Same day as the birds nest orchid but a bit lower down the mountain, and again in coniferous woodland. Same techs as before.
This plant specimen was huge, as big as if not bigger than the more common Greater Butterfly Orchids we get in GB. Size is not the reliable distinguishing feature between the two ssp. The Stamen/Pollen masses in GBO are angled, but in the LBO are parallel (which you can just about see in the upper flower cluster.
I believe these are called butterfly orchids because the insect attracting "nectar treat" is in a very long spike behind the flowerheads which can only be reached by a long butterfly probosis - it is not meant to mimic insects as in fly or bee orchids
I tried a few "as seen" habitat shots, but the plant's height made it lose impact and I prefer this spike head version
I like this, its colour balance and detail are excellent and the comp and DFO really show of the orchids environment well. The 2 trees either side of the image frame the upper half nicely.
The photograph would lead you to beleive that this Orchid is rather tall, what is its height, I would assume it is such to get above the litter/ferns and into the light?
The spike was about 18" tall, making the butterfly orchids we get in the UK look very feeble indeed. Hence I was really struggling to get a whole plant image, it just lost too much impact
Discussion
4 repliesThis plant specimen was huge, as big as if not bigger than the more common Greater Butterfly Orchids we get in GB. Size is not the reliable distinguishing feature between the two ssp. The Stamen/Pollen masses in GBO are angled, but in the LBO are parallel (which you can just about see in the upper flower cluster.
I believe these are called butterfly orchids because the insect attracting "nectar treat" is in a very long spike behind the flowerheads which can only be reached by a long butterfly probosis - it is not meant to mimic insects as in fly or bee orchids
I tried a few "as seen" habitat shots, but the plant's height made it lose impact and I prefer this spike head version
Very nice image overall! The background really allows the subject to pop very nicely indeed! I quite like the comp too!
JohnR
The photograph would lead you to beleive that this Orchid is rather tall, what is its height, I would assume it is such to get above the litter/ferns and into the light?