Spathoglottis eburnea

Spathoglottis eburnea is a terrestrial and is found in parts of Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. This plant produces an arching cluster of pendulous flowers. The flowers are around 2.5 cm wide and has an intricate ivory colour petals and sepals.

This beautiful plant be grown and flower in Singapore. This plant seem to be deciduous in nature. It sheds its leaves before flowering. It is grown on a piece of fern bark instead of the sand/ soil mixture for typical spathoglottis.

Plant of Spathoglottis eburnea.

Dimension of the flower of Spathoglottis eburnea.

Dimension of the flower of Spathoglottis eburnea.

Dimension of the flower of Spathoglottis eburnea.

Flowers of Spathoglottis eburnea.

Side view of flowers of Spathoglottis eburnea.

Vanda Miss Joaquim aka Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim

Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim no doubt the first hybrid to be registered by the female orchid hybridiser -Miss Agnes Joaquim residing in Singapore. The description of the plant of Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim was described by Henry Ridley, published in Gardener’s Chronicle, June 24, 1893, p740
” New or Noteworthy Plants- VANDA MISS JOAQUIM[ Inter V. hookerianam et V. teretem proles hybrida]

A few years ago, Miss Joaquim a lady residing in Singapore well known for her success as a horticulturist, succeeded in crossing Vanda hookeriana Rchb.f., and V teres, two plants cultivated in almost everygarden in Singapore. Unfortunately no record was kept to which was used as the male. The result has now appeared in the form of a very beautiful plant quite intermeida between the two species and as I cannot find any record of this cross having been made before, I describe it herewith.”

Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim is a free flowering plant which do very well in open area in sunny Singapore. Regular fertilizing would ensure plenty of flowers throughout the year.

This start the very colourful journey for Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim. This beautiful hybrid is chosen to be Singapore National flower in 1981. But till this days there are still talks on the uncertainties on the origin of its parentage.

Whose account is fictious or real, you would have to judge for yourself. These can be seen in the internet and publications such as follows:-

Malayan Orchid Review Vol 33/1999

Malayan Orchid Review Vol 38/2004

Biology of Vanda Miss Joaquim

Internet:- http://www.amassia.com.au/debate1.htm#Background to the debate

The following are some of the Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim’s related stamps and postmarks

Postmark – Still Road

Postmark- Lim Ah Pin Road

Postmark- Simpang Bedok

Postmark- Jalan Kayu

Postmark- Ngee Soon

Postmark- Bukit Panjang

Postmark- Serangoon Road

Postmark- Queenstown

Postmark- Macpherson

Postmark- M3

Postmark- C11

Postmark- Tanglin

Postmark- Sembawang

Postmark- Owen Road

Postmark- Towner Road

Postmark- Paya Lebar

Postmark- Killiney Road

Postmark- Sepoy Lines

Postmark- Kampong Glam

Postmark- Kampong Glam

Postmark- Registration

Postmark- K

Postmark- Singapore

Postmark- Keppel Harbour

Postmark- Thomson Road

Postmark- Newton

Postmark- Katong

Postmark- Geylang

Postmark- Taman Jurong

Postmark- Maxwell Road

Postmark- Joo Chiat

Postmark- Farrer Road

Postmark- Kandang Kerbau

Postmark- Alexandra Road

Postmark- Bukit Timah

Postmark- Queen Street

Postmark- Siglap

Postmark- North Canal Road

Postmark- Serangoon Garden

Is it Luisia psyche or Luisia thailandica?Or Luisia Species?

This beautiful vandaeous orchid resemble the vegetative look of a terete vanda. The plant receive around 80 % of sunlight and the flowers appeared in a cluster held close to the leave axil. The flowers have light yellow petals with a blackish brown lip. The flower is 2cm x 2.5cm.

The plant.

The flowers.

The flowers.

Side profile of the flowers.

Dimension of flowers.

Dimension of flowers.

Malleola species from Cambodia? It may be Eparmatostigmata dives

Is this a malleola species? Chances it is not . According to my friend Peter, it may be Eparmatostigmata dives.

This beautiful species is from Cambodia and it adapt well to Singapore condition. It received strong light till noon.

Stem to 15 cm long. Flowers many. Sepal and petal white with a hint of light yellow.

The plant.

Dimension of the flowers.

The flowers.

The flowers.

Dendrobium scabrilingue

Dendrobium scabrilingue is a compact plant which is found in Laos, Myanmar and Thailand at an elevation of 600m -1200m. It usually produces single of pair of beautiful, fragrant, waxy white blooms.

This plant needs specific horticulture care. The plant needs a cool and dry rest during the later part of the year in Singapore to initiate blooming. When the weather turns warmer increase the water regime and fertilizer after the new growth has appeared. This plant does not do well if it does not have any cool dry rest.

