The flowers look like a mix of Gardenias and daisies, wonder how the scent is.
Do you have any other picture that may be a bit more clear (maybe taken from another angle)?
Here is some information about niSAgandhi. Memories go back to chemmeen!
Later about these in my blog if time permits.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/Nishagandhi.jpg/180px-Nishagandhi.jpg&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphyllum_oxypetalum&usg=__MhXFX2L0ya2t0TTuYA30UukbsY8=&h=120&w=180&sz=6&hl=en&start=29&um=1&tbnid=vpeAHg8jy637BM:&tbnh=67&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnishagandhi%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1
Another picture from Flickr -
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/86/231880492_c9eed8d99d.jpg
Regards! - mOhana
Thank you for the links mOhanaji, got the following facts from the Wikipedia link:
Botanical name: Epiphyllum oxypetalum (Dutchman's Pipe), is a species of cactus.
Nick names: Night Blooming Cereus, Dutchman's Pipe and Queen of the Night.
Has an unpleasant smell (so much for my imagination of Gardenias) :)
Regarding your post on Chemmeen, we can wait for a few months, so please take all the time you need, I'm just glad its coming in the future. :)
"nilaavinde Raavil Nishagandhi poothalloo" in Mannadey's voice!This flower I had in my garden. Lata , the smell is very nice. But before we could enjoy it , in the morning the flower and its smell fade!
I read that this flower blooms mainly in the Himalayas. But there is reference
to this in kEraLa as niSAgaMdhi. Here is a picture on Flickr with the name
brahamakamalam too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/godakshin/2596810549/
Here is a Hindu article on this -
http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/11/stories/2007101161391100.htm
There is a song by yEsudas with the starting words of brahmakamalam -
http://www.raaga.com/play/?id=19694
Regards! - mOhana
In reply to Here is some information by jkmrao
In reply to Telugu we call this flower by ashanagendra