#warmglasshouse

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 28 December 2021

This elegant and smaller-growing species orchid Cymbidium erythraeum (Indian orchid, red-spotted lip Cymbidium) is found in Assam India, eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Bhutan, western Himalayas, Myanmar, China and Vietnam. It grows on steep banks in open mossy evergreen forests at elevations of 1000 to 2400 meters.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 19 November 2019

The cascading stems of Hoya linearis (wax flower, porcelain flower) was thriving in this warm, humid glasshouse. The plant is native to the Himalayas and needs to maintain temperatures above 10C in winter.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 18 November 2019

The red bracts on the flowering stem of Racinaea dyeriana (Tillandsia dyeriana) each have a small white flower that only lasts a few hours and then darkens. This air plant is an endemic of Ecuador and grows in mangrove forests where it is critically endangered due to habitat lost.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 16 November 2019

In the warm glasshouse of Myddleton House, London, the beautifully trained climber Aristolochia grandiflora (pelican flower, Dutchman’s pipe) was flowering. These dramatic blooms have evolved to be pollinated by flies attracted by a foul smell, similar to that of rotting meat. Each trumpet-shaped flower lasts for two days. On the first day it is in the female phase, with the flies trapped by downward facing hairs in the pouch of the flower to ensure pollination. On the next day, the flower changes to male phase and pollen is deposited on the pollinators, the odour disappears, the hairs wither and the insects are released to visit the next flower.

Jill Raggett