Dendrobium scabrilingue.

Dimension of flower of Dendrobium scabrilingue.

Dimension of flower of Dendrobium scabrilingue.

Side profile of flower of Dendrobium scabrilingue.

Side profile of flower of Dendrobium scabrilingue.

Flower of Dendrobium scabrilingue.

Dendrobium crocatum

Dendrobium crocatum is found in some parts of Malaysia and Thailand.

This is an attractive plant which produces two to three approx 3cm wide orangy flowers. This is a lowland eiphyte which is easy and rewarding to grow in Singapore.

Flower of Dendrobium crocatum.

Flower of Dendrobium crocatum.

Side profile of the flower of Dendrobium crocatum.

Side profile of the flower of Dendrobium crocatum.

Dimension of the flower of Dendrobium crocatum.

Dimension of the flower of Dendrobium crocatum.

Taeniophyllum obtusum

This little jewel is one of the native orchids of Singapore. This plant is epiphytic and its bear long spreading flattend green roots. The flowers are clear yellow with lip lip. It has disappeared from many of the exisitng sites and is believed that it still can be found in the Ngee Soon Swamp Forest. Previously it has been collected from multiple sites like the Botanic Gardens, Bukit Mandai, Serangoon Road etc.

This plant can still be grown in Singapore but the plant is small and cannot withstand cultivation stress. It prefer to be grown in a bright area with moving air. Constant humidity is necessary. A dry period would definitely spell the end for the plant.

Flower of Taeniophyllum obtusum

Flower of Taeniophyllum obtusum

Side profile of the flower of Taeniophyllum obtusum

Another side profile of the flower of Taeniophyllum obtusum

Dimension of the flower of Taeniophyllum obtusum

Dimension of the flower of Taeniophyllum obtusum

Taeniophyllum obtusum

Dimension of Taeniophyllum obtusum

Vanda tricolor or is this a new species or hybrid?

This beautiful vanda is brought from a local nursery who imported this plant from Indonesia as vanda tricolor, when this plant was flowering in 2008 thought it may be the pesticides which cause the flower to be deform but the 2nd round of bloom yield the same shape again. The lip does not look like the other vanda tricolor.The petals are reflexed and they do have a little twist.

This vanda is fragrant and is grown in a 70 % light conditon.

The following are the flower in different angle.

Dimension of the flower

Dimension of the flower

Dimension of the lip

Mystery surrounding Dendrobium trengganuensis/terengganuensis . Is this the valid name?

Is this name the real mccoy? Did a search on the IPNI and RHS ‘s data base but is still not able to find it in both data base. The naming of this beautiful dendrobium has yet to be resolved? To be honest ,I would love to have such a beautiful dendrobium to name after me.

This plant was reputed to be difficult to grow in cultivation. This desirable and beautiful dendrobium was first discovered in the State of Trengganu, Pensinsular Malaysia.

But having the plants for sometimes, it seem to be like the most of the other dendrobium in the Calcarifera Section, , they are easy to grow and flower in Singapore climate.

Dendrobium trengganuensis produces 3 to 4 flowers , borne from the nodes of the leafless stems, The flowers are 2.6 cm wide sepals and lip are yelowish green, fringe at the edge. They are watered twice a day and are grown in partial shade condition.

Close up of the flower of Dendrobium trengganuensis.

Side Profile of the flower of Dendrobium trengganuensis.

Flowers of Dendrobium trengganuensis.

Dimension of the flower of Dendrobium trengganuensis.

Dimension of the flower of Dendrobium trengganuensis.

Dendrobium trengganuensis.

Dendrobium hainanense

These beautiful crystaline white flowering dendrobium is found on trees in open forests, on trunks of Podocarpus in forests;ca. 1500 m. China, NE India, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam. On the first look it resemble alba plants of Dendrobium acerosum. Dendrobium hainanense has nearly semi flat terete leaves that blooms in the fall on a short, single or double flowered inflorescence arising from the stems.

Many people have mentioned that this montane plant from Hainan Island would not flower in Singapore as Hainan Island has different totally different climate from Singapore. This plant received morning sun till noon in Singapore and is watered twice a day. It produces beautiful almost 40 white flowers in this first bloom. Flowers with double lips are found in this bloom. The flowers only last for 5 days in our climate.

Dendrobium hainanense.

Close up of flowers of Dendrobium hainanense.

Close up of flowers of Dendrobium hainanense.

Close up of flowers of Dendrobium hainanense.

Close up of flower of Dendrobium hainanense with double lips.

Dimension of the flower of Dendrobium hainanense.

Dimension of the flower of Dendrobium hainanense.

Dimension of Dendrobium hainanense.