''Vanda luzonica'' is a species of

vanda ''Vanda'', abbreviated in the horticultural trade as ''V.,'' is a genus in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. There are about 87 species, and the genus is commonly cultivated for the marketplace. This genus and its allies are considered to be among ...

, a flower of the

orchid family Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

. It is a rare type of orchid and is endangered. ''Vanda luzonica'' is named after the island of

Luzon Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...

in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. ''Vanda luzonica'' is

epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

and can grow quite large(growing up to a metre long). It has leathery leaves growing from 20–50 cm (8–20 in) long. Its flowers look similar to those of ''

Vanda tricolor ''Vanda tricolor'' is a species of orchid occurring in Laos and from Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa. It was imported to England by Thomas Lobb Thomas Lobb (1817–1894) was a British botanist and, along with his older brother, William Lobb, ...

''. The flowers are spaced loosely and are a bit waxy. The sepals and petals of this orchid are white with purple streaks and pink spots near the tips. ''Vanda luzonica'' is found in the regions of

Zambales Mountains The Zambales Mountains is a mountain range on western Luzon island in the Philippines. The mountains separate Luzon's central plain from the South China Sea. Its most prominent section is known as the Cabusilan Mountain Range composed of Mount ...

Bulacan Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan ( tl, Lalawigan ng Bulacan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and part of the Metr ...

Tarlac Tarlac, officially the Province of Tarlac ( pam, Lalawigan ning Tarlac; pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Tarlac; ilo, Probinsia ti Tarlac; tgl, Lalawigan ng Tarlac; ), is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. It ...

and

Rizal Rizal, officially the Province of Rizal ( fil, Lalawigan ng Rizal), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon. Its capital is the city of Antipolo. It is about east of Manila. The p ...

. It grows best at low altitude and in a mix of shade and sunlight.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7914302 luzonica Endemic orchids of the Philippines Flora of Luzon Epiphytic orchids