Renanthera monachica

The following article was written for the Orchid Species Bulletin published by the Orchid Species Society, which is based in Brisbane, Queensland in March 2001, and modified November 2024.
Bear in mind that any cultivation notes refer to the subtropical conditions of Southern Queensland, Australia.

Renanthera monachica Ames was first collected by Professor Hugh McCollum Curran in Zimbales province, Luzon in the Philippines. Oakes Ames described this species in Studies in the Family Orchidaceae in 1915. The specific epithet comes from the Spanish mona (pretty), and chica (girl), referring to the fanciful resemblance of the flower to a Spanish dancing girl.

Ren. monachica is a medium-sized, monopodial, epiphytic plant that will begin to flower when quite small. Plants produce erect stems that are 30-60 cm or more high, bearing many, two-ranked, closely-arranged leaves along its length. Slightly rough, white-brownish, elongated, terete roots are produced from the lower portion of the stem at various intervals. Unequally and obtusely bilobed at the apex, the thick, fleshy, ligulate leaves are 5.5-13 cm long and 10-18 mm broad. The channelled, leathery leaves may be up to 19 cm long on old plants, and vary in colour from green to purplish-green.

Ren. monachica produces spreading to suberect, axillary inflorescences that are 20-30 cm long. Usually simple or few-branched, the inflorescence bears a few (5-8) to as many as 50 flowers. The flowers open progressively, so that the panicle may have many blooms open, which are 2.5-3.5 cm across and about 4 cm tall. Its sepals and petals are yellow to dull orange-yellow, with bold red spots. The very small, fleshy, saccate, trilobed lip is whitish, with reddish side lobes and midlobe.

Endemic to the Philippines, Ren. monachica grows on the trunk and branches of trees in open grassland, between 100-500 m altitude. Plants have been found in Rizal province, Luzon and Surigao province, Mindanao. Ren. monachica grows and flowers readily in the South East Queensland region. Provide it with bright light, such as beneath 70% shade cloth, with plenty of air circulation. It can be potted or cultivated in a basket using any coarse, or well-drained medium. During the warmer months it appreciates high humidity, and plenty of moisture, and can also be liquid fertilised regularly. I recommend a winter minimum of 10 ℃, with a slightly drier rest period, so that the leaves are dry at night. Plants will grow better if some winter heat can be provided to maintain a minimum of 15 ℃.

References:

Bechtel, H., Cribb, P. & E. Launert. (1992) The Manual of Cultivated Orchid Species. 3^rd ed. Blandford Press, London.

Cootes, J. (2001) The Orchids of the Philippines. Times Editions, Singapore.

Cootes, J. (2011) Philippine Native Orchid Species. Katha Publishing Company Inc., Quezon City, Philippines.

O’Byrne, P. (2001) A to Z of South East Asian Orchid Species. Orchid Society of South East Asia, Singapore.

Valmayor, H.L. (1981) The Complete Writings of Dr. Eduardo A. Quisumbing on Philippine Orchids – Vol. II. Eugenio Lopez Foundation Inc., Manila, Philippines.

Valmayor, H.L. (1984) Orchidiana Philippiniana. Eugenio Lopez Foundation Inc., Manila, Philippines.