I have posted this photo a couple of days ago and I said that I did not know the name. My missus did not know either; she said it’s called Bunga Raja or something like that. Then blogger Vincent commented that he had always wanted to see a photo of the flowers in full bloom and finally got to see it here…
This website – Desert Queen – calls it the Queen of the Night while some call it Desert Rose, Moonlight Flower or even The Star of Bethlehem. Its real name, I think, is Night Cereus, and it is a plant found in the desert in the USA. They say it blooms once a year but the plant in our house has bloomed before last year and again the other night – 2nd January, 2009.
The old folks believe that it brings good fortune (My missus did win a bit of money, but I did not bother to go and buy!) and if you’re not lucky, it will never bloom at all. That night, we had four huge blooms on one stalk and another one on the other stalk and when in full bloom, the pleasant fragrance will fill the air throughout the whole vicinity. The leaves resemble those of the dragon fruit plant and I hear that they come in two colours – white or red.
You may click this link to see the youtube video showing the actual process of the flower blooming…and here’s a photo of the old queens (Somehow that reminds me of Sir Elton John! LOL!!!) by day…
They are so beautiful at night and it’s just too bad that they do not survive in the morning light. That brings to mind this song by Carole King:
Tonight you’re mine completely
You give your love so sweetly
Tonight, the light of love is in your eyes
But will you love me tomorrow?
Is this a lasting treasure
Or just a moment’s pleasure?
Can I believe the magic of your sigh?
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Tonight with words unspoken
You say that I’m the only one
But will my heart be broken
When the night meets the morning sun?
I’d like to know that your love
Is love I can be sure of
So tell me now and I won’t ask again
Will you still love me tomorrow?
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 