Vanda

Finding

SITF confirms this plant as Vanda tricolor var. purpurea (Aug 2025). The variety of this plant was corrected to be var. purpurea vice var. purpurata per Martin Motes. V. tricolor var. purpurea is a validly published forma as described by Cecile Carr in 1932 from plants obtained from Alor. Martin Motes intends to elevate this forma to species status in the Malayan Orchid Review. When this is accepted by Kew, SITF will revise the finding accordingly. According to Dr. Motes, the var. purpurea differs from the standard V. tricolor in plant size, leaf shape and length, flower size and color, lip shape, inflorescence and flower count.

Overall Length Of Growth Cane: 20

Inflorescence Overall Length: 23

Flower Natural Spread Length: 4.0

Flower Natural Spread Width: 4.0

Dorsal Sepal Length: 1.8

Dorsal Sepal Width: 1.6

Lateral Sepals Length: 1.9

Lateral Sepals Width: 1.7

Petals Width: 1.4

Judging Center: Florida Caribbean

Award Number: 20252891

Award Date: May 17, 2025

Awarded As: CHM

Eight flowers on a 23-cm erect inflorescence; base color cream overlaid light mahogany, heavily spotted dark mahogany; lip cream finely stippled old-rose, yellow throat; column white basally light mahogany; substance firm; texture matte. Plant native to Indonesia, Alor Island. Recognized for its esthetic appeal, pleasant fragrance, and breeding potential.

Martin Motes will describe this as a distinct species in the upcoming issue of Malayan Orchid Review.

See more Vanda SITF listings
Learn more about the Vanda genus