The pigeon orchid - Dendrobium crumenatum

[prem]

This interesting species blooms off and on throughout the year, each time for only a day. A sudden drop in temperature (usually caused by an afternoon thundershower on a hot day) will trigger bud development...eight or nine days later, all the flowers on the plant (and its neighbors in the same colony in the wild) come into bloom. The flowers have a wonderful crystalline texture and are mildly fragrant...the fragrance is pleasant in the morning, smelling sweet and somewhat spicy. Toward evening, the fragrance takes on the character of modeling paint. During the night, the flowers wilt...those that haven't been pollinated fall off the next day.




---Prem

[LJA]

Prem, I don't think I've ever seen a bloom as starkly white as that. Gorgeous. Thanks, too, for explaining the plants' habits in your pics. I really appreciate learning the info.

[PAGrower]

Any idea why it's called the Pigeon Orchid, prem?

[prem]

PAGrower,
I don't know the answer to your question...just that "pigeon orchid" is the common name by which it's known in its native haunts.

---Prem

[Jmoney]

clearly not named after new york city pigeons...winged rats that they are.

[prem]

I did find a reference here:

http://cf2001.sngs.sch.edu.sg/Cyberf...ex_native.html

I'm assuming they have some sort of white pigeon endemic to their region.

---Prem

[PAGrower]

I thought a white pigeon was a dove??? In any event, the orchid itself is a nice one. Very ethereal.

[Cinderella]

The flower is beautiful and the lighting spectacular!

[Forrest]

very beautiful, as usual Prem. Nice job on both the growing and photography.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Prem,

Are there multiple flowers on each spike? Are you able to gauge when you think the "day" will be when the bud will open? We have a vanilla orchid that has flowers that open one day and are gone the next (or so it seems, anyway) I always get frustrated when I come out and find the dead brown bloom on the plant or on the bench and realize that I missed it again! So darn quick!

Anyway, thanks for the info and photo!

Cheers!
Brutal_Dreamer