Aileen D.

Salazar 2Bio7 Family: Orchidaceae Subfamily: Epidendroideae Genus: Euanthe Species: sanderiana Common name: Waling-waling (Tagalog), Sanders Euanthe (English)

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Etymology Euanthe sanderiana can also be called as Sanders Euanthe in honor of Henry Frederick Conrad Sander who is a noted orchidologist. Henry Sander was a German born orchidologist and nurseryman who is noted for his monthly publication on orchids, Reichenbachia named after Heinrich Gustav Reichenbachia of Hamburg, the great orchidologist. General Description Waling-waling is one of the finest orchid species endemic to the Philippines, desired by orchid growers and breeders alike for its showy and attractive flowers and ability to impart its vigor and floral characteristics to its progeny. It is regarded as Queen of Philippine flowers and is worshipped as diwata by the Bagobos because of its beauty. It blooms only once a year, between July and October. The plant is almost extinct due to habitat destruction. The flowers are flat, to eight centimeters across; the sepals and petals are obovate, bluish pink, with buff-yellow stain, and dull-crimson reticulations on the lateral sepals; the lip is small and concave, purple-red at base, strongly recurved and brownish purple at apex; with three prominent keels. It is 25-100 cm tall with long narrow leaves. Photos:

Locality: This plant is endemic to Mindanao in the provinces of Davao, Cotabato, and Zamboanga where it is found on the trunks of dipterocarp trees at elevations below 500 meters. Dipterocarp trees are tropical hardwood, long-lived and can grow to exceptional sizes. Reason: I chose this plant because I often see Euanthe sanderiana in my mothers orchid collections. Reference: 1. Tacio, H. (n.d.). Waling-waling: Magnificent Yet Endangered. Municipality of Bansalan. Retrieved March 6, 2014, from http://www.bansalan.com/index.htm. 2. Baker, M. & Baker, C. (n.d.). Euanthe sanderiana (Rchb. f.) Schlechter. Orchid Culture. Retrieved March 6, 2014, from http://www.orchidculture.com/COD/FREE/FS317.html. 3. Lougee, M. (n.d.) Planting Waling-waling Orchids. Home Guides. Retrieved March 6, 2014, from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/planting-walingwaling-orchids29598.html