17 Feb 2010
Kew today - hay-scented orchid
This beautiful orchid, with its strongly-scented flowers, is flowering just in time for the Tropical Extravaganza festival.
- 23 likes
- 0 comments
Dendrochilum glumaceum (Image: RBG Kew)
Those keen to reach a higher plane of orchid heaven after visiting the Tropical Extravaganza should carry on to Zone 7 of the Princess of Wales Conservatory, where another unusual orchid can be found.
Dendrochilum glumaceum, commonly known as the hay-scented orchid, was first described by John Lindley in the nineteenth century. It is an elegant looking epiphytic orchid that comes from the Philippines and Borneo, growing at altitudes between 700 and 2,300 metres.
This species has pendulous spirals of crystalline white flowers with yellow lips which are strongly scented. They don't smell much like hay, more a like a sweet antiseptic, but you may decide otherwise. Grown in the Lower Nursery in the cool intermediate house by Chris Ryan, Bala Kompalli and their team, regular watering and feeding when in growth leads to the plants flowering in profusion in late winter. Each spike lasts up to a couple of weeks before the flowers start to fade and, cunningly, it has flowered to coincide perfectly with our orchid festival!
Share your pictures with Kew...
- Join Your Kew on Flickr and share your favourite photos of Kew Gardens and Wakehurst Place.
- Get involved in Kew's People's Arboretum on Flickr and post pictures of your favourite trees - wherever they live in the world!
- Become a Fan of Kew on Facebook and share your pics with our network of friends.
Visit information
- Print friendly
- Send to a friend
-
Send to a friend Close
- Spread the word
-
Spread the word Close
- Blog this
- Like this
- Close Thanks for liking this page. Tell us why by adding a comment at the bottom.
- Donate
Related Tags
- the UK
- around the world
- adventurous
- successful
- irreplaceable
- ground breaking
- discovered
- sustainable
- challenging
- at risk
- endangered
- rainforest
- uncharted
- needs help
- together
- rich
- powerful
- extraordinary
- beautiful
- english heritage
- historical
- interesting
- rare
- inspiring
- exploited
- fragile
- urgent
- verge of extinction
- ancient
- unusual
- rare
- old
- Kew overseas
- amazing
- creative
- imaginative
- exotic
- innovative
- popular
- fun
- wild
- hot spot
- woodland
- gifts that help
Follow Kew on twitter
-
Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:16:41
kewgardens: Guess who made it into @TelegraphLondon best London events this week! With @ROGAstronomers, @_TheWhitechapel & more http://t.co/DxWOGYaq -
Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:01:12
kewgardens: Only a few days left until Tropical Extravaganza opens - check out photos of the displays so far http://t.co/rCEMbxrC
News from the Gardens
Displaying the letters of Augustine Henry
by: Virginia Mills, Library, Art and Archives blog 03 Feb 2012
The Directors' Correspondence team has just put some of the letters of botanist Augustine Henry on display in Kew's Library Reading Room. Find out why we chose him as our subject and how the display brings together material from many of Kew's behind-the-scenes collections.
- 19 likes
- 0 comments
Promoting Voices of Oral History in the USA
by: Michele Losse, Library, Art and Archives blog 31 Jan 2012
Michele, Assistant Archivist at Kew, blogs about her experiences at the American Oral History Society's annual conference held in Denver, Colorado, last October.
- 6 likes
- 0 comments
Explore Kew Gardens on Google Street View
Nature fans and gardening fanatics can find inspiration by navigating the paths of Kew Gardens’ 326 acre site. Take in the largest collection of plants in the world – 30,000 different species, including 14,000 trees – and iconic structures such as the Palm House and Pagoda.
144 likes
4 comments
Don't miss our necklace orchid in flower this autumn
Kew's necklace orchids are showing off their sparkly curtains in the Princess of Wales conservatory at Kew Gardens.
119 likes
11 comments
No comments on 'Kew today - hay-scented orchid'