Lovely Orchid Lips
Orchids have lovely lips. The lip, or labellum, is one of the defining parts of an orchid flower. This modified petal can be the most elaborate part of the bloom. It may be a landing pad, or even a temporary trap, for pollinating insects. It’s usually at the bottom of the flower, but since orchids like to break rules, it’s sometimes at the top, as in certain varieties of Epidendrum, Encyclia, and Cycnoches.
It’s not possible to illustrate the ridiculous diversity of orchid lips with only 15 photos, but I’ve tried to capture a wide range. Some not included here feature striking colors, like Miltoniopsis, or bizarre forms, like Bulbophyllums. All these structures may be fascinating to us, but they’re meant for insect or avian pollinators. Each lip is part of an ingenious lure that’s evolved to attract a specific bug or bird with colors, patterns, shapes, and fragrances. The fact that orchid lips have also drawn in lots of humans has been a happy accident.
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