Cyrtochilum serratum

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

This is the first time blooming. I got it as a large established seedling about 5 - 7 years ago, (lost track of how long I've had it, but it isn't anywhere less than 5 years), from Oak Hill Gardens.

Beautiful and large flowered. The inflorescence is extremely long, vine-like and rambling, and unruly. It technically has what should be considered a panicle of flowers.

I detect a fragrance, but it is fleeting and it smells odd at the moment. I may have to wait a few days more to see if the scent and/or the scent intensity changes. It is a fresh bloom after all!

One of the photos I took had an unexpected visitor - a hoverfly! I left the hoverfly in the pic just 'cause I thought it was cool.

I was so impressed with the lip of the orchid, I had to zoom in on the callus details. The dentition on this orchid's labellum is unbelievable!

If you look closely in the first pic, you will also notice that behind the anther cap, on either side of the stigmatic cavity, there are two curved appendages that resemble the blades of scimitars.

I also love how the petals look like they're in the position of an embrace.

I'm also a fan of the frilly edges of the flowers.

Awesome orchid. Not a plant for people with limited space, unfortunately.

This one is best appreciated in real life. It is so three dimensional!

[WhiteRabbit]

Wow! That's awesome! Love your photos!

[Lana]

Beautiful, beautiful flower, and great photos!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Thanks Sonya, Daenerys, and Lana!

This one is a treat!

[gnathaniel]

Very cool, Philip!

--Nat

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Thanks Nat.

I took a whiff of the flower again, and I did detect a fragrance.

It is fleeting, very faint, and it just smells odd. I cannot describe it very well. It starts off pungent, then it fades into a faint raw chocolate smell. The fragrance is so ephemeral that it's difficult to detect.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Here're most of the flowers on the panicle.

[WhiteRabbit]

Looks great!

[gnathaniel]

Great plant! Yellow and brown flowers aren't usually my thing but this has a lot of visual appeal.

--Nat