Schoenorchis fragrans

Common Name - The Fragrant Schoenorchis

Schoenorchis fragrans is a fantastic living gem among orchids -these are the only words that do sufficient credit to the looks of this miniature species ! Its stem reaches a length of barely a few centimeteres ;it bears a crowded bunch of extremely thickned ,0.6 in /1.5 cm -long or shorter leaves . Following the example of the infinitely bigger Vanda orchids ,the leaves' axils even give rise to several short flower racemes at once . Each of the inflorescence bears 3-8 tiny purple flowers with a tinge of white and a long , sigmodial lip. Schoenorchis fragrans is an epiphyte requireing a lot of shine (but make sure to protect it from dehydration !) In the winter it does not get sufficient light -a reduction in temperature to 68 F/20 C will therefore do it good . The plant puts on its flower attire in late summer .It comes from southeastern Asia .

Synonyms

Gastrochilus fragrans (C.S.P.Parish & Rchb.f.) Kuntze 1891; *Saccolabium fragrans Parish & Rchb. f. 1874