When we visited the Orchid Extravaganza at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, we saw this beautiful orchid, called Darwin’s Orchid, on display. Intrigued by its beauty, I had to do some research on it and see if I could purchase it and add it to my ever-growing collection.
Angraecum sesquipedale /ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪliː/, also known as Darwin’s orchid, Christmas orchid, Star of Bethlehem orchid, and king of the angraecums, is an epiphytic orchid in the genus Angraecum endemic to Madagascar. The orchid was first discovered by the French botanist Louis-Marie Aubert du Petit-Thouars in 1798, but was not described until 1822.[1][2] It is noteworthy for its long spur and its association with the naturalist Charles Darwin, who surmised that the flower was pollinated by a then undiscovered moth with a proboscis whose length was unprecedented at the time. His prediction had gone unverified until 21 years after his death, when the moth was discovered and his conjecture vindicated.
Source: Wikipedia
The flowers are unlike other orchids I’ve seen. They’re star-shaped and have a waxy appearance. There was no fragrance at the time of viewing, but I’ve read it emits a scent in the evenings.
Have you seen this orchid?