Showy Lady's Slipper

shoe ( @minishoemaze@beehaw.org ) · 2 years ago

Showy Lady's Slipper

feetongrass ( @feetongrass@beehaw.org ) · 2 years ago

Looks like one of those carnivorous plants. Does it serve any purpose for the plant to look like this?

shoe ( @minishoemaze@beehaw.org ) · 2 years ago

Good question! I did a quick search and found this:

The slipper-shaped lip of the flower serves as a trap for pollinating insects, forcing insect visitors to climb past the reproductive structures and deposit or receive pollinia (pollen masses) to fertilize the flower.

feetongrass ( @feetongrass@beehaw.org ) · 2 years ago

nice. Sounds similar to some flowers with nectar deep inside so that the bees have to get pollen all over them by reaching deep inside.

shoe ( @minishoemaze@beehaw.org ) · 2 years ago

I had never heard of that before! Thanks for helping me learn something today 💪🧠

Wigglet ( @Wigglet@beehaw.org ) · 2 years ago

Gorgeous!

Foon ( @Foon@beehaw.org ) · 2 years ago

What a beauty!

chalkman ( @chalkman@sh.itjust.works ) · 2 years ago

Beautiful. The lady slipper orchids are some of my favorite. My dad and I would go orchids hunting and it was always a special experience to find them. We found yellow and pink lady slipper but never showy.