''Vanda tessellata'' (also known as Grey orchid or Checkered Vanda) is a species of

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Eart ...

occurring from the

Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...

Indochina Mainland Southeast Asia (historically known as Indochina and the Indochinese Peninsula) is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to th ...

. It is a medicinal plant.

Description

It is an epiphytic perennial, stem 30–60 cm long, stout, scandent by the stout, simple or branching aerial roots. Leaves succulent, 15–20 cm, long, linear, recurved, complicate. Flowers in 6–10 flowered racemes, reaching with the peduncle 15–25 cm long. Sepals yellow, tessellated with brown lines and with white margins. Petals yellow with brown lines and white margins, shorter than the sepals. Lip 16 mm long, bluish, dotted with purple. Capsules 7.5–9 cm long, narrowly clavate-oblong with acute ribs. File:Vanda tessellata (as Vanda roxburghii) - Bot. Reg. 6 pl.506 (1820).jpg, ''Vanda tessellata'' (as syn. ''Vanda roxburghii'') plate 506 in: The Botanical Register (Orchidaceae), vol. 6, (1820) File:Vanda tessellata (as Vanda roxburghii) - Curtis' 48 pl. 2245 (1821).jpg, ''Vanda tessellata'' (as syn. ''Vanda roxburghii'') plate 2245 in: Curtis's Bot. Magazine (Orchidaceae), vol. 48, (1821) File:R. Warner & B.S. Williams - The Orchid Album - volume 02 - plate 059 (1883).jpg, ''Vanda tessellata'' (as syn. ''Vanda roxburghii'') Plate 59 in: R.Warner - B.S.Williams: The Orchid Album (1882-1897)

Medicinal uses

The roots are alexiteric and antipyretic; useful in dyspepsia, bronchitis, inflammations, piles and hiccup. Externally the root is used in rheumatism and allied disorders and diseases of the nervous system. It is also employed as a remedy for secondary syphilis and scorpion stings. The juice of the leaves is used topically in otitis and a paste of them finds use as a febrifuge. The roots possess significant anti-inflammatory activity.Ghani, 2003 and exhibit potent analgesic effects combined with a relatively low toxicity A novel aphrodisiac compound ( 2,7,7-tri methyl bicyclo .2.1heptane) has been found in the orchid in 2013.

Chemical composition

The plant produces an alkaloid, a glucoside,

tannins Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids. The term ''tannin'' is widely applied to any large po ...

, β-sitosterol, γ-sitosterol and a long chain

aliphatic compound In organic chemistry, hydrocarbons ( compounds composed solely of carbon and hydrogen) are divided into two classes: aromatic compounds and aliphatic compounds (; G. ''aleiphar'', fat, oil). Aliphatic compounds can be saturated (in which all ...

, fatty oils,

resin A resin is a solid or highly viscous liquid that can be converted into a polymer. Resins may be biological or synthetic in origin, but are typically harvested from plants. Resins are mixtures of organic compounds, predominantly terpenes. Commo ...

s and colouring matters. Roots contain tetracosyl ferrulate and β-sitosterol-D- glucoside.

Traditional practices

In the Yunani system, the root is used as a tonic for the liver and brain; effective against bronchitis, piles, lumbago, toothache, and boils of the scalp; it also is said to lessen inflammation and heal fractures. The root is said to be fragrant, bitter and useful in

rheumatism Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including a ...

and allied disorders, in which it is prescribed in a variety of forms. It is also used in the composition of several medicated oils for external application in rheumatism and diseases of the nervous system. In Chota

Nagpur Nagpur (; ISO 15919, ISO: ''Nāgapura'') is the second capital and third-largest city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is called the heart of India because of its central geographical location. It is the largest and most populated city i ...

, the leaves are pounded into a paste and then applied to the body during fever. A compound decoction of this root is administered in cases of

Hemiplegia Hemiparesis, also called unilateral paresis, is the weakness of one entire side of the body ('' hemi-'' means "half"). Hemiplegia, in its most severe form, is the complete paralysis of one entire side of the body. Either hemiparesis or hemiplegia ...

as some Indian physicians consider it useful in rheumatism and all nervous diseases. The leaves are pounded and the paste is applied to the body to bring down fever; the juice is dropped in the ear for the treatment of

Otitis media Otitis media is a group of Inflammation, inflammatory diseases of the middle ear. One of the two main types is acute otitis media (AOM), an infection of rapid onset that usually presents with ear pain. In young children this may result in pullin ...

and other inflammatory conditions. The roots are used in

Dyspepsia Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia or upset stomach, is a condition of impaired digestion. Symptoms may include upper abdominal fullness, heartburn, nausea, belching, or upper abdominal pain. People may also experience feeling full earlier ...

Bronchitis Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs that causes coughing. Bronchitis usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi. ...

Rheumatism Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including a ...

, and also in fever; they are reported to possess antibacterial and anti-tubercular properties. The herb is also used for

Sciatica Sciatica is pain going down the leg from the lower back. This pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. Onset is often sudden following activities such as heavy lifting, though gradual onset may also occur. The pain is often desc ...

. The leaves are used by the Santhal girls for making anklets.

Use as an entheogen in India

'Ayurvedic shamans' in India are said to have used the plant to induce 'the hypnotic narcosis of their office' leading to 'a transcendent state of being', having learnt originally of the intoxicating properties of this orchid by observing bees which had fed upon its nectar falling to the ground in a state of stupefaction. Evidence for the practice is sparse, but, given the presence of alkaloids in ''V.tessellata'' and its well-documented employment in diseases of the nervous system, such use is intrinsically plausible. In similar vein, Tantric magicians are said to have ingested the fleshy roots of this species as an aid to

divination Divination () is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic ritual or practice. Using various methods throughout history, diviners ascertain their interpretations of how a should proceed by reading signs, ...

, along with the tubers of another orchid, '' Dendrobium macraei'' (synonyms Ephemerantha macraei and Flickingeria macraei, but see page Flickingeria re. unaccepted genus name still used in the horticulture trade).''The Dictionary of Sacred and Magical Plants'' by Rätsch, Dr.Christian, pub. Prism Press, Bridport UK 1992.

Gallery

File:Vanda tessellata in Bangladesh.jpg, ''Vanda tessellata'' in

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

File:New buds of Vanda tessellata.jpg, New buds of ''Vanda tessellata'' File:Flowers of Vanda tessellata.jpg, Flowers of ''Vanda tessellata'' File:Flowers of Vanda tessellata 2.jpg, Flowers in full bloom File:Buds of Vanda tessellata.jpg, Buds of ''Vanda tessellata'' File:Buds of Vanda tessellata 2.jpg, Young buds of ''Vanda tessellata'' File:Matured fruit of Vanda tessellata.jpg, Matured fruit of ''Vanda tessellata'' File:Seeds of Vanda tessellata.jpg, Seeds of ''Vanda tessellata'' File:Seeds of Vanda tessellata 2.jpg, Seeds of ''Vanda tessellata'' File:Fruit of Vanda tessellata.jpg, Fruit of ''Vanda tessellata'' File:Transformation of Vanda tessellata flowers.jpg, Transformation of ''Vanda tessellata'' flowers from buds File:Vanda tessellata plant 2.jpg, ''Vanda tessellata'' plant in a bamboo pot File:Vanda tessellata plant.jpg, ''Vanda tessellata'' plant File:Vanda tessellata reproduction.jpg,

Vegetative reproduction Vegetative reproduction (also known as vegetative propagation, vegetative multiplication or cloning) is a form of asexual reproduction occurring in plants in which a new plant grows from a fragment or cutting of the parent plant or specializ ...

of ''Vanda tessellata''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1319757 tessellata Epiphytic orchids