BULBOPHYLLUM FLETCHERIANUM

This huge member of the Orchidaceae family was described by Robert Allen Rolfe in 1911. It is only found in New Guinea, growing either as an epiphyte, lithophyte or pseudoterrestrial. It need a well drained soil which should be kept moist, some light but no direct strong sun. The hanging leaves can grow up (down?) to 180 centimetres. The large, maroon or brown flowers are, as for so many other brown flowers: Defiantly not pleasant smelling!

The species name is derived from the Greek bolbos meaning 'bulb' and phyllon, 'a leaf', referring to the pseudobulbs on top of which the leaf grows. The species name after of the director of Edinburgh botanic garden in the late 1800's.