There are so many extraordinary things in nature for us to appreciate and enjoy. Much of the time, we have a tendency to focus a lot of our attention on beautiful animals or breathtaking landscapes. And while many of these things are worthy of our admiration, we tend to forget that plants can also be just as captivating. The world has so many beautiful and unique plants, perhaps even more than most people realize. And without question, one of the most beautiful plants on the planet are orchids. These lovely flowers tend to have a sweet smell and some of the most beautiful designs found in nature.
Did you know that there are over 30,000 different species of orchids in the world? Some of them may be relatively plain, but then there are those rare varieties that are absolutely marvelous to behold. One such species is the rare Monkey Orchid, which may very well be one of the most unique flowers you’ll ever see. Not only does it have an interesting name, but it lives up to it, perfectly.
The Monkey Orchid (Dracula Simia) can be found in the forests of Peru and southeastern Ecuador. You may have to hike your way through for hours because they are typically found deep in the forest in the clouds at around 2,000 feet above sea level. The faces of these blooms feature a combination of low petals and stems.
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Name: Orchid simia ‘monkey orchid’ 🐒 Beautiful 👌🏻📷: @keroshita_kerori
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The flower species was named by Carlyle A. Lueren, a botanist, in 1978. He described their petals, which resemble simians, to have a very surprising citrus scent that will make you think of fresh oranges.
The orchid can flower at any time of the year and sometimes bloom one after the other. There are 118 different varieties of the flower, all of which are found in Mexico, Central America, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru, with about half of them found in Ecuador.
If you’re thinking of trying to grow this flower at home, be warned. It’s not easy. You have to accommodate a very specific environmental condition. They like high humidity up to 100 percent, and a colder temperature with low light.
These plants grow on average of 2 feet tall, and you will need to plant them in sphagnum moss. Since they are exceedingly difficult for a novice to grow, you may want to get your feet wet with different types of orchids first before giving these a go.
Source: 12 Tomatoes