Holcoglossum kimballianum (Rchb. f.) Garay 1972

Inflorescence Photos by © Lourens Grobler

Common Name Kimball's Holcoglossum [American Orchid Enthusiast late 1800's]

Flower Size about 2" [3.5 to 5 cm]

This is a pendant, warm growing, Vanda-like epiphyte from Myanamar, Thailand, Laos, and south China at elevations of 1200 to 1800 meters mostly on rocks in exposed locations but occaisionally on trees in partial shade with a long stem carrying terete, acuminate leaves that are articulated to the tapering leaf bases which blooms in the fall on an axillary, 1 1/2' [20 to 45 cm] long, laxly few to several [to 20] flowered, racemose, fractiflex inflorescence with elliptic, obtuse bracts and fragrant, long-lived flowers. Best mounted on cork or tree fern, given cool to warm temperatures, bright light and plenty of water while growing and a short dry rest in the winter

Synonyms Holcoglossum saprophyticum (Gagnep.) Christenson 1987; *Vanda kimballiana Rchb. f. 1889; Vanda saprophytica Gagnep. 1932

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; The Orchids of Burma Grant 1895/95 as Vanda kimballiana; The Wild Orchids of China Tsi, Chen & Mori 1997