Gastrochilus acutifolius

Photo taken by Mahmud S. Abdallah of specimen in research collection.

Gastrochilus acutifolius (Lindl.) Kuntze. belongs to the tribe Vandeae and the sub tribe Aeridinae. This plant can be found in Assam India, the Himalayas, Nepal, Myanmar and Vietnam growing at an elevation between 700-900 meters above sea level. This beautiful orchid’s leaves can reach lengths up to 2 inches long and possesses 8 flowers with each having a length of approximately 2 cm with a very distinct lip not seen in my other orchids. G. acutifolius is an epiphytic ¹  species which can grow in warm as well as hotter environments. It requires prompt watering of the roots and exposure to plenty of sunlight. It is noted, however, that it should not be watered after the flowers have bloomed. It lives in areas surrounded by other plants such as coniferous ²  forests and plenty of mosses. G. acutifolius usually starts blooming its flowers in fall and it’s flowers are described as fragrant.

Source: http://www.orchidspecies.com/gastacutifolium.htm

Vocabulary:

¹Epiphytic: a plant that grows upon another plant (such as a tree) non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object (such as a building or a telegraph wire), derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone (as many mosses, liverworts, lichens and algae) and in the tropics.

²Coniferous: One of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae. They are gymnosperms. They are cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all extant conifers are woody plants, the great majority being trees with just a few being shrubs.

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References:

http://orchids.wikia.com/wiki/Gastrochilus_acutifolius (Orchids Wiki)

http://www.orchidspecies.com/gastacutifolium.htm (Orchid Species)