There are so many aspects of nature that are truly wondrous. Just when we think we’ve seen it all, we come upon something new the likes of which we have never seen before. The Monkey Orchid is a prime example of this, as it is a flower that looks just like a monkey’s face!
The Dracula Simia, better known as the Monkey Orchid, is native to the forests of Southeastern Ecuador and Peru. In fact, Monkey Orchids are typically found in cloud forests between 1000 and 2000 meters above sea level. The “faces” on the unusual orchids are formed by a combination of the long petals and the stamens on the flower.
They were named in 1978 by botanist Carlyle A. Lueren, who came up with their name because of the orchid’s long, fang-like petals. When they bloom, the Monkey Orchids give off a pleasant citrusy scent of ripe oranges.
When in it’s natural habitat, the Monkey Orchid is not seasonal, and it can instead bloom at any time. The orchid genus Dracula is comprised of 118 species of the flower, all of which are native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It is very difficult to grow these orchids in captivity, as they require a very precise set of environmental conditions. The flowers prefer 70%-100% humidity, cooler temperatures, and low light, mimicking their natural cloud forest habitat.
Flowers like this one remind us that Mother Nature is one creative lady! Find out more about this flower in the video below.
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