Vanda metusalae

Vanda metusalae, new orchids from Indonesia

Picture by Destario M (2008)

Photo by Destario Metusala (2008)

Photo by Boby Satya (2008)

In January 2008 has published a new species of Vanda orchids from Indonesia. This orchid has been described by Peter O'Bryrne and Jaap Vermeulen in The Orchid Review Journal 116 (1279): 9-11 (2008) Sosok trees not too large, the stem can reach 50 cm, with diameter of 1,2-1,5 cm. Quite narrow leaves, leaf 2-2,3 cm wide, 30-45 cm long leaves, be part two (bilobed) and be sharp-toothed. Flowering stalk including short when compared with other family Vanda, which is about 5-6 cm, 3-7 to bring the flower bud. Vanda flowers metusalae sized not too large, namely 3.2 cm x 3.5 cm, colored bright yellow with the basic pattern of red-brown The speck on the edge sheath (sepal-petal) and form a pattern lines longitudinal vessel direction. At the labellumnya be split in 3 space (trilobed), with the wide end of the midlobe wavy edge and bright yellow on the base and manjadi towards the end of the brownish tinge. Vanda has a close kinship with devoogtii Vanda, Vanda merrillii, and Vanda Vanda sumatrana hindsii. Unfortunately orchid flowers do not survive this long, beautiful flowers just stand around 7-10 days. Vanda orchid metusalae including the difficulty level has a higher cultivation when compared with other relatives Vanda, vegetatifnya growth are very slow, so that low ability adaptasinya new plant is very easy to stress, the growth environment, so need very specific humidity, temperature, aerasi, and the light intensity really appropriate. When the growth environment is only slightly changed, Isn'T grow, this plant will be stagnant and even more dead among the drought (as there is no root of the optimal growth) and even many of them have rotten roots because the conditions are too humid. This is, to some extent the plant is not recommended for beginners.

Step urgent priority is to be done is to increase, particularly through the seeds of culture and cultural network that this species does not disappear from their habitat, such as some relatives Vanda other species from Indonesia.