Cooktown Orchid

Bigibbum, originally uploaded by Leviathor.

The Cooktown Orchid has been the floral emblem of Queensland since November 19, 1959. Its scientific name is Dendrobium phalaenopsis, a recently created species after Clements reorganised the Dendrobium bigibbum complex. The old name, Dendrobium bigibbum var. superbum is still recognised as a synonym.

This beautiful but variable orchid occurs in several subspecies. It used to be prolific around Cooktown but is now rare in the wild, due to over-collecting by commercial collectors. The colour of the flowers varies from pinkish-mauve to lavender or purple and sometimes almost white, with the base of the labellum being a much darker purple.

The plants can grow up to 80 cm in height. The flowers are on canes 10-40 cm long.

Flowering time In the dry season - usually between March and July; but sometimes all year in commercial cultivation.
--from Wiki