Vanda ustii- the University of Santo Tomas orchid
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...