A little Introduction
Figure 1: This picture shows Brassavola nodosa in the wild with its wide lip (labellium) and five tepals
The sweetly scented Brassavola nodosa (L.) Lindl. more commonly known as Lady of the Night orchid, belongs to the rather extensive Orchidaceae family, and is part of the Brassavola genus, which contains approximately 21 species. The majority of the Brassavola species grow on trees (epiphytic) with a few exceptions where they prefer growing lower down on rocks (lithophytic), (Schemske, 1980).
The species Brassavola nodosa is typically recognised by its very strong nocturnal fragrance but, compared with other orchid species such as those in the Cattleya genus, is a relatively small orchid. When found growing in its natural habitat it will usually grow in clumps, spanning between 40-50cm. This is when multiple shoots are produced which then forms a clump. However, more often there is only a single shoot produced with a single leaf. This growth habit is referred to as symbiodal growth (Murren & Ellison 1996).