Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid) + Leuc…
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid) with…
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid) with…
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid) photo…
Galearis spectabilis in tight bud
Cypripedium acaule (Pink Lady's-slipper orchid)
Cypripedium acaule (Pink Lady's-slipper orchid)
Cypripedium acaule (Pink Lady's-slipper orchid)
Cypripedium acaule (Pink Lady's-slipper orchid)
Cypripedium acaule (Pink Lady's-slipper orchid)
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Adiantum pedatum (Northern Maidenhair Fern)
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Large Yell…
Liparis loeselii (Loesel's Twayblade orchid)
Liparis loeselii (Loesel's Twayblade orchid)
Liparis loeselii (Loesel's Twayblade orchid) with…
Liparis loeselii (Loesel's Twayblade orchid)
Liparis loeselii (Loesel's Twayblade orchid)
Liparis loeselii (Loesel's Twayblade orchid)
Rhododendron maximum (Rosebay Rhododendron) with N…
Neottia smallii (Kidneyleaf Twayblade orchid)
Neottia smallii (Kidneyleaf Twayblade orchid)
Neottia smallii (Kidneyleaf Twayblade orchid)
Tipularia discolor (Crane-fly orchid)
Tipularia discolor (Crane-fly orchid)
Tipularia discolor (Crane-fly orchid)
Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis (Northern Slender…
Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis (Northern Slender…
Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orc…
Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orc…
Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orc…
Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orc…
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis (Northern Slender…
Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis (Northern Slender…
Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis (Northern Slender…
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow Fringed orchid)
Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis (Northern Slender…
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow Fringed orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow Fringed orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Spiranthes lacera variety gracilis (Northern slend…
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Spiranthes lacera variety gracilis (Northern slend…
Spiranthes lacera variety gracilis (Northern slend…
Spiranthes lacera variety gracilis (Northern slend…
Spiranthes lacera variety gracilis (Northern slend…
Spiranthes lacera variety gracilis (Northern slend…
Spiranthes lacera variety gracilis (Northern slend…
Spiranthes lacera variety gracilis (Northern slend…
Spiranthes lacera variety gracilis (Northern slend…
Spiranthes lacera variety gracilis (Northern slend…
Triphora trianthophora being pollinated by an hali…
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orc…
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid) -- bud…
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid)
Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orc…
Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orc…
Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orc…
Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orc…
Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orc…
Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia orchid…
Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia orchid…
Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia orchid…
Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia orchid…
Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia orchid…
Listera smallii (Kidneyleaf twayblade orchid)
Listera smallii (Kidneyleaf twayblade orchid)
Listera smallii (Kidneyleaf twayblade orchid)
Listera smallii (Kidneyleaf twayblade orchid)
Listera smallii (Kidneyleaf twayblade orchid)
Listera smallii (Kidneyleaf twayblade orchid)
Listera smallii (Kidneyleaf twayblade orchid)
Listera smallii (Kidneyleaf twayblade orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid) in bud…
Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid) in bud
Tipularia discolor (Crane-fly orchid)
Tipularia discolor (Crane-fly orchid)
Goodyera pubescens (Rattlesnake Plantain orchid)
Goodyera pubescens (Rattlesnake Plantain orchid)
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Pollination of Yellow fringed orchid by Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly
We had just stopped the truck on a forest service road in the Pisgah National Forest, near Brevard, North Carolina when we saw a pipevine swallowtail butterfly showing really intense interest in the flowers of a yellow fringed orchid plant. We grabbed our cameras, jumped out of the truck and raced to the flower, but in doing so, we scared it away. However, these butterflies have a short memory, and in no time it was back to finish probing the flowers for nectar.
Here's how pollination works for this combination of flower and butterfly:
The butterfly finds the flowers and lands on one of them. It attaches its feet to the flower parts and sticks it proboscis (tongue) into the flower's long nectar tube. The nectar is at the bottom of the exceedingly thin tube, so that no other prospective pollinators but butterflies can reach the sweet nectar.
In order to get the last drop, the butterfly has to stick his head into the flower, thereby touching its head against the sticky pads on the tips of the pair of pollinia set on either side of the nectar tube. When it pulls out, the pollinia are firmly attached directly below those huge butterfly eyes! It doesn't appear to be painful or even annyoing to the butterfly, because it spends no time trying to scrape them off.
When it visits the next flower for more nectar, the pollinia are naturally positioned to brush against the stigma (female part) of the flower, thereby completing the act of pollination. Sometimes, in the process, the butterfly will pick up another set of pollinia -- soon it will look like it is sprouting yellow horns on the front of its face!
I'm always interested in the different pollination mechanisms that orchid flowers employ. This one was fun to watch, and I'm certainly glad that we were at the right time and the right place to capture its beauty...
Here's how pollination works for this combination of flower and butterfly:
The butterfly finds the flowers and lands on one of them. It attaches its feet to the flower parts and sticks it proboscis (tongue) into the flower's long nectar tube. The nectar is at the bottom of the exceedingly thin tube, so that no other prospective pollinators but butterflies can reach the sweet nectar.
In order to get the last drop, the butterfly has to stick his head into the flower, thereby touching its head against the sticky pads on the tips of the pair of pollinia set on either side of the nectar tube. When it pulls out, the pollinia are firmly attached directly below those huge butterfly eyes! It doesn't appear to be painful or even annyoing to the butterfly, because it spends no time trying to scrape them off.
When it visits the next flower for more nectar, the pollinia are naturally positioned to brush against the stigma (female part) of the flower, thereby completing the act of pollination. Sometimes, in the process, the butterfly will pick up another set of pollinia -- soon it will look like it is sprouting yellow horns on the front of its face!
I'm always interested in the different pollination mechanisms that orchid flowers employ. This one was fun to watch, and I'm certainly glad that we were at the right time and the right place to capture its beauty...
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