Epiphyllum oxypetalum (Dutchman's
pipe cactus or queen of the night) is a species of cactus and one of the most
cultivated species in the genus. E. oxypetalum blooms rarely and only at night,
and its flowers wilt before dawn.
In India it is called Brahma
Kamalam, named after the Hindu god of creation, Lord Brahma. It is believed
that the wishes of people who pray to God while the flower is blooming will be
fulfilled.
The Chinese use this flower (tan-hua; 曇花) to describe someone who has an
impressive but very brief moment of glory, like a "flash in a pan,"
since an Epiphyllum oxypetalum plant might bloom only once a year . Therefore, someone described as "曇花一現" is generally understood to
be a person who shows off or unexpectedly gains some achievement and is thought
to be an exception or only lucky.
The flower also has a rich
history in Japan, where it is known as the 月下美人 (Gekka Bijin) or "Beauty
under the Moon". In Sri Lanka it is called "Kadupul" which means
the flower from heaven. In Indonesia it is called "Wijaya Kusuma" which
means "Flower of Triumph".
Source:Wikipedia
Really a delight watching it bloom today in my garden.
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| At 11pm 6 Feb 2019 |
