"Flor del Espiritu Santo"

< - Caroline did this painting as part of a school project.

More info from National House of Panama: "The national flower of Panama is a terrestrial orchid called "Flor del Espiritu Santo" or  Holy Ghost Orchid in English. This species is found from Costa Rica down to Colombia and Ecuador.

"Inside the flower you see a perfectly shaped dove, hence the name of the orchid.  It has ivory colored petals of an intense color, decorated in the center by a very well defined dove. This orchid blooms in the months of July through October. The orchid while terrestrial, it can also be found between large trees in the forest. When these trees lose their leaves the Holy Ghost Orchid is revealed and exposed to the torrential rains of Panama. The bulb of the Holy Ghost Orchid grows dramatically until it reaches maturity, reaching a size comparable to a softball ball. Then it produces very fragrant flowers that last a long time."