Hymenorchis javanica is endemic to western Java at elevations of 900-1000m (Parsons & Gerritsen 2013, p.518-819). It is a tiny plant (leaf length is about 2cm), but it gives a disproportionately large display of crystalline flowers. The flowers are jewel-like especially with a little bit of back light. This plant is originally from Ooi Leng Sun. But I purchased it from another person in June 2014, and he accidentally shipped the plants via USPS First Class (current USPS Retail Ground) instead of USPS Priority. USPS Priority takes only 3-4 days for the delivery to Alaska, but USPS First Class can take a long time. The First Class packages usually (but not always) get shipped to Federal Way, Washington, and then they travel to Alaska via a boat. So it took 16 days. Some of the orchids were dead on arrival, but majority of them were highly stressed and I lost many of them subsequently. I wasn't sure if this one is going to make, but i...
Plants, Orchids, and Life in North