Vandafan, thanks for backing me up! You're right that you can notice before the flowers open, the buds look unsually round compared to other vanda (hybrid) buds.
For further information about the Philippine Orchid Species - Vanda sanderiana Rchb.f., here is the profile copied from the website of Philippine Orchid Society:
Synonym: Euanthe sanderiana (Reichenbach.f) Schlechter
Esmeralda sanderiana Reichb.f.
Vanda sanderiana, locally called “Waling-waling” , is one of the most beautiful and popular orchid species from the Philippines. It is a strap-leaf species that contributes vigor, large size, enhanced color intensity, round-shape, and flatness of flowers to virtually all Vanda hybrids. This Philippine species is extensively used as a parent in Vanda hybridization works.
Prof. Heinrich G. Reichenbach originally named this species Vanda sanderiana in 1882 in the Gardeners’ Chronicle, in honor of Henry F. Sander, a famous nurseryman and patron of orchids, of St. Albans, England. Dr. Rudolf Schlechter created the generic name, Euanthe in Die Orchideen in 1914 and transferred Vanda sanderiana to this new genus. Difference in the labellum, most particularly the absence of a spur, separates the Euanthe from the Vanda.
Vanda sanderiana is an upright, monopodial orchid, about 1 meter tall. Its leaves arch gracefully up to 40 cm long by 3 cm wide, with its tips unequally notched, as if chewed by an insect. The inflorescences are upright, and carry up to 10 flowers, each 10 cm in diameter. The dorsal sepal and petals are pale pink with some dark spotting toward the center, the lateral sepals greenish brown with darker brown tassellations; and the labellum are purplish brown. The dorsal and lateral sepals are broadly elliptic, measuring up to 4 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. The petals are also broadly elliptic, up to 3.5 cm long by 2 cm wide. The labellum or lip is three-lobed, about 2.5 cm long by 1.75 cm wide, with wide rounded and upright side lobes, and an upright, oblong to circular mid-lobe. The midlobe has three ridges and the labellum phenotypically has no spur, a distinguishing mark which separates Euanthe from Vanda, and also identifies a true Vanda sanderiana species from that of a hybrid.
Vanda sanderiana is endemic to Mindanao Island of the Philippines, where it is particularly found in North and South Cotobato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur. It grows as an epiphyte attached to dipterocarp forest trees at elevations of 500 meters.
It was noted by Jim Cootes (1991) in his book that “The orchid world is fortunate for the dedication of growers in Hawaii and Thailand who have done wonderful work in propagating both the albino and normal-colored forms of this glorious species. Vastly superior forms are now readily available to any orchid grower who can provide the cool minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius that his species require.” The plant is also being mass produced in orchid nurseries and laboratories in Mindanao since the plant is threatened and needs to be conserved. The plant is in the endangered list.
Because of its beauty, Vanda sanderiana, is described as the “Queen of Philippine Orchids” and was adopted by the Philippine Orchid Society as its logo. The species blooms in the Philippines from July to October, usually after experiencing 3 or more weeks of continuous heavy downpour during the country’s monsoon rain period. With this characteristic, the Philippine Orchid Society celebrates its yearly midyear orchid show every August to coincide with the blooming of this majestic orchid.
This species has 3 varieties, namely:
1. Vanda sanderiana var. albata Reichb. f. in Gard. Chron. ser. 3.2 (1887) 9. Esmeralda Sanderiana var. albata Will.
This plant was described by Prof. Heinrich G. Reichenbach in the Gardeners’ Chronicle in 1887. The growth habit and flower size are just a little smaller than those of the species. The lateral sepals are yellowish-green with white margins, while the dorsal sepal and petals are white with purple spots at base. The labellum or lip has purple dots.
The plant was reported from Davao del Sur and South Cotobato on Mindanao Island where it grows as an epiphyte at elevations to 500 meters. This variety is extremely rare in its natural habitat.
2. Vanda sanderiana var. froebeliana cogn. in Dict. Icon. des. Orch.Vanda t. 12 a (1903).
The plant has bright rose flower stalks; and has very large flowers compared to the species. The lateral sepals are bright yellow, with rose coloration towards the margins, and densely covered with large purple reticulated veins. The dorsal sepal and petals are rose pink color on the upper half, while lower half with brownish-purple spots.
3. Vanda sanderiana var. labello-viridi Linden & Rodigas in Lindenia 1:85, t (1885) 40.
Esmeralda sanderiana var. labello-viridi Will.
The plant is similar to the species except the lip or labellum is green with crimpson stripes.
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Normal flowering seasons: August, September, and January
The plant is very expensive. Price of plant with flowers range from Php7,000.00 to Php15,000.00. I learned from Mr. Chua that his waling-waling stand out in Singapore Orchid Contest in 1989. Right then and there the plant was bought by Yusof Alsagoff, a Singaporean plant breeder for an equivalent of Php45,000.00.
By the way, i would also suggest to buy the plant with flowers in the months of August and September.
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Last August, i went to Davao City to see the real waling-waling for myself. With awe, i can't believe the prices of these beautiful orchids. I canvassed the price of the plant, looking for the cheapest one at the best quality but real walingwaling. I found Mr. Chua who offered to sell his award winning plants at affordable price. I bought the flowering plant with two keikis attached to the bark of the tree, at Php3,500.00. His plants are not tissue cultured by means of crossbreed/cross pollination that's why he produce keikis. They are descendants of real waling-waling. He said he wanted to set-up laboratory for mass production. Now, i'm very happy to have complete 3 varieties of waling-waling. Alba variety is the most difficult to bear flowers.
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