[ 59 J 
VANDA HOOKERIANA eco. ¢ 
VANDA HOOKERIANA, Rchb, f, in Bonplandia IV., p. 324, 1856 ; Gard. Chron., Oct. 14, 1882, p. 488 ; Illust. Hort., 1883, t. 484 ; Warner & Williams, 
Orch, Album, t. 73 ; The Garden, Jan, 6, 1883, t. 370 ; L’Orchidophile, 1886, p. 158. 
Aff. VANDA TERETI, Lindl.: Foliis superne canaliculatis, labelli auriculis triangulis, lamina a cuneata basi latissime expansa, triloba, lobis 
lateralibus obtuse ovatofalcatis, lobo medio ovato, calcari minuto. Planta admirabilis inexpectatissima, Vanda teretem cum reliquis Vandis propriis arctius 
connectens. Habitus Vande teretis, Folia vix ultra bipollicaria, Racemi oppositifolii, Flos illi, Vande teretis forsam ubi vivus aquimagnus. Sepala 
cuneato-ovata obtusa. Tepala majora, latiora ; undulato-crispata, Labelli lobi antici margine crenato undulati. Borneo, Labuan. Lobb, 347 (vid. sp. sicc 
in hb. ill. Hooker), Plantam insignem spectabilem ill. Sir William Hooker grati animi documentum obedientissime dicavimus, 
Icones analytic. Labellum expansum. Columna antice et a latere. Pollinaria, Anthera antice et postice. 
THERE are over forty species of Vanda known, all of which, however, are not in cultivation. For horticultural 
purposes, these may be divided into two well defined groups, namely, those having terete or cylindrical leaves and 
stems and those with broad or narrow strap-shaped leaves, arranged distichously upon the stem. As a representa- 
tive of the first group, we have already figured and described in the first volume of this work under tab. 27, Vanda 
teres, and we have now the opportunity of presenting to our readers another terete-leaved species, namely, Vanda 
Hookeriana. Although frequently met with in collections now, this Vanda was very scarce not many years ago. This 
was owing to the great difficulty experienced in sending living plants safely to England. It was discovered for the first 
time in Borneo in 1856; a specimen was sent to Professor Reichenbach about this time, and he described it in the 
Bonplandia, where he dedicated it to Sir William Jackson Hooker, who at that time was director of the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, and who also had a dried specimen of this Vanda in his herbarium. Travellers found this plant growing abundantly 
as an epiphyte on the trunks of Screw Pines (Pandanus), which grew along the banks of rivers, fully exposed to the 
burning rays of a tropical sun during the day, and to the heavy dews and rains by night. The great beauty of its flowers 
makes this Vanda a great favourite with the natives, who train it up the pillars of their bungalows; thus fastened the 
plants present a gay appearance during the flowering season. Notwithstanding the freedom with which this species grows 
in its native home, it by no means relished the idea of being brought to Europe, and the great problem which collectors 
had to solve was how to introduce living plants to this country. For several years they had been sending home great 
quantities of it, but on arrival the plants were found to be either all dead or in such a hopeless condition as to render all 
attempts to revive them useless. At length, however, in the latter part of the year 1873 some living plants reached 
England, and were consigned to the collection of Lord Rothschild, Tring Park. Previous to this, however, it might be 
mentioned that a plant, supposed to be V. Nookeriana, made its appearance on the Continent, but it died before it could 
be identified. The plants in the Tring collection remained there until 1882, when at last, under the care of Mr. Hill, one 
of them flowered for the first time in Europe. Before this event took place, a great many believed it to be only a poor 
form-of Vanda teres, and great was the surprise of everyone when it was proved to be something altogether distinct and 
more beautiful. This particular plant was shown at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society in September of the 
same year, when it deservedly obtained a first-class certificate, and was universally acknowledged to be “the gem of the 
exhibition.” The general appearance of this species when not in flower partakes to some extent of the character of 
V. teres, but it may be readily distinguished by its more slender and erect stems and sharper-pointed glaucous-green 
leaves, which in V. teres are much stouter, greener, and more obtuse. The large flowers, which are borne on short, 
arching peduncles from the side of the stem, are extremely beautiful, the pure white sepals and petals having a delicate 
wash of rose down the centre. The large, projecting, trilobed, wavy lip is particularly attractive, having the side lobes 
heavily blotched with magenta, and the basal half of the central one elegantly striped with deep purple, which vividly © 
contrasts with the pure white colour of the apical portion, while the two still deeper purple triangular auricles at the base 
are at once striking and characteristic. 
Subject as this plant is in its natural condition to great heat and moisture—the mean annual temperature is about 
82 deg. F.—it should, therefore, be grown in this country in a warm corner of the East India house, on blocks or rafts 
which may be stood in pots or pans filled with crocks and charcoal and topped with fresh sphagnum. During the hot 
days of the summer months the plants should be well syringed several times a day, and a fair amount of air may be 
given so as to ripen the growth and promote free flowering, after which less water should be given for a month or so. 
Our plate was taken from a plant in the collection of Lord Rothschild, Tring Park, 
