Bulbophyllum vaginatum is an epiphytic orchid native to Southeast Asia, typically found in lowland and montane tropical forests at elevations from near sea level up to about 1,200 meters. It grows attached to tree trunks and branches where air circulation is high, taking advantage of filtered light beneath the canopy. The plant forms creeping rhizomes that produce small, ovoid pseudobulbs, each topped by a single thick, leathery leaf. The distinctive inflorescence emerges from the base of the pseudobulbs, bearing a cluster of pale yellow to cream flowers with unusually long, filamentous sepals that extend outward in a dramatic, spider-like display. These flowers, often measuring only about 1–2 inches across excluding the long sepals, can emit a faint scent. The genus Bulbophyllum is the largest in the Orchidaceae family with over 2,000 species. The Orchidaceae family itself is the largest plant family in the world, with over 28,000 accepted species spread across more than 700 genera. Photographed in Florida.