Vanda ustii- the University of Santo Tomas orchid

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Vanda ustii was formerly interpreted as a variety of V. luzonica, as V. luzonica var. immaculata. In 2000, it was described as an independent taxon by Andres Gomalco Jr, Alicia de Leon Claustro, and Pompeyo de Mesa. The type was collected from Nueva Vizcaya on central Luzon at about 1250 m asl and deposited at the Botany Department of the University of Santo Tomas. However, the plant from where the description was obtained was attempted to be grown at the university's botanical garden, but because the botanical garden lacked a lot of things that a proper botanical garden should have, it eventually perished.

Apart from Nueva Vizcaya, V. ustii is also found on Nueva Ecija, which lies south of Nueva Vizcaya, and on Ifugao up north.



As you may have surmised, the plant honors the university itself. UST's official color is gold, and is said to be echoed in this Vanda, although the ground color is really more of a creamy yellow than gold. The University of Santo Tomas is the oldest university in Asia, and was established in 1611 within the walled city of Intramuros; the library is even older than the university itself. Notable alumni of the university include the martyred priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora; Gregorio Aglipay, who was the first Supreme Bishop of La Iglesia Filipina Independiente; Baldomero Aguinaldo, Jose Alejandrino, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Emilio Jacinto, Antonio Luna, and Apolinario Mabini, who were all notable figures during the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino-American War; past presidents Jose Laurel, Diosdado Macapagal, Sergio Osmena, and Manuel Quezon; and the national hero Jose Rizal as well as his brother Paciano. The university also produced many notable personalities in various fields, but apparently, it's not aware that from its hallowed halls emerged at least one orchidologist šŸ˜



The inflorescences of V. ustii are held sub-erect but becomes pendent due to the weight of the flowers.  The flowers are around 5 cm across and like many vandas, have reflexing petals. Some of the fugliest clones even have very slender and twisted dorsal sepals that give the flowers a very uneven appearance. The choicest examples have broader segments with pale chestnut markings near the tips.


This specimen has very slender, quite twisty segments.

Compared to many other Vanda species, V. ustii prefers slightly cooler, more intermediate temperatures. In the lowlands, heavy fertilizing, shade cloth, and continuous air movement can negate the negative effects of tropical heat, but it seems that a sufficient nocturnal temperature drop is a very important factor in maintaining this species long-term. If you can manage it, daytime temperatures should not exceed 30C, and if you can drop the nighttime temperatures to around 15C, the better; you may need a temperature-controlled greenhouse for this species. Of course, if you live in the subtropics then things would be much easier. Although at one hand you may have some difficulties keeping the truly heat-loving species šŸ˜

Vanda ustii is being used to create yellow-flowered hybrids, and it is my understanding that when it was first introduced, as V. luzonica var. immaculata, the first plants used were of the poorer examples, but things may be different now that better forms are in circulation. Still, I will always prefer the species over its hybrids.

Especially an orchid named after my alma mater.

Above and below: these two examples have highly clawed (margins oriented backward, giving a claw-like shape when seen in cross-section) dorsal sepals but the segment tips have reddish-chestnut markings. 



A fine example with fuller segments marked near the ends with reddish-chestnut.

The markings on this one are obscure, but the flowers make up for it by the sepals and petals being broader than in most specimens of this species.



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