Habenaria mossii flower profile

In profile the flower of Habenaria mossii looks ready to fly off as its insect pollinators might do. A broad, green lateral sepal can be seen pointing backwards below, tapering to its curving tip. Lower petal lobes and lip lobes are akimbo along the sepal flanks. The column faces forward below the flower’s pointed hood, the dorsal sepal.

But this flower is going nowhere, all set to achieve its crowning ambition right here. Everything is ready for the interactive moment with a visitor that will ensure life success: Pollinators should visit, seeking nectar rewards that have hopefully been produced in the long flower spur at the back of the lip.

If the juice is not there, no worries, as long as the visitors land and mess around, searching. Pollen from a previously visited flower, smeared on a sticky surface of the receptive female part may result in seed production. If it all works, the eternal miracle is repeated and new little orchid plants may grow (www.orchidspecies.com).