Grammatophyllum

Grammatophyllum Blume, Bijdr.: 377 (1825).

Distribution: Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji

A fantastic genus of medium to very large plants which can be a little too big to handle for a small orchid growing area.

They produce several to many racemes, arising from the base of the pseudobulb, with many yellow-green to olive-green, heavy substance, waxy flowers with dark purplish-red marks. The pseudobulbs are enveloped by sheaths.

This genus includes the Giant Orchid (Grammatophyllum speciosum), believed to be the largest orchid species in existence. Its pseudobulbs can grow to a length of 2.5m long looking more like a small palm and weighing from several hundred kilograms to one tonne! The roots form spectacular bundles.

Species:
Grammatophyllum elegans Rchb.f., Gard. Chron., n.s., 18: 776 (1882).
Grammatophyllum fenzlianum Rchb.f., Xenia Orchid. 2: 16 (1862).
Grammatophyllum kinabaluense Ames & C.Schweinf. in O.Ames, Orchidaceae 6: 210 (1920).
Grammatophyllum martae Quisumb. ex Valmayor & D.Tiu, Philipp. Orchid Rev. A-V(3): 18 (1983).
Grammatophyllum measuresianum Sander, Gard. & Forest 2: 524 (1889).
Grammatophyllum multiflorum Lindl., Edwards's Bot. Reg. 24(Misc.): 46 (1838).
Grammatophyllum rumphianum Miq., Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 4: 219 (1869).
Grammatophyllum schmidtianum Schltr., Orchis 8: 133 (1914).
Grammatophyllum scriptum (L.) Blume, Rumphia 4: 48 (1849).
Grammatophyllum scriptum var. boweri (F.Muell.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1: 951 (1912).
Grammatophyllum scriptum var. scriptum.
Grammatophyllum speciosum Blume, Bijdr.: 378 (1825).
Grammatophyllum stapeliiflorum (Teijsm. & Binn.) J.J.Sm., Orch. Java: 487 (1905).