Brassavola nodosa

Lady of the night - commonly called for many years because of its incredibly fragrant blooms which only emit their sweet aroma after sunset.  This species is widespread throughout coastal and lowland regions of the American tropics.  It has been used to make incredibly colorful and exotic intergeneric hybrids using related genera such as the Cattleyas, Barkerias, Encyclias, Epidendrums, etc.

The picture to the left was taken in a mangrove swamp on the gulf coast of Veracruz state, just north of Laguna Verde.  The plants are actually growing on mangrove roots along with the bromeliad, Tillandsia ionantha.  Weyman has found another population in Chiapas on the Pacific coast which has silvery colored leaves.