Orchid Trickery

October 04, 2024

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Photographer: Neil Libby
Summary AuthorNeil Libby

My son and I couldn't help but notice the center of these orchid blossoms look strikingly like orb weaver spiders. It's known many orchids are devious flowers when it comes to reproduction -- they use trickery to attract potential pollinators. In this case, perhaps the pollen mass in the central column mimics a spider to attract bird pollinators. Or, maybe to trick spiders into thinking that there's a mate worth getting a little closer to...Of course, it might be that our visual senses see a spider when in fact there's no advantage to the plant to attract such a critter. Photo taken on June 20, 2024.

 

Chicago, Illinois Coordinates: 41.8781, -87.6298

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Chinese Spiranthes
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