[www.keralites.net] AMAZING MONKEY ORCHID

 

The Amazing Monkey Orchid

 

Nature doesn't need an audience. These wonderful orchids come from the south-eastern Ecuadorian and Peruvian cloud forests from elevations of 1000 to 2000 meters and as such not many people throughout history got to see them. However, thanks to intrepid collectors we do get to see this wonderful Monkey Orchid. Someone didn't need much imagination to name it though, let's face it.

Image Credit Columbus GV Team

Its scientific name is Dracula simia, the last part nodding towards the fact that this remarkable orchid bears more than a passing resemblance to a monkey's face  although we won't go as far as to be species specific on this one. The Dracula (genus) part of its name refers to the strange characteristic of the two long spurs of the sepals, reminiscent of the fangs of a certain Transylvanian count of film and fiction fame.

Image Credit Flickr User Quimbaya

Image Credit Imgur

The orchid was only named in 1978 by the botanist Luer but is in a family containing over 120 species mostly found in Ecuador.  Up in the cloud mountains the monkey orchid can flower at any time  it is not season specific. It scent resembles that of a ripe orange.

Image Credit Flickr User Nolehace

Image Credit Flickr User Eric Hunt

The examples seen here are all cultivated   though it remains very rare in 'captivity'. For that reason don't make a dash down to your local horticulturalist. Yet for those lucky enough to have one, if kept quite cool and in partial shade and it can thrive and flower. Like all orchids, however, it needs a lot of care and patience   so you may want to consider a cactus instead!

Image Credit Flickr User Jose X

If you don't quite see why this orchid gets its name, then do one thing.  Move back from your screen a few feet and take another look. Close up the similarity is good, from a distance it is astounding.

Acknowledgements
Kuriositas would like to thanks Flickr User dendrofan for her kind permission to share with you the first picture in this feature article. Please visit her website, Eerika's Bilder. Also, we would like to thank Flickr Users nolehace, and Jose X, again for their kind permission to feature their wonderful photos. Please use the links to visit their photostreams - lots more great photography to be seen there!Report

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