Wild Orchid

ThThe Aerides crispum has started its yearly show in my garden. It is attached to the gnarled trunk of the Amla tree, where its thick roots hang in the air, obtaining sustenance. Hence its name- Aerides meaning 'of the air'. This orchid grows wild in the rain forests of the Western Ghats. I got the plants from my friend Hegde's farm, deep in the jungles of the Western Ghats.

The flowers are mildly perfumed, reminding one of the Frangipani. They stay for a month on the plant.

Aerides crispum is called Draupadi Dande in Kannada, meaning 'garland of Draupadi'. Draupadi was the heroine of the Indian epic, Mahabharata. She obviously did not have enough time to make a long garland Another variety which has become rare in the Western Ghats, is 'Seethe Dande', meaning Seetha's garland'. The inflorescence of that one is 3 feet long, or even longer, showing that Seetha has all the time in the world to weave garlands..