Habenaria alagense, philippines

[walingwaling]

Some one told me that orchid with only white and green color flower and long spur, usually release its fragrance at night. Does this Hab fit that rule?

hi san,
in this case its true, its fragrant at night, just dont know if its a rule with all green/white habenarias.

cheers to all for comments!

[san]

Hi ron,
that's something interesting! Orchid is kind of clever plant. If it has not flamboyant color bloom and frangrance,it will have trouble to attract insect pollinator in day time. Then it would produce frangrance at night to attract insects. The long spur will make the insects easy to reach column . ....I have Platanthera minor,which have green color flower and long spur. One night I smelled strong delightful lemon fragrance when it bloomed,but in daytime I smell nothing. That's really impressive experience !

[gidi]

That is strange and cool. Looks poisonous - lol.

Cheers,
BD

are they poisonous orchids?

[walingwaling]

Hi ron,
that's something interesting! Orchid is kind of clever plant. If it has not flamboyant color bloom and frangrance,it will have trouble to attract insect pollinator in day time. Then it would produce frangrance at night to attract insects. The long spur will make the insects easy to reach column . ....I have Platanthera minor,which have green color flower and long spur. One night I smelled strong delightful lemon fragrance when it bloomed,but in daytime I smell nothing. That's really impressive experience !

hi san,
as far as i know, habenarias and probably others have moths as pollinators, hence the fragrance at night.

[navyderek]

Hmmm....it does look venomous and dangerous. Seeing this made me look up the Genus, as I've only seen the Habenaria medusa prior to this....and that's a cool plant. Lo and behold, there is about 160 different species that make up Habenaria. Thanks for sharing Ron.

[walingwaling]

are they poisonous orchids?

hi gidi,
lol, of course not. on the other hand...i never ate one.