Post-6616...

Thanks John!

(Okay, I have a bit of a rant here: I used to be able to wrap text around a pic with little effort. Now, it just won't work most times. And another thing: I am so sick of those titty pages popping up! I absolutely don't know what to do about them.)

These orchids are typically Pouyannian mimics meaning they look like a creature (i.e. a voluptuous female insect) and entice males to attempt to mate with it. During the ruckus of this peudocopulation event, the orchid plants a pollen packet onto the male. Viola! Pollination!

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) - It resembles a female bumblebee visiting a pink flower to attract the attention of male bees.

Pink Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis sp.) - Looks like it has a little bird’s head guarding the flower nectar.

Monkey Face Orchid (Dracula simia) - These rare orchids only grow in the cloud forests of southeastern Ecuador and Peru at elevations of 1,000-2,000 meters on the side of mountains. Smells like a ripe orange.

White Egret Orchid (Habenaria radiata) - The flower looks like the bird is spreading its fluffy white feathers, getting ready to take off.

Holy Ghost Orchid (Peristeria elata) - Has a beautiful dove shaped center.

Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana major). It’s a small orchid, about 50 cm tall, that grows in eastern and southern Australia.