world's largest orchid

[BlakeeBoo]

What orchid gets to be the largest size and what orchid grows the fastest?

[kmarch]

Define "largest." If it is plant size, then it's probably Gramatophyllum, the canes of which can grow as big as 2 meters. Some orchids like Vanilla are vine-like. These can grow indefinitely. I've seen Vanilla orchids ingreenhouses, growing through the rafters, probably around 40-60 feet in length. If "largest" refers to flowers, the Paph sanderianum gets the prize as it's petals can reach 3 feet ro more in length.

I believe you started another thread asking what the fastest growing orchid is. If you like I can add that thread to this one.

[BlakeeBoo]

do you have a pic of the paph sanderianum.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by BlakeeBoo

but do you have a pic of the paph sanderianum.

Check the web, there's only about a thousand sandy pics there.

[exasperatus2002]

heres some interesting info & a pic

Paph sanderianum gallery: II

[Andrew]

I guess you could define the fastest growing orchid as the one that grows the most tissue mass in the shortest time frame (whatever and whenever you chose that to be). A lot of fast maturing orchids don't grow particularly fast, they're just small when they mature. No idea as to which species grows the fastest, although I can think of plenty of orchids in my collection that are definitely out of the running. Is their and underlying point to the question outside of trivia?