Stanhopea oculata

[smweaver]

I got this plant many years ago when it was a baby. For the last six years it's flowered reliably every August. The original tag indicated that it was Stanhopea oculata; however, I'm not so sure that is, in fact, what it is. Regardless of whether or not it's oculata, it's a fantastic plant that's easy to grow and flower--and the flowers are incredibly fragrant of vanila. So far this season it's producing nine spikes. Currently only two of the nine are in bloom, but there are fifteen flowers between them.

[Phyrex]

That's a nice display. Always found it fascinating the way they grow.

[Frdemetr]

Smweaver,
At first sight it doesn't looks like a Stan oculata, but...
...but there is a variety of oculata with yellow bottom color (like yours), instead of typical cream. The vanila scent is also more typical in oculata. Looking at the column, there's little space without wings (in the oculata the wings are showed only in last third of the column).
I vote for Stan wardii (but anyway it's a wonderful plant!)

[nancy]

I'm no expert, either, but it sure is a beauty! Do you carry it with you everywhere?
Regards - Nancy

[smweaver]

Nancy, if only some enterprising grower out there would figure out how to miniaturize Stanhopeas, I would gladly carry one around with me everywhere I went. I think it would be wonderful to find a Stanhopea the size of a Neofinetia!

[nancy]

Miniature? Well, maybe. What I want is a stanhopea with flowers that can last long enough to let everybody get a good long look! That would be hybridizing worth doing! Then, maybe smaller size would be some unanticipated side-effect. There you go!