View source for Brassavola

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Orchidaceae
|genus=Brassavola
|taxo_author=R.Br.
|habit=orchid
|features=flowers, fragrance
|flowers=white
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Brassavola-flagellaris.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_caption=Brassavola flagellaris
}}
'''''Brassavola''''' is a [[genus]] of 20 [[orchid]]s ([[family (biology)|family]] Orchidaceae). The name comes from the [[Venice|Venetian]] nobleman and physician [[Antonio Musa Brassavola]]. This genus is abbreviated '''B''' in trade journals.

These species are native to the lowlands of [[Central America]] and [[Tropics|tropical]] [[South America]]. They are [[epiphyte]]s, and a few are [[lithophyte]]s. A single, apical and succulent [[leaf]] grows on an elongated [[pseudobulb]].

The orchid yields a single white or greenish white flower, or a raceme of a few flowers. The three sepals and two lateral petals are greenish, narrow and long. The base of the broad fringed [[labellum|lip]] enfolds partially the [[column (botany)|column]]. This column has a pair of falciform ears on each side of the front and contains twelve (sometimes eight) [[Pollinium|pollinia]].

Most Brassavola orchids are very fragrant, attracting [[pollinator]]s with their [[citrus]]y smell. But they are only fragrant at night, in order to attract the right [[moth]]. Longevity of flowers depends on the species and is between five to thirty days. 

In 1698 ''[[Brassavola nodosa]]'' was the first tropical orchid to be brought from the Caribbean island [[Curaçao]] to [[Holland]]. Thus began the propagation of this orchid and the fascination for orchids in general.

{{Inc|
Brassavola (A. M. Brassavola, Venetian botanist). Orchidaceae. About twenty tropical American epiphytes, closely allied to Laelia, and demanding similar treatment.

The fls. are large, solitary or racemose, the sepals and petals narrow and greenish, the lip white: Lvs. thick, solitary. For the cultivator, the treatment of Bras- savola is identical with that of the Mexican laelias. Plenty of sun to mature the young growths, and water when growing, with a somewhat drier atmosphere when resting, will be found to suit them. Suspend on blocks. B. Digbyana, Lindl., is Laelia Digbyana; B. glauca, Lindl., is Laelia glauca.
}}