subject: Ghost Orchids and Some Interesting Facts [print this page] Ghost Orchids and Some Interesting Facts Ghost Orchids and Some Interesting Facts
One of the most revered flowers on the face of this earth is none other than the amazing and mysterious ghost orchids. This plant was once a popular flower among the