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Arachnis is a sun-loving monopodial orchid. You can find it growing in many gardens in the tropics, in Singapore and Malaysia, where it is popularly known as the Spider Orchid due to its shape - and in fact that's how it gets its scientific name. Arachnis is a native of Southeast Asia, growing in the wilds of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. In the Malaysian forest, you can find just 3 species, however it is these three species that have produced 99% of all the Arachnis hybrids in commercial cultivation. It is also grown commercially in the orchid farms in Malaysia and Thailand.
There are 15 species of Arachnis, but most of those cultivated are hybrids. They range from those with short inflorescence with just a few flowers, to those with long, pendulous sprays that can grow to a meter long, these carrying flowers that are set off at distinct intervals. The sepals and petals are of equal size and colour.
The trunk of the Arachnis "climbs" like a centipede, and produces shoots where it is bent. The leaves are oblong and narrow. They become bilobed at the tip. The Arachnis can withstand full sunlight - in fact they welcome being grown out in the sun.
Here's a list of the Arachnis species:
Arachnis breviscapa
Arachnis flos-aeris
Arachnis hookeriana
Arachnis longisepala
Arachnis lowii
Arachnis maingayi
Arachnis is crossed with Vanda to produce Aranda. This was pioneered by Professor Eric Holttum and John Laycock, with Aranda "Deborah" being the first free-flowering hybrid produced. It was the catalyst for the orchid industry of Singapore.
