Butterfly Orchid Flowers
by Paul Harcourt Davies/science Photo Library
Title
Butterfly Orchid Flowers
Artist
Paul Harcourt Davies/science Photo Library
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Butterfly orchid flowers (Orchis papilionacea expansa, also known as O. papilionacea grandiflora). Each flower has a large butterfly- shaped petal (pink lines on white). This is a specialised structure called the lip. The lip attracts pollinators and provides them with a landing platform. This orchid is found around the Mediterranean from Italy westwards and southwards to Morocco. It is a terrestrial orchid (one that grows in the ground). There are more than 30,000 species of orchids worldwide, many of which are grown as ornamental flowers.
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September 30th, 2018
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