What is the most beautiful orchid?

[Leafmite]

That is a neat phal!

[JungleWriter]

That's gorgeous! Thank you for sharing.

[DungeonMaster]

Angraecum is one of the most beautiful orchids which belong to the Orchidaceae family. It contains about 220 species and the flower has a long spur at the bottom of which is the nectar.

[lepetitmartien]

I have 2 possible answers:

- Masdevallia veitchiana, and its changing colors…*

- the orchid you don't already own…

(*my 30 years long despair, as I don't have the conditions for it, save to kill it…)

[Wrebbitrocks]

OUCH what a tough choice. I'd have to say Angraecum sesquipedale. It's such a statuesque plant, and the flowers are large, glossy, showy, fragrant, soft white, intricate and complex. I find it beautiful because of the question how did something so wonderful come to exist. That a plant could evolve hand in hand with it's pollinator and live through the less than ideal conditions it comes from I find fascinating. This isn't my plant. It belongs to smweaver on the board. I hope I'm not breaking any rules posting it but I think it's one of the most perfect examples I've seen of this plant. I'd be prous to show it off anyday (If mine ever decided to stop blasting )

[Wrebbitrocks]

but i would also like to nominate these runner-ups: ryncholaelia digbyana, dtps. fuller's sunset, phal. baldan's kaleidoscope, renanthera coccinea, blc. merrily murison, vanda coerulea (plus other shapely blues: pachara delight and tokyo blue), laelia anceps guerrero, sophronitis coccinea, dendrobium oriental smile fantasy, phragmipedium besseae and it's reddest progeny (mem. dick clements, jason fischer, and don wimber), odontioda george mcmahon, cattleya percivaliana summit, blc george king serendipity, yellow psychopsis, and rossioglossum grande. i think i could live with JUST those if that's all i could have

[JungleWriter]

Beautiful flowers and suggestions everyone. To narrow it down a bit, please nominate your Seven Wonders of the Orchid World. I will collate all your nominations and then poll the group for the top seven so we have a list of the Seven Wonders of the Orchid World.

[Wrebbitrocks]

1.Ryncholaelia digbyana
2.Vanda Coerulea
3.Angraecum sesquipedale
4.Phragmipedium besseae
5.Cattleya percivaliana 'Summit'

I think alot of collections couldn't go wrong with those plus alot of crosses are made with some of them. I think they have all been significant discoveries to the orchid world.

6&7 are my own favourites because of the long lasting impressive flowers and general ease of care

6.Renanthera coccinea
7.Dtps. Fuller's Sunset

[BradGC]

I love all vandaceous orchids, mainly in a tiny basket or no basket at all because they look stunning with the roots just hanging there in mid air.

Another one that I'd say is definitely an amazing plant is the vanilla orchid, being that I'm a chef, I absolutely love using a nice plump, oily vanilla bean in deserts.

[smweaver]

For me, it's either Vanda coerulea or Cuitlauzina pendula, with Cattleya mossiae coming in a close third.

And Omar, you didn't break any rules. I'm glad you like the Ang. sesquipedale, which is a pretty cool plant (in spite of having, in my opinion, stinky blooms). :-)

Steve