Image 1

Oncidium tipuloides

The flowers of this rare 'dancing lady' orchid from Ecuador are actually using mimicry to achieve pollination by bees. When this species blooms in its epiphytic habitat, the local territorial bees "see" the open flowers as a rival bee colony. They hurl themselves against the flowers in an effort to drive them off. The plants are pollinated in the process.

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Image 2

Habenaria medusae

An astounding terrestrial orchid from Southeast Asia, this species exhibits some of the extreme diversity in habit and flower form exhibited in the orchid family. Here, the white colors and long nectar spur imply that this species has a pollinating relationship with a night flying moth species. The plant grows from an underground storage root like a tulip or a crocus.

James Osen, Smithsonian Institution

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Image 3

Lycaste cruenta

With large succulent pseudobulbs bearing thorns and deciduous leaves, this deliciously fragrant species illustrates the durability of orchids that have evolved to live in seasonally dry habitats. Such orchids were transported by long ocean voyages to the Old World centuries ago to be cultivated in Victorian greenhouses. It is a testament to the hardiness of these plants that they could survive such adverse conditions for so long.

James Osen, Smithsonian Institution

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Image 4

Aerangis distincta

The pale colors, delicious nighttime fragrance and long nectar spur are all hallmarks of a moth pollinated flower. This lovely and delicate species from tropical Africa grows streamside in deep shade from large trees to escape the extreme burning heat of its central African environment.

James Osen, Smithsonian Institution

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Image 5

Brassia warscewiczii

Another flower mimicking an arthropod, brassias attract parasitic wasps to their flowers by appearing to be spiders. Wasps are known to lay their eggs on the backs of spiders which their larvae then devour as their first meal. Wasps realize they’ve been deceived by the flowers after landing on them, but by then they’ve aided the plant in its pollination. 

James Osen, Smithsonian Institution

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