Finger Lakes, NY (Zone 6a) | August 2007 | neutral
This flower is the original Brahma Kamal, an appellation now commonly associated with Epiphyllum oxypetalum, the night blooming cereus. ...Read MoreThis has created some confusion and most references to the Brahma Kamal in cultivation are likely to refer to the later.
Saussurea obvallata, unlike Epiphyllum oxypetalum, however, is a true native to Asia and the Indian subcontinent where it grows wild in the valleys of the Himalaya mountains above 3000 meters. It is a small herbacious plant with lanceolate leaves. The flowerbuds are protected from the cold by a series of thin encircling bracts which create an air pocket around the flower until it is ready to open. It flowers durring the monsoon season and is a popular offering at religious sites. The root is also used in traditional medicine although its western pharmaceutical value appears minimal.
The bracts are a pale yellow color while the flower itself is said to be purple. It is the state flower of Uttaranchal, India.
Looking for saussurea obvalatta seeds
This flower is the original Brahma Kamal, an appellation now commonly associated with Epiphyllum oxypetalum, the night blooming cereus. ...Read More