Bamboo orchid (Arundina graminifolia)

Bamboo orchid (Arundina graminifolia) is a plant species in Orchidaceae, perennial terrestrial orchid, reed stems standing upright or horizontal, tubular, up to 2 m high, forming large clumps on forest slopes, agricultural land, plantations, roadsides and abandoned land.

A. graminifolia has linear leaves, grows along the stem, seated opposite, oblong lanceolate, 9-19 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide, thick, a vein in the middle, pointed tip, amplexicaul sheath and dark green.

Clusters of flowers in slightly open terminals up to 10 buds, blooming successively at the terminals, 7-16 cm long. The flowers are 5-8 cm in diameter, reddish purple in color and white disc with purple lips. The bracts are broad triangular in shape and surround the main stalk of the flower bunch.

Fertilized seed pods will form small powdered seeds and small plants often develop near the tips after flowering, most likely aiding propagation if allowed to reach the ground.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Arethuseae
Subtribe: Arethusinae
Genus: Arundina
Species: Arundina graminifolia
Varieties: Arundina graminifolia var. graminifolia, Arundina graminifolia var. revoluta

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Sweetpotato bug (Physomerus grossipes)

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