Dendrobium anosmum - orchid species with a powerful fragrance.

Dendrobium is commonly abbreviated as Den in horticulture.

One of the orchid species with a powerful fragrance is Dendrobium anosmum.

The Hawaiian name for Den anosmum is Hono hono. The Philippino name is Sanggumay which means "purple rain". 

Ironically, "Anosmum" in Latin means without scent. This species is native to New Guinea, the Phillippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Den anosmum is an easy to grow epiphyte with long slender stems and short oblong leaves.

Sanggumays are preferably established on pieces of deadwood, coconut husks or attached to live trees. They have to be fastened firmly into the wood or coconut husk for their roots to grow and cling properly to the media. I prefer to hang them down as they do in nature- this way, the stems grow stronger.

Extract from sdorchids, with thanks – “The long slender pseudobulbs are said to grow to 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) in length. Each node generally produces 1-3 flowers. This fragrant orchid flowers smell much better during the morning hours and they bloom for about four weeks. A well grown pseudobulb can produce over 100 flowers.

The unbloomed nodes near the tip of the pseudobulbs and a few nodes just below the lowest flowers will start to produce keikis. A keiki may be removed from its parent plant when a good root system has developed in a couple of months.

The first-year's growth are usually no longer than one and one-half feet and do not flower. The next year's growths usually reach four feet long.”

jungle orchid nusantara image

Dendrobium anosmum- 3 stems (about 16 inches long) selling @ us 45, inclusive of express courier service. Please email me for further details.

swangumay flickr

swangumay flickr