Vanda luzonica - the pride of Luzon Island vandas
Found on the isle of Luzon in the Philippines at elevations of 500 meters, as a large sized, hot to warm growing monopodial epiphyte that likes steady watering year round and blooms on an axillary, descending, to 16" [40 cm] long, shorter than the leaves, several to many [10 to 25] flowered inflorescence occuring in the spring with fragrant, very waxy flowers. (From IOSPE).
IOSPE doesn't tell us that the species is endemic to the Mt. Pinatubo area, the eruption of which in 1991 was described as the largest volcanic eruption in living memory. Needless to say, everything has been covered with ash and lahar. Nowadays, one can go trekking to the crater. Just be careful because the weather can be very tricky. Last month three French and Belgian tourists died because they went up despite the weather warnings and a sudden downpour carried down their SUVs like lego blocks.
When we say it rains in our country, we mean it. :-)
This is the island of Luzon's answer to the island of Mindanao's Vanda (Euanthe) sanderiana. Doesn't really come up short, but I love Vanda sanderiana more. (psstt..don't tell that to this plant).
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Originally Posted by dawn_green
