Stanhopea graveolens - the heavy stinker

[euplusia]

To classify an orchid species, morphologic features (i.e. lip details for example) are not the only characteristics.
Some species, in particular within the Stanhopeinae group ( the perfume flowers) can be determined with your eyes closed. Here is one example: Stanhopea graveolens. The Latin "grave olens" is translated as "heavy stinking".
Well, you shouldn't just stick your nose directly into a bunch of flowers, but it is by far not as bad as the scent of some Bulbophyllums or Stapelias. It is a blend of mothballs and Camphor.
Back in the sixties I had the chance to go skiing in Switzerland. There in the hotel aisle I smelled exactly the same scent as I do now in my greenhouse.
This Stanhopea can be found from Mexico down to Brazil, in higher elevations. It is temperature tolerant, easy growing and flowering, and the flowering season here is August and September.