Ipsea speciosa

Ipsea speciosa
Ipsea speciosa illustration.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Ipsea
Species:
I. speciosa
Binomial name
Ipsea speciosa
Lindl. (1831)
Synonyms

Spathoglottis speciosa (Lindl.) Pradhan

Ipsea speciosa, the daffodil orchid, is a rare wild orchid found in the hills of Sri Lanka and southern India. It is a terrestrial herb with pseudobulbous stem. The lanceolate leaves of the plant are grass like and pointed at the end. Its large flowers appear from September to February, they are bright yellow and sweet-scented.

This plant can be seen in grass lands and pathana areas in mid hills of the country. The plant is known as නගා මැරූ අල in the Sinhala language, meaning "Yam which killed the little sister" according to a folk tale.

Like the glory lily, the daffodil orchid is used as an ingredient in making love charm portions and aphrodisiacs in local medicine.

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