Vanda ustii || June Blooms || Updates || Orchids and More || V218

Vanda ustii was formerly interpreted as a variety of V. luzonica, as V. luzonica var. immaculata. In 2000, it was described as an independent taxon by Andres Gomalco Jr, Alicia de Leon Claustro, and Pompeyo de Mesa. The type was collected from Nueva Vizcaya on central Luzon at about 1250 m asl and deposited at the Botany Department of the University of Santo Tomas. However, the plant from where the description was obtained was attempted to be grown at the university's botanical garden, but because the botanical garden lacked a lot of things that a proper botanical garden should have, it eventually perished.
Apart from Nueva Vizcaya, V. ustii is also found on Nueva Ecija, which lies south of Nueva Vizcaya, and on Ifugao up north.
As you may have surmised, the plant honors the university itself. UST's official color is gold, and is said to be echoed in this Vanda, although the ground color is really more of a creamy yellow than gold. The University of Santo Tomas is the oldest university in Asia, and was established in 1611 within the walled city of Intramuros; the library is even older than the university itself. Notable alumni of the university include the martyred priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora; Gregorio Aglipay, who was the first Supreme Bishop of La Iglesia Filipina Independiente; Baldomero Aguinaldo, Jose Alejandrino, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Emilio Jacinto, Antonio Luna, and Apolinario Mabini, who were all notable figures during the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino-American War; past presidents Jose Laurel, Diosdado Macapagal, Sergio Osmena, and Manuel Quezon; and the national hero Jose Rizal as well as his brother Paciano. The university also produced many notable personalities in various fields, but apparently, it's not aware that from its hallowed halls emerged at least one orchidologist 😏
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