A cultivated Grammatophyllum wallisii is currently on display in the lobby of the Manila Hotel. Also called giant orchid, tiger orchid, sugar cane orchid, and the queen of orchids, this rare plant holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s tallest orchid.
The card beside it reads: “A giant orchid species endemic to the Philippines, the Grammatophyllum wallisii is an enormous tropical and sun-loving epiphytic orchid that grows up to three meters tall. It belongs to the group of the Grammatophylum speciosum complex, which is recognized as the world’s largest orchid. Uniquely found in southern Luzon and in Mindanao island, it does not occur naturally anywhere else in the world. This orchid has a distinctively ivory white color base on its 10cm full form and its flowers are overlaid with profuse maroon spots, the lip is ruby red as with its flower stalk, and its robust two-meter erect flower spike is chocolate brown in color. Its flowering season is dependent on the maturity of the plant and triggered by the rainy season.”
Drop by the Manila Hotel to see this record-holding endemic orchid. You can’t miss it.