I don't really see what's caraway-like (or moon-like, for that matter) about this flower, but that probably just shows I'm a dull, uncreative person.
Google has no records of an orchid by the name of Masdevallia Caraway Moon. (Image searches for "Caraway Moon" bring up lots of images of shoes; I declined to investigate the reason, but I suppose someone might have named an orchid for a shoe? Or vice-versa?)
Very interesting. The colour kind of reminds me of a faded 60s piece of furniture that my grandparents used to have. I do love the petal shapes though.
ReplyDeleteAren't some Masdevallias fragrant?
ReplyDeletePat:
ReplyDeleteMaybe. But caraway?
If there is anything I have learnt since a friend convinced me to smell every flower I encountered it is "don't assume anything". I found an Origanum half-way up a hill in Spain whose leaves smelt of roses, or, probably more accurately, rose geranium.
ReplyDeleteOh gods, I just did a search and it was easy for once. Do a "find" on this page and you get twenty results for carvone, the typical majority content of caraway. Fifty-seven with "carv" in them. So Masdevallia is capable of producing caraway smells, along with a huge range of other chemicals, a veritable Sigma Aldrich of a flower.
Pherobase
Now, if I remember correctly, the Moon smells of burnt steak and gunpowder.
Reminds me of those discovery channel documentary where this orchid suppose to have its own moth to pollinate the flowers.
ReplyDeleteIt does look very unique & exotic.
What a Beauty!!
ReplyDeleteI never tried growing Masdevillias, I am thinking they are difficult to grow....
Gone Tropical:
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty much my understanding. But then, I find most orchids pretty difficult to grow.