In honor of the final episode of Lost (which airs this upcoming Sunday night…*sniff*), the orchid I’ve chosen for this week is the Dendrobium Sonia, which is commonly used in Hawaiian leis:

Here you can see this hybrid beauty in its natural, non-lei’d state:

Gorgeous! Just looking at these blooms takes me away to a tropical paradise.
The Dendrobium Sonia is a type of Dendrobium Phalaenopsis, which, as you may deduce from its name, is a plant similar in habitat and appearance to the Phalaenopsis orchid. In addition to leis, you’ll often see these dens in cut flower arrangements and sometimes as a plate garnish at Asian restaurants (particularly Thai). Supposedly the blooms are edible but I don’t know how I feel about eating flowers. Personally, I’d much rather just grow them and enjoy their beauty in my home.
4 comments
When I waited table, we would put these flowers on plates during banquets. I ate a few, they didn’t taste like much though. But I’m still alive.
Well I’m glad they didn’t do you in. I feel like they would have a gross texture. Like soft and smushy but then a crunch in the middle. Maybe like a bug.
Straightforward and written properly, thanks for the info
Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it!