Orchids

come in

all shapes, sizes

“IB. SOMEONE happened to’ tell
you that, a particular family cof
plants could bear flowers resembl-
‘ing, tigers, doves, swans, moths,
. butterflies, pansies, dancing ladies,
“sr munsiand slippers in every conceiv-
alor combination of stripes,

“duce a seed pod containing une
. dreds, even thousands of seeds.
Another significant adaptation is
the ‘anding pad lip’? known. as
the fabellum, .4 -flower — pcial

designed ‘to> accommodate - insect ©

pollinators. In an extreme case of

spots, blotches and polka, dots and=, iSpecialization, the.corchid genus

that these plaints range in size from

less than’ onc inch to over twenty

‘feet tall; you may; find it all very
to believe. ; j

There “are orchids ‘in all four,
corner of; the! earth, on tropical
lowlands bythe sea’ tothe moun

of the Himalayas

étic c zones of, the’ poles. Therg are

orchids , ‘that. fit into almost every:

ecological’ niche: t

“tionary | ithe tyitcieh
The ave been; subjects! of
ra jon ‘and. have .ap-

i
3

a from os

Coryanthes is truly. resnarkable.

Part of the labelum has become :

a bucket, the ‘column has
developed organs to excrete watet
in ainounts capable of ‘partially
filling: the buckes. and petals and
sepals ‘to deflect : :Pollinalors into

_ the enclosed pool,”

has, the ; allernative

suite is pro

Sind. car, wash) an)
: load. of ‘pollen, ini
trees, onthe’ rocks, and sand dunes ied forthe next! ene:
y Sin. bogs and}

nd evergreen

‘Another genus, Drakaea, from
A stralia has &
See Flower

Pags!38 ::

decor. nieces for your | home Selec

; traditional
folding: screens;

iy
i shit

tables'