I was told this is Brahmakamal (Saussurea obvallata) – a rare flowering plant, found in the Himalayas.

Night Blooming Cereus

Photographer: My camera phone

So yesterday night we had gathered around the white magnificent flower and enjoyed its full bloom and its heady fragrance for few hours.

We are supposed to get rich!!

We are supposed to have a shower of blessings!!

To find out all the myths and lores I went to surf the net and found that it is not Brahmakamal but Queen of the Night – cactus – Night Blooming Cereus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum). In Maharashtra at least there is misconception about this plant being Brahmakamal.

But it is not that rare plant and flowers once a year(?) unlike Brahmakamal which is said to flower once in 14 years!

Looks are indeed deceptive here!

Does this flower belongs to waterlily family? No, not.

The inmates inside the flower’s own design cave kingdom!

The small plant in a pot

Now after busting the myth of Brahmakamal the million dollor question is: Am I still going to be rich?

But I did feel blessed by its serene white beauty!

(If you want to know more about flowers of India I strongly recommend this site.)