One-Day Orchid

Tall reed-like stems with heavily veined, bilobed, plicate, apical leaves. The inflorescences on the apex of the stem carry one or two successive ephemeral flowers with large sepals and petals. The short duration of the flower is caused by a self-digesting enzyme (hence its name). The lip is entire or lobed and clasps the column at its base. These flowers range in color from pure white to yellow, green, pink.