PicPost: Stop Monkeying Around!

The Monkey Orchid

‘A number of images depicting a flower with the face of a monkey are currently circulating via social media posts and the blogosphere. Many commentators have suggested that the images have been “photoshopped”.

However, the images are genuine and depict a real flower. The botanical name of (one of) the pictured orchids (top right) is Dracula gigas. Another orchid species, Dracula simia, also has flowers that resemble monkey faces. The name pays homage to the “monkey” resemblance (simia) as well as to a resemblance to the flowing cape and long fangs of the Dracula character in popular fiction.

These orchid species grow in their natural state in Colombian, Ecuadorian and Peruvian forests at high elevations are thus not often encountered by people in the wild. However, collectors have cultivated the plants elsewhere.’ (extract from hoaxslayer.com)

Old School Gardener