The Smell of Summer – The Season for Dendrobium anosmum

Dendrobium anosmum is one most inappropriately named orchids that occurs in the Philippines. The reason for this is that the Latin word anosmum means without smell, and we all know that this is not true of this wonderful species, as frequently the perfume is noticeable well before the actual flowers are seen. The Tagalog name of “sanggumay” describes this species perfectly: overwhelmingly strong odour. This species is also found in India, Myanmar (Burma), Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, the smaller Indonesians islands, and New Guinea. It usually grows on the branches and trunks of trees, and has also been observed growing on limestone, and sandstone rocks. In the Philippines it is found throughout the islands, and is even known to occur in the mountains of central Luzon. It is normally a plant that is found at low elevations, but I have seen plants at elevations of about [...]