Stanhopea tigriana

Stanhopea tigriana is the largest and best known of all Stanhopea orchids . It is also the most commonly included in orchid collections -one look at its sensational flowers will tell you why. Just like the other species ,this plant forms sessile clusters of unifoliate ,dark -green pseudobulbs . In late summer ,their bases give rise to a bizzare yellow and green sack-like shape covered with brown spots - a foundation of the amazing future inflorescence ,as yet ''unwrapped '' . And then comes the big moment : the opening of the fantastic ,almost spooky -looking flowers ,up to 6.4 in / 16 cm in diameter . The basic color of the whole flower is pale yellow that provides a good back ground for impressive -looking and often coalescent brown and red- spots . Stanhopea tigriana flower racemes bearing 2-4 flowers are ,in proportion to the other body parts ,almost unnaturally large and the plant sometimes find it hard to sustain all of its flowers - in fact ,some of them die right before opening . Stanhopea tigriana should be grown in the same style as other Stanhopeas . The flower can be expected at the peak of the summer . Stanhopea tigriana species comes from Mexico .