Bamboo Orchid
Bamboo Orchid (Arundina graminifolia)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Orchidaceae Subfamily: Epidendroideae Tribe: Arethuseae Subtribe: Bletiinae Genus: Arundina Species: A. graminifolia
Binomial name
Arundina graminifolia

The Bamboo Orchid (Arundina graminifolia) is a the only species in the genus Arundina of the orchid family Orchidaceae, subfamily Epidendroideae, tribe Arethuseae, subtribe Bletiinae.

This tropical Asiatic orchid extends from India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, South China to Indonesia and across the Pacific Islands. It has been introduced in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Panama.

The Bamboo Orchid is a terrestrial multiperennial orchid with reedy stems, forming into large clumps growing to a height between 70 cm and 2 m.

The plaited linear leaves are oblong lanceolate, with a length of 9 to 19 cm and a width of 0.8 to 1.5 cm. The apex is acuminate. There are amplexicaul (clasping the stem) sheathing stipules.

This orchid blooms in summer and autumn, showing rather open clusters of showy terminal flowers, ten at the most. They bloom in succession on the terminal racemes, which are 7 to 16 cm long. These flowers, 5 – 8 cm in diameter, are a rosy lilac and white disk with a purple lip. The bracts are wide triangular and surround the main stalk of the flower cluster.