15 August 2010

GRAMMATOPHYLLUM SPECIOSUM

The Grammatophyllum speciosum (common name: Tiger Orchid, Sugar Cane Orchid, Queen of the Orchids) at the nursery flowered recently.

I didn't like the background of these photos but I had no choice since I couldn't move the orchid. It is supposedly the largest orchid in the world and can send up to 80 flowers for each inflorescence spike that actually lasts relatively long. It's so amazing, isn't it?

The other common name Sugar Cane Orchid makes sense too, doesn't it? The whole stem with leaves do remotely resemble sugar cane stems.

Anyway, it can grow into a very huge and heavy clump and is not suitable for everyone. If this is difficult to handle, then the smaller-sized Grammatophyllum scriptum would be a more suitable choice.

Strangely, those at HortPark are not flowering at all.

Some links on this orchid are posted below: