ft)
Section Eparmatostigma Gardiner Vanda dives (Rchb.f.) L.M.Gardiner2012Vietnam, Laos
Section Flabellatae Gardiner Vanda flabellata (Rolfe ex Downie) Christenson1985Thailand, Myanmar, China (Yunnan)200–1,700 metres (660–5,580 ft)
Vanda lilacina Teijsm. & Binn.1862China (Yunnan), Thailand and Laos100–1,000 metres (330–3,280 ft)
Vanda vietnamica (Haager) L.M.Gardiner2012Vietnam0–700 metres (0–2,297 ft)
Section Lamellaria Lindl. Vanda barnesii W.E.Higgins & Motes2012Philippines (North Luzon)1,200–1,600 metres (3,900–5,200 ft)
Vanda javierae D.Tiu ex Fessel & Lückel1984Philippines (Luzon)1,200 metres (3,900 ft)
Vanda lamellata Lindl.1838Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Philippines, Borneo (Sabah), and the Marianas Islands0–300 metres (0–984 ft)
Vanda roeblingiana Rolfe1894peninsular Malaysia, the Philippines (Luzon)
Vanda sanderiana (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f.1882Philippines (Mindanao)0–500 metres (0–1,640 ft)
Section Neofinetia Gardiner Vanda falcata (Thunb.) Beer1854Japan, China (Fujian, S Gansu, SW Hubei, W Jiangxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang), Korea and the Ryukyu Islands1,500–1,600 metres (4,900–5,200 ft)
Section Longicalcarata Christenson Vanda coerulea Griff. ex Lindl.1847China (Yunnan), India(Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya), Myanmar and Thailand800–1,700 metres (2,600–5,600 ft)
Vanda coerulescens Griff.1851India(Assam, Arunachal Pradesh), China (Yunnan), Myanmar, Thailand300–1,200 metres (980–3,940 ft)
Section Obtusiloba Christenson Vanda bicolor Griff.1851India (Assam), Bhutan and Myanmar700–2,000 metres (2,300–6,600 ft)
Vanda brunnea Rchb.f.1868India, Myanmar, Thailand, China (Yunnan)800–1,550 metres (2,620–5,090 ft)
Vanda denisoniana Benson & Rchb.f.1869China (Yunnan), Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam450–1,200 metres (1,480–3,940 ft)
Vanda gardinerae Motes2021Thailand.
Vanda vipanii Rchb.f.1882Myanmar
Section Testacea Gardiner Vanda bensonii Bateman1866India (Assam), Myanmar and Thailand
Vanda funingensis L.H.Zou & Z.J.Liu2016China (Yunnan)
Vanda liouvillei Finet1912India (Assam), Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos
Vanda parviflora Lindl.1844Myanmar and Thailand780–2,000 metres (2,560–6,560 ft)
Vanda testacea (Lindl.) Rchb.f.1877Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India(Assam), China, Nepal and Bhutan780–2,000 metres (2,560–6,560 ft)
Section Vanda Vanda bidupensis Aver. & Christenson1998Vietnam1,450–1,750 metres (4,760–5,740 ft)
Vanda concolor Blume1849China (Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan), Vietnam700–1,600 metres (2,300–5,200 ft)
Vanda esquirolii Schltr.1921China (SW. Guizhou, Guangxi), Laos, Vietnam
Vanda fuscoviridis Lindl.1848China (Guangdong) to Vietnam
Vanda gracilis Aver.2015Vietnam200–250 metres (660–820 ft)
Vanda hennisiana Ormerod & Kurzweil2022Myanmar, Vietnam
Vanda motesiana Choltco2009India (Arunachal Pradesh )
Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. ex G.Don1830China (Yunnan), India (Assam), Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar1,500 metres (4,900 ft)
Vanda thwaitesii Hook.f.1898India (Kerala, Karnataka), Sri Lanka800–1,000 metres (2,600–3,300 ft)
Vanda wightii Rchb.f.1864India(Karnataka, Kerala) and Sri Lanka

Natural hybrids

  • Vanda × amoena O'Brien (V. coerulea × V. tessellata) (Assam)
  • Vanda × boumaniae J.J.Sm. (V. insignis × V. perplexa) (Lesser Sunda Is.)
  • Vanda × charlesworthii Rolfe (V. bensonii × V. coerulea) (Myanmar)
  • Vanda × feliciae Cootes (V. lamellata var. boxallii × V. ustii) (Philippines (Luzon))
  • Vanda × hebraica Motes & L.M.Gardiner & D.L.Roberts (V. denisoniana × V. brunnea) (Myanmar)
  • Vanda × leucostele Schltr. (V. foetida × V. helvola) (Sumatera)
  • Vanda × loii Motes (V. lamellata × V. merrillii) (Philippines)
  • Vanda × peetersiana (Cogn.) André (V. coerulea × V. coerulescens) (Assam)

Distribution and habitat

These mostly epiphytic, but sometimes lithophytic or terrestrial orchids, are distributed in India, Himalaya, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, southern China, and northern Australia.

Ecology

Vanda falcata is pollinated by hawkmoth species of the genus Theretra, namely Theretra japonica and Theretra nessus.

Conservation

Many Vanda orchids, particularly V. coerulea, are endangered. These species have never been common in the wild and are typically encountered only infrequently in their natural habitats. They grow mainly in disturbed forest areas with high light levels and are therefore especially vulnerable to habitat destruction. The export of wild-collected specimens of the blue orchid (V. coerulea) and other wild Vanda species is prohibited worldwide, as all orchids are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Cultivation

This genus is one of the five most horticulturally important orchid genera. Its species are valued for their flowers, and many are important in hybridization and the cut flower market. V. coerulea is notable for its blue flowers, a coloration that is unusual in the botanical world. It is also highly valued in breeding and has contributed to numerous interspecific and intergeneric hybrids.

Fungal infections

Cross section of Vanda stem infected with Fusarium, exhibiting typical purple spotting of vascular tissue

Unfortunately fungal infections are not uncommon in cultivated plants. A variety of phytopathogens may infect Vanda orchids. Vandas may be affected by Fusarium wilt. This disease is characterized by purple discolouration in the vascular tissue, which results in the loss of their function. The hyphae and spores block the conductor vessels. Affected plants may superficially appear healthy, as they continue to grow, the oldest parts of the plants can be affected and the disease will eventually progress throughout the entire plant. If cutting tools are not sterilized the infection may spread to other plants.

References

  1. 1 2 Vanda | International Plant Names Index. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://www.ipni.org/n/30077641-2
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Vanda R.Br". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 Flora of China v 25 p 471, 万代兰属 wan dai lan shu, Vanda Jones ex R. Brown, Bot. Reg. 6: ad t. 506. 1820.
  4. 1 2 The Orchids, Natural History and Classification, Robert L. Dressler. ISBN 0-674-87526-5
  5. ↑ Eschrich, W. (1995). Gaswechsel. In Funktionelle Pflanzenanatomie (pp. 75-109). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
  6. ↑ "Vanda (Vanda Orchid) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  7. ↑ Lim, S. (1999). "RAPD Analysis of Some Species in the GenusVanda(Orchidaceae)". Annals of Botany. 83 (2): 193–196. Bibcode:1999AnBot..83..193L. doi:10.1006/anbo.1998.0801.
  8. ↑ vandAkA Sanskrit English Dictionary, University of Koeln, Germany
  9. 1 2 Jones D.L.; et al. (2006). "Vanda". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australian Government. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  10. ↑ Garay, L. (1972), On the systematics of the monopodial orchids, Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harvard University, 23(4): 149-212
  11. ↑ Gardiner, Lauren M.; Kocyan, Alexander; Motes, Martin; Roberts, David L.; Emerson, Brent C. (2013-10-29). "Molecular phylogenetics ofVandaand related genera (Orchidaceae)". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 173 (4). Oxford University Press (OUP): 549–572. doi:10.1111/boj.12102. hdl:10261/178619. ISSN 0024-4074.
  12. ↑ Gardiner, Lauren M.; Hawkins, Julie A.; Roberts, David L. (2005). "Species Delimitation in Vanda Sect. Cristatae Lindl. (Orchidaceae): A Morphometric Approach". Selbyana. 26 (1/2). Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc.: 347–353. ISSN 0361-185X. JSTOR 41760227. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
  13. 1 2 Motes, Martin; Gardiner, Lauren M.; Roberts, David L. (2015-06-01). "Vanda section Dactylolobatae: a summary, two new species, and a key to identification". ResearchGate (2): 98–104. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
  14. ↑ Motes, M., Gardiner, L. M., & Roberts, D. L. (2016). The identity of spotted Vanda denisoniana. Orchid Review, 124(1316), 228-233.
  15. ↑ Suetsugu, K., Tanaka, K., Okuyama, Y., & Yukawa, T. (2015). "Potential pollinator of Vanda falcata (Orchidaceae): Theretra (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) hawkmoths are visitors of long spurred orchid." European Journal of Entomology, 112(2), 393.
  16. ↑ Gardiner, Lauren M.; Kocyan, Alexander; Motes, Martin; Roberts, David L.; Emerson, Brent C. (2013). "Molecular phylogenetics of Vanda and related genera (Orchidaceae)". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 173 (4): 549–572. doi:10.1111/boj.12102. ISSN 1095-8339.
  17. ↑ Tanee, Tawatchai; Chadmuk, Piyawadee; Runglawan, Sudmoon; Noikotr, Kowit (2012-07-10). "Genetic analysis for identification, genomic template stability in hybrids and barcodes of the Vanda species (Orchidaceae) of Thailand". African Journal of Biotechnology. 11: 11772–11781.
  18. ↑ "Vanda-ful vandas | Kew". www.kew.org. Retrieved 2026-09-02.
  19. ↑ "Blue Vanda (Vanda coerulea)". www.gardensbythebay.com.sg. Retrieved 2026-09-02.
  20. ↑ Pedroso-de-Moraes, C., Souza, M. C. D., Ronconi, C. C., & Marteline, M. A. (2011). Response of Cattleya hybrids for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cattleyae Foster. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 54(2), 267-271.
  21. ↑ Reddy, P. P. (2016). Orchids. In Sustainable Crop Protection under Protected Cultivation (pp. 393-407). Springer, Singapore.

Further reading