Angraecum sesquipedale - Orchid Board

dave b · #1 01-11-2009, 10:13 PM

Waited years for this one. First bloom. Spur is just over 12 inches long. Just opened, still a bit green.

Tindomul · #2 01-11-2009, 10:21 PM

OMG, Amazing!!! Congratulations. How is the scent?

Annika · #3 01-11-2009, 10:33 PM

That is incredibly beautiful--thanks for sharing it!

dave b · #4 01-11-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul

OMG, Amazing!!! Congratulations. How is the scent?

Its getting stronger...a spicy-floral...maybe a bit Brassavola-ish.

mollycart1 · #5 01-11-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave b

Waited years for this one. First bloom. Spur is just over 12 inches long. Just opened, still a bit green.

Congratulations. Mine has just finished blooming. I enjoyed the scent every night.

Sandy4453 · #6 01-11-2009, 11:29 PM

I agree with Tindo, this is an amazing looking bloom. It's so satsifying to finally get results after waiting so long and when they're gorgeous like this one, it finally feels worth the wait....at least, in hindsight.

Great growing to you!

ronaldhanko · #7 01-12-2009, 05:43 AM

Do you know the story behind this flower - it involves Darwin? If you do you ought to tell it for the benefit of the readers of this post.

LauraN · #8 01-12-2009, 06:33 AM

Awesome!
Mine is still in tight bud as we speak... the waiting is horrible!
Congrats on the fabulous blooming of this fabulous flower!

Don Perusse · #9 01-12-2009, 12:36 PM

Really, really nice. Beautiful orchid and a beautiful pic. Ahhhhh, the rewards of patience. Aren't you glad you hung in there with all the TLC you gave it. Enjoyed!

dave b · #10 01-12-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

Do you know the story behind this flower - it involves Darwin? If you do you ought to tell it for the benefit of the readers of this post.

Good idea.

The short version...a long time ago, in a galaxy far away, Darwin discovered this orchid in bloom. He surmised that there must be a pollinator with a proboscis long enough (10+ inches) to reach the nectar at the bottom of the spur. The entomologists (folks who study bugs) of the time thought he was crazy. But, low and behold, some 40 - 50 years after his death, a Hawk Moth (Sphinx Moth) was discovered with a 10+ inch proboscis.

Darwin also wrote about this one in his work, The Various Contrivances by Which Orchids are Fertilised by Insects. It is available in its entirety on Google books.

Also available on-line is a short video recorded during night, of a Hawk Moth coming in to feed from sesquipedale flowers. I had posted the link many moons ago, but dont have it handy.

Thanks to all for looking.