Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Vanda alpina (Sep 2026). This plant matches available photos including orchidroots.com, and the IOSPE. V. cristata is a similar species to V. alpina; however, it has prominent horns at the apex of the lip. V. alpina and this plant do not. The leaves of this plant are distinctly bilobed and one of them shown in the photo is also unequally bilobed, as they should be for this species.
Overall Length Of Growth Cane: 12cm vandaceous plant
Number Of Leaves Per Growth Or Cane: 7
Leaf Length: 9.3
Leaf Width: 0.7
Leaf Margin: entire
Leaf Shape: unevenly lobed, cuspidate
Leaf Petiole Length: 1.9
Pseudobulb Length: 19.0
Pseudobulb Width: 0.8 (stem)/17.5 (leaves)
Pseudobulb Margin: cylindrical
Pseudobulb Distance: n/a
Pseudobulb Root Tip: green
Inflorescence Overall Length: 1.9
Inflorescence Arrangement: raceme
Inflorescence Dist Base To Bud: 1.05
Inflorescence Dist Bet Flowers: 0.5
Inflorescence Dist To Sepal: inflorescence to base of sepals 2.5
Floral Bracts Length: 0.02
Floral Bracts Width: 0.015
Ovary Length: 1.5
Ovary Width: 0.02
Ovary Shape: hooked clyinder, ridged (3)
Ovary Color: olive, suffused burgundy
Ovary Texture: smooth
Flower Natural Spread Length: 2.2
Flower Natural Spread Width: 2.3
Dorsal Sepal Length: 1.2
Dorsal Sepal Width: 0.5
Lateral Sepals Length: 1.3
Lateral Sepals Width: 0.6
Petals Width: 0.4
Judging Center: Carolinas
Award Number: 20261552
Award Date: May 16, 2026
Awarded As: CHM
Six flat, nodding flowers and one bud on three inflorescences up to 1.9cm; a small vandaceous plant with two fans of leaves mounted on a 20 cm x 2 cm hickory stick; overall size of plant including roots 80 cm, plant 19 cm wide x 17.5 cm tall; base color olive green; sepals and petals oblanceolate, suffused burgundy marginally, lightly infused burgundy on obverse; lip midlobe cordate, heavily striped burgundy, side lobes white, interior heavily overlaid burgundy; column and anther cap white; substance heavy; texture matte; recognized for its charm and its potential for breeding with the smaller vandaceous species. Plant also received an AM/AOS; see award 20261553.
