Stanhopea oculata (warning: lots of images)

[Sue]

This bloomed out of season, right around New Year's. I took a whole bunch of photos and cannot resist posting several of them, showing the details of the labellum. Hope you enjoy them, and that my warning in the thread title forestalls annoyance.

Strong, strange, but pleasant fragrance. I posted smaller photos – click for supa-size. The last one is, I think, shows particularly fascinating details.

 

[philoserenus]

i love the patterning

 

[rdlsreno]

Love those short lived fragrant flowers!

Ramon

 

[paphioboy]

This makes me regret that I cannot grow stanhopeas in the tropics... have to be content with gongoras, though...

 

[Rick]

Very Nice!

I love the complex flowers of this family.

 

[JeanLux]

Great Stanhopea, many flowers! I like the 2 dots on the lip! Jean

 

[goldenrose]

Quite nice - love the closeups!

 

[Heather]

I looove stanhopeas...would never grow them, but love them. Thank so much for the nice photos, Sue. How's tricks, btw? Are you still in Virginia?

 

[Sue]

Yes, indeed. Having a nice time; hoping to stay.

 

[SlipperFan]

They look like a flock of birds about to land.