Life Form:

Epiphytic

Bloom Characteristics:

Erect inflorescence is 3" (7.5 cm) long with a single large, white to green, hairy-looking flower. Each flower is 7" (18 cm) across.

Fragrance:

Lemon to lily of the valley

Plant Size:

10-18" x 3-4" (25-46 x 8-10 cm)

Range:

SE Mexico to Honduras

Habitat:

Humid lowlands; 33-3280ft (10-1000m)

Description:

This medium to large sized orchid is very fragrant at night to attract its moth pollinator, but also sensitive. It is said that if a light is turned on at night, the plant will temporarily stop producing scent. It is also slow to recover from repotting and other disturbances. The entire plant is covered in a powdery bloom.

Bloom Time (Northern Hemisphere):

February to July; peaks from May to July

Pollination Syndrome:

Moth

Provenance:

From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin

Topic:

Orchids  Search this

Living Collections  Search this

Common Name:

Digby's Beaked Laelia

Queen of the Night

Group:

[vascular plants]

Class:

Equisetopsida

Subclass:

Magnoliidae

Superorder:

Lilianae

Order:

Asparagales

Family:

Orchidaceae

Subfamily:

Epidendroideae

Genus:

Rhyncholaelia

Species:

digbyana

Accession Number:

2008-2971A

Restrictions & Rights:

CC0

See more items in:

Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection

Data Source:

Smithsonian Gardens

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax72755a3a2-f2e7-46d9-9d9e-c6931a32ed2b

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:ofeo-sg_2008-2971A