This little orchid is growing on a medium to large fist-sized rock. The 2 inch flower is almost as big as the plant from which it sprouts. You can see in the second photo the very long spur which this flower sports. Early in the evening the pale green and white star begins to smell like a spicy sweet melon. Later the fragrance becomes darker and more intense, exuding scents which are sometimes musky, sometimes laced with smoke, and sometimes exactly like black licorice or sweet anise candies. It’s intriguing and nice and very different indeed. This amazing little plantbeast hails from the island of Madagascar.
6 responses so far ↓
montucky // August 20, 2009 at 12:54 am
To me Tabbie, that’s perhaps the most beautiful of all with its flawless white color and simple elegance. I wish I could smell its fragrance.
Tom // August 20, 2009 at 6:11 am
The didieri blossom is awesome! I’m so glad it bloomed for you.
Candace // August 22, 2009 at 6:51 am
That is a plantbeast!
anhinga // August 22, 2009 at 7:39 pm
It appears to have one wide petal and five narrow ones. How unique–at least to me. I can almost smell this from your description of the scent. This isn’t a flower, it’s an adventure!
A.j. // August 25, 2009 at 1:35 am
I’m getting quite the orchid education!
Aggie Aglaia // September 22, 2009 at 6:50 pm
It was a privilege for me to be able to experience first-hand the surprisingly potent scents of this wonderful little orchid blossom in Tabbie’s home. The light spicy honeydew melon scent Tabbie described remained constant throughout the afternoons and earliest evenings. The anise notes, however, completely faded away shortly after this post was made, and the strong and unmistakable scent of cloves — sometimes musky, sometimes smoky, sometimes sweet — ruled the nights for the remaining weeks in the life of this flower.