Described by Reichenbach in 1886 based on a single flower and a leaf with unknown origin, without referencing any habitat. It was listed as "unplaced" status in Kew. The morphology of V. flavobrunnea falls into that of V. pumila, which was described in 1896. Therefore V. pumila is proposed to be synonym of V. flavobrunnea. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233406641_Vanda_flavobrunnea_a_new_name_for_V_pumila_and_two_other_enigmatic_species_from_the_genus_Vanda