Herb Kawainui Kane (American, 1928 - 2011) "Flowers of the Pacific - Vanda" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 33c Vanda stamp issued February 18, 1999. Perhaps the largest family of flowering plants, Orchidaceae includes about 800 genera and some 20,000 species distributed throughout the world. All are perennial herbs with swollen stem bases and tuberous roots. Arranged spirally or in two opposite rows, the leaves are often thick and leathery. Some orchids are no larger than a person's thumbnail. Others, however, have flowers with petals two feet long! Many of the tropical species thrive on the surfaces of tree branches and trunks where their aerial roots dangle freely beneath them. Although Orchidaceae flowers are of a vast range of form, size and color, they are always breathtaking. The tropical Vandas are among the most beautiful with their flowers poised like graceful butterflies on slender stems. Image Size: 12.75 x 16 in. Overall Size: 14.75 x 20 in. Unframed. (B16265) See More