Culture> Events and Festivals

Shanghai orchid show blossoms

By Wu Yiyao in Shanghai ( China Daily ) Updated: 2014-04-13 07:33:47

Among the exotic plants on show is Maxillaria variabilis. It blooms any time of the year with a single 1.5-cm flower. Its color varies from yellow to red. The orchid is found in open and dense forests in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Colombia and other American countries at elevations of 500 to 2,500 meters.

Orchid festival blossoms

Peach flower destination: Galang village in Tibet

The tiger orchid is native to the terrain from Mexico to Honduras. The plant may grow four to eight flowers. Each may reach up to 33 centimeters in diameter. The flowers are a glossy gold-yellow with brown barring and can bear various colored markings.

The Ladies' Sleeper orchid is of Chinese origins. The plant blooms in spring with three greenish-yellow and relatively small flowers.

"Walking through the orchids, you can see a range of varieties in terms of flowers, sizes and colors," says Lu Wenyin, a 52-year-old visitor.

"Some boast large blossoms and vibrant colors. Others are appealing because of their delicate petals and fragrances."

Traditional Chinese preferences lean toward delicate stems and smaller blossoms, which are symbols of hermits.