Grammatophyllum multiflorum fma, Citrinum

Grammatophyllum multiflorum citrinum first appeared in 1982 in the Baclaran Plant Market at the back street of Max’s Restaurant at Baclaran. The plant appeared during the time when the 4th ASEAN Orchid Congress was being staged. The Bicolano plant supplier priced a blooming clump with 6 spikes at P1, 800., which is a hefty amount at that time. Another plant that has light blotches was also being sold side by side at the same price.

The Grammatophyllum multiflorum citrinum was bought by Joe Romans of Roman Holiday Orchid Nursery of Florida. It was propagated in big volumes in Florida and was sold as Grammatophyllum scriptum citrinum cv. “Roman Holiday.” The incorrect specific name was propagated further when the plant reached Hawaii then Thailand. Described by Valmayor and Tiu as Grammatophyllum scriptum fma Citrinum in 1983, Jim Cootes finally straightened the scientific name and renamed it correctly as Grammatophyllum multiflorum fma. Citrinum during the 90’s.

This delightful species of the Philippines has traveled around the world and Filipinos are buying them back from Thailand. The Thai stocks are easy to identify. They all suffer from crippling of the tip… a condition the Thai tissue culturists attribute to overcloning. And recently, the Hawaiian nurseries are buying their Grammatophyllums from Thailand also …. Crippled floral tips and all.