Waling-waling (Vanda Sanderiana)

Waling-waling, an orchid endemic to the Philippines and only found originally in Davao-Cotabato, foothills of Mt. Apo and Zamboanga del Sur were already known in Europe by 1934, and has made a name for the Philippines that could be the envy of any flower lover people of the world. The 1927 edition of Sanders' Orchid Guide, which contains “all the best known species, varieties and natural hybrids of orchids in cultivation, including their native countries” has listed the V. sanderiana (its former name) and prefixed it “a magnificent Orchid.” On the 1946 issue of the same publication, eleven hybrids of the Walingwaling were already registered, including the V.Rothschildiana which was recognized in 1931, and the V. Tatzeri, amazingly accepted in 1919.

The Walingwaling plant grows on tall diptherocarps but is never known to be a parasite. It lives on treetops reaching for the light of the sun symbolizing high aspirations of the Filipino.

Source: Excerpts from "Why Walingwaling Should be the National Flower of the Philippines" by Charita P. Puentespina and Eleurterio O. Fuentes

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Album posted on 2011-05-09 | *All images copyright © Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants, Inc./Waling, Flowers from Davao, unless stated otherwise. All rights reserved. Kindly contact us if you wish to download/use any of the images in this web page.