Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow Fringed orchid) pollinated by Battus philenor (Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly)

A few orchids I saw on a brief day trip to the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, North Carolina. These roadside orchids were literally covered with dust. A bit of rain would have been nice to wash them off...

This Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly visited a number of the orchid flowers while I was there, but it was so fast, that I was unable to get very good shots. I had to switch lenses from the macro lens I was using for close-ups to a wider angle lens for the butterfly.

Note the group yellow pollinia stuck t the butterfly's eyes. An interesting way that the orchid and butterfly have evolved to accomplish pollination.