Back
Bromheadia finlaysoniana (Lindl.) Miq.
| Family Name: | Orchidaceae |
| Synonyms: | Coelogyne caulescens, Bromheadia palustris, Bromheadia finlaysoniana var. palustris, Bromheadia palustris var. papuana, Bromheadia sylvestris, Grammatophyllum finlaysonianum |
| Common Name: | Finlayson's Bromheadia, Seramen |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 1 m to 2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java), Papua New Guinea |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Terrestrial orchid with creeping underground rhizomes and closely-set erect stems, up to 2m height. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves strap-shaped, bi-lobed, 12cm by 3cm, wider near base, sessile (stalkless), found along stems except near top of plant. |
| Flowers | Fairly large (7-8cm by 7-8cm), slightly fragrant, petals white to creamy, lower lip purple-veined with yellow centre. Produced in terminal inflorescences (10-15cm tall), each of which may hold up to 50 successively-developing flower buds, but which usually bears 1-2 open flowers at a single time. Flowers open in morning, lasting for a few hours, typically fading by noon or early afternoon. Blooming tends to occur a few days after rain. |
| Fruit | Explosive seedpods with tiny dust-like seeds. Mature seeds formed 8 weeks after flower pollination. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Local Conservation Status: Native, common, previously sighted at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Kent Ridge Park, Western Catchment, Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong. |
| Habitat | Open dry spots on secondary forest floor, Adinandra Belukar (degraded secondary forest), sometimes on sandy soils near roadsides. |
| Cultivation | Provide well-drained soils. Propagate by seeds. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Bromheadia' named after British landowner and mathematician Sir Edward Thomas Bromhead (1789-1855), best remembered as patron of the self-taught British mathematician and physicist George Green (1793-1841). Species epithet 'finlaysoniana' named in honour of Scottish army surgeon and naturalist Dr George Finlayson (1790-1823), who travelled to Siam and Cochin-China in 1821, and wrote an interesting journal about his experience, which was edited and published after his death by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781-1826). |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb or Spice) Others: Roots boiled into herbal wine and drunk to treat rheumatism and joint pain. Flowers used as heart tonic. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers) (Day) |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Flowerbed / Border |
| Thematic Landscaping | Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Storage Organ, Division |
| Propagation Method Remarks | Storage stem: Rhizome |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Raised / Sunken Veins, Thin |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Linear) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Truncate / Square |
| Typical Foliar Area | Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Rhizome) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Purple, White, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Flower Size - Remarks | Large, 8cm across |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Opening Time | Daytime |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | [Remarks] (A few hours, opening in morning & closing by noon.) |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant - Remarks | A few hours, opening in morning & closing by noon. |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
References
| References | <1> Orchids of New Guinea. Accessed on 23 Oct 2025. |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29433 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3742 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |