Endemic to Myanmar and Thailand, this fragrant flower exudes a scent like a classy French perfume in the night air and diminishes its fragrance at day break.
This orchid specie was formerly (and still may be) peddled by some growers as Aerides mitrata. In 1972 Leslie Garay renamed this new genus in honor of Gunnar Seidenfaden, a well-known researcher on Thai orchids. There are some technical differences in the flowers as well as the semi terete foliage that distinguish this genus from Aerides. This orchid plant blooms in the spring producing inflorescences from the base of the semi terete foliage; yet I am puzzled why this flowered for me by end of summer.
I give this plant Vanda culture of the terete kind. Strap-leaf Vandas have flat or V-shaped, leathery leaves. Terete Vandas have tapering, pencil-shaped leaves that are circular in cross- section. Vandas have the basic five elements to stay happy and healthy and that is: Temperature, Light, Air movement, Water and Fertilizer.
I inherited this orchid plant in a 9 by 4 unsteady thin cedar board, so I transplanted it to a one-foot sturdy cypress log and it is thriving and happy now growing 28 inches long with the roots running wild outside on the fire escape.
Seidenfadenia mitrata
Threaded Mode
