Why do orchids look like animals

July 12, share. Here are six types of orchids that look like animals in disguise. The Donkey Orchid Photo credit: Encyclopedia Brittanica Formally known as the Diuris orchid, the donkey orchid earned its nickname thanks to two petals situated above the top of the flower that resemble donkey ears.

This smart disguise helps spread the flower pollen around. Subscribe to get the latest promotions and news, directly to your inbox. Connect with us. Image credits: Butterfly voyages. Image credits: Julio Martinich.

Source: gardenofeaden. Image credits: Saji Antony. Image credits: Reji. Image credits: M. Image credits: Tere Montero. Image credits: Rachel Scott-Renouf. Source: ibonsaiclub. Image credits: Torisan Source: hortus. Instead we thought it would be much more fun to share the surprising number of orchid species that bear an uncanny resemblance to animals.

So in reverse order of similarity, here we go:. Ok, so this one we just sneaked in because in this particular image the orchid looks like a bit like lion and under the rules of the internet, all blog posts must feature a photo of a cat.

I have no idea which orchid this is, so if you have any idea, let us know. It even has whiskers! Named the Donkey Orchid due to the two lateral petals, protruding from the top of the flower like the two ears of a donkey.

This horned flower is said to look like a goat, although to me I would say it looks more like a purple-headed alien giraffe, with its long-necked stem.

This function has driven their astounding evolutionary explosion of distinct types of flowers with bright colors and extraordinary shapes, some of which have even come to resemble various figures, plants or animals. And though there are thousands of different flowers and cool plants , orchids somehow manage to steal the show every time. The colors of these flamboyant orchid types attract insects and birds, signaling that these flowers are full of tasty nectar.

Their shapes, on the other hand, often evolve to attract or accommodate specific pollinators while dissuading parasites or other, less desirable pollinators. Some of these rare flowers are more welcoming to bees, while others are perfect for hummingbirds or different insects.

Their stunning colors and biodiversity have attracted another type of creature as well — us. Orchid lovers value flowers like these for their resemblance to other recognizable objects which, while coincidental, is still definitely entertaining! Scroll down to check the stunning flower images; our collection ranges from the Monkeyface orchid to the White Egret and some non-Orchid plants that look like Dart Vader and human skulls. Source: avaxnews. Source: tree-nation. Source: gringosabroad.

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