Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Porroglossum meridionale
Porroglossum meridionale is another species from a genus of insect-trapping flowers with hinged lips. When disturbed by a small insect the lip suddenly snaps up trapping the insect against the column and effecting pollination. I've provided pictures of the flowers with the lip in both positions. This plant is 6 cm tall, the flower spikes 10 cm in length, and the flowers 1.5 cm.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
do you ever feed them fruit flies?
ReplyDeleteFruit Flies would be about the right size, but it doesn't eat them, just mistreats them. There are number of orchids that do strange things to their pollinators. They hammer them, shoot them, trick them, try to drown them and trap them. Weird stuff!
DeleteFantástica, planta lindíssima e fotos maravilhosas.
ReplyDeleteobrigada por compartilhar.
abraços
These insect trapping orchids are so remarkable, Elisabete. I wish had space for more of them. Thanks for your comments.
DeleteHi, Ron! This is such an amazing orchid! At first, I thought you were talking about a carnivorous plant! But then I’ve learned that this one doesn't eat the insect. Very remarkable, indeed! Congratulations for this interesting orchid!
ReplyDeleteNo, its not carnivorous. Just uses the insects for pollination. Amazing thing, isn't it? I'm going to take a video of the lip snapping shut tomorrow. Thanks for your comments, Sergio.
DeleteRon, I am writing a book about The Exotic Nature of Orchids and would like to use your images of the Porroglossum open and closed. Please let me know if this is OK?
ReplyDeleteJoel Schiff
jschiff@xtra.co.nz
You may use them as long as they are properly attributed.
Delete