Sobralia bouchei

[LJA]

While I was watering early this morning, the bud on this was still tightly closed. But this afternoon, the sun started coming out and it began to open. I had to snap a pic. The flowers only last 2-3 days, max. The two petals are still folded forward along the flower's column; they're just starting to spread, and they look like little rabbit ears on either side of the lip. The species is from Panama.

[Ellie P.]

Very pretty. It does look like a bunny. The short blooming time reminds me of a night-blooming sirius I used to have. They only bloom in the evening and by morning the flower is spent. I could only get it to bloom once a year here in Mass., but I gave it to a friend in FL who gets a dozen or more blooms throughout the summer.

How frequently does this bloom for you?

[LJA]

It bloomed last about 5 months ago, so about twice a year, I'd say.

I went to take a look at it again, hoping to grab another photo of it fully open, but with the sun in the west, it's now in shade and looks as if the flower is closing up! I've never paid much attention to this one before, but it seems as if it closes up tight at night. I'll know for sure once it's dark out.

[LJA]

It's dark out now, and sure enough the flower has closed, all but for a tube, like the flare-end of a trumpet, where the flower's lip has kept an opening. Pretty neat.

[Piper]

That sounds tres cool Loo-ee,

If it's easy to snap a night time shot, that would be worth sharing. What's this genus like?

Julie

[LJA]

Tres cool--c'est vrai. Here ya go, night-time shots...

I'm growing it at the "warm" end of the greenhouse, kept damp at all times, light as for Oncidiums. I imagine that it'll open fully come tomorrow, then close up for good tomorrow evening.

[prem]

that's really neat, Louis, may I have it?

--Prem

[Piper]

Thanks for the pics, Louis!

Some of the sobralia plants are monstrous - how big is this guy?

Julie

[LJA]

This one's only about 20 inches tall, with 5 or 6 growths. I've got it in a 5 inch pot, growing in CHC.

Prem, you do know that you're the first person I thought of when I posted these things, so while I think I'll keep the plant--what do they say? "It's the thought that counts..." Thanks, though, for the compliment!

[Jmoney]

very striking!