Brassavola cucullata (...or is it?)
 

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...1&d=1653293107

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...1&d=1653293107

After a couple of years of waiting, it finally bloomed. :) I always wondered how the upper sepal would open up and I found that it just snaps open like a spring or a mousetrap, and almost instantly, it rolls backwards. Fascinating!

Just like its cousins, it has nightly scent--I find it a bit more spicy/pungent and citrus-like than nodosa. However, the fragrance is a bit weaker, and it gets overpowered by my Ang. didieri every night. ;)



Anyway, one of the articles in the recent issue of AOS magazine says that "true" B. cucullata has 8 pollinia while B. appendiculata, which many considered to be a mere synonym of B. cucullata, actually has 12; it is definitely an interesting info, and I am definitely going to check it out with my plant. Perhaps yet another label change is in order... :lol:

Whichever it is, it’s really nice!

Looks good! I love the red in this one.

It does look pretty superb. I like those long tubular leaves also.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...1&d=1653556098

After a few minutes of fumbling and struggling to pull the individual pollen masses out of its rather tight anther cap, managed to spread out its contents on the table. While couple of them got broken, but clearly there are more than 10 pollinia...so according to AOS magazine's article, my plant is not Brassavola cucullata, but a B. appendiculata. ;)

ooooh love this one

i have two of these and they are certainly favorites i want to take mine apart now!

i think the smell is like nodosa mixed with dove soap