Need Help
 

I have been calling it, bishop's head....

The plant with 2 spikes:

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/280...47smalllg6.jpg

The blooms:

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6...23smallkc2.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6...22smallae4.jpg

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/1...31smallqj6.jpg

Somehow this reminds me of a thread with a similar plant ID requested a while back. Just did a search and didn't come up with anything, but I don't think I'm loosing it. I really remember this flower from somewhere.

Brought down this wild variety from a huge tree outside our gate. Judging from the number of pods iy seems to have just about to end its bloom period save for one spray of tiny buds. The flowers are purplish. I reckon it to be an Acriopsis javanica(??) from the flowers it produces.

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/9...70smallbq9.jpg

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/7...73smallmj2.jpg

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/9...21smallqs1.jpg

It's a Catasetum, or the alliance; anyway, that is a female fower. Catasetum barbatum-that's what it looks like to me.

Female flowers form usually when there's not enough light. Is it fragrant? Enjoy the blooms-they are unusual - like helmets, or bisops heads, as you say.
Carol

Such a cool plant! :cheer:

Thanks, canadacarol for the suggestion. Made me dive further into reading up about Catasetums. My! I really learned a thing or two there. After much search I believe C. Susan Fuchs ""Sunrise" may be closer. Here are pics of the male and female bloom I got from the internet.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/3...wersmalmr6.jpg

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3...lesmallof7.jpg

I learned that the female flower is due to more light which is understandable as my plants are all put outside. Perhaps I shall try to get male flowers next time. Then I'd really know for sure.:scratchhead: They look nice too. Apparently it is rare to get both m/f flowers at a time.

Hamizao, I think you're too quick to jump on the name of a hybrid here.

Unless you have a tag or can communicate with the source of a plant with no tag and get an ID, there is no way to know for certain what the ID of a hybrid is, even from observation of the flower.

Catasetum Susan Fuchs is expansum x (expansum x pileatum). Susan Fuchs has been used as a parent in 22 registered hybrids, and the parent species in 76 between them. And that's just the first generation!

I realise that and I guess we'd never really know, would we? Really enjoyed the search......saw some wonderful pictures.

Guess what, by cutting some light to my catasetum i have recently been able to get the male flowers. Here it is.
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/468...00smalljv5.jpg

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/2...01smalltd4.jpg