I love this species. I've been looking for it, but I can't find it.

I like both the regular variety and this one. Their glossy flowers are certainly a sight to behold. Is it possible to describe the fragrance?

Oh, I know this is somewhat random, but I think it's fun to pronounce "merrillii" with an Italian accent. I do the same for V. tricolor. :biggrin:

Carl, my plants aren't in bloom right now, so Philippe might be able to give you a better idea of the fragrance. It's strongly floral and kind of spicy too (not a great description, I know, but I tried). The only drawbacks are that the flowers appear in the summer (it would, in my opinion, be better if this species flowered during the winter, when the only threat to the blooms would be from "aggressive sniffers" who come over and insist on physically assaulting the flowers with their noses), and they don't last a really long time, especially compared to many other vandas like coerulea, denisoniana, tesselata, etc. My plants' blooms usually stay in good condition for a couple of weeks--unless, that is, they get visited by grasshoppers :((.

Steve

Hi Carl,

description of Steve is correct. I am not an expert to describe fragance but it is a strong spicy fragance that occurs on day time. Typical from Deltoglossa Section of Vanda like other specie like insignis, limbata, tricolor, luzonica, helvola etc... But I'd say that on this plant it is especialy strong.
Flowers ,unfortunately, don't last so long.

I don't like that. :tapfoot:

ha ha I think nobody does but on the other hand it is a free flowering variety (I mean at least in tropical climate).

Okay Philippe. I have to ask this. I have seen the term "free flowering" many times over the years and never really found out what it means. Does it mean, various or no set blooming season such as spring, summer, fall, or winter? Or does it mean something else?

Hi Ted,

I don't konw if it is correct in botanic but in Thailand a plant who is blooming multiple times during the year and if it can be at any moment of the year is said to be free flowering.
Talking about Vanda by example, V.tessellata in tropical climate is blooming all year round almost non stop : it is said to be "free flrowering'. V. ustii who is blooming many times during the year - but not non stop- with blooms who can appear at any time of the year is said to be "free flowering" as well. V. coerulea who can have many blooms in a row as well but only during a specific season from July to December is not "free flowering". V. bensonii who can bloom at any times of the year but not many times is not said to be "free flowering" as well.
Again, I don't know if it is correct in a botanic way but it is usually the way that selller and orchids lovers call "free flowering" plants here.

Hello Phillipe,

Thanks for the explanation. I think I got it.