Published by Daniel Mosquin on September 12, 2018
The aptly-named mayfly orchid is considered locally common in some parts of its native eastern Australia. That said, it is never so abundant as some species of its namesake: “The 2014 hatch of the large black-brown mayfly Hexagenia bilineata on the Mississippi River in the US was imaged on weather radar; the swarm flew up […]
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on July 26, 2018
Dragon’s mouth orchid, like several other orchid species, is subject to mutations in flower colour (including the lack of pigmentation). The pink-coloured flowers in the second photograph have the typical colouration.
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on September 18, 2017
One wonders why a common name of medusa-like habenaria might be suggested for this species, when the scientific name covers those terms in fewer letters. Perhaps just “medusa orchid” would suffice?
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on May 26, 2017
Lepanthes ranks as the twenty-eighth largest genus of plants by number of species, with approximately 800 taxa in the group. Within the orchid family, it is tied for fourth-most numerous with Epidendrum (and following Bulbophyllum, Dendrobium, and Pleurothallis).
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on May 5, 2015
Lepanthes dewildei is one of about eight hundred species in the Lepanthes, most of which science knows very little about. An article in Biota Colombia lists 270 species of Lepanthes that occur in Colombia. As far as I can tell, Lepanthes dewildei is endemic to the Chocó and Valle del Chauca Departments (Provinces) of Colombia. […]
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on February 23, 2015
In concluding the series on exceptional seeds, the smallest seeds in the world–those of the orchids–are highlighted. Aerides odorata is an oft-admired epiphytic orchid species native to from India, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. It is one of the most profuse bloomers in its genus; the white and pink flowers have a delightful odour (hence the species […]
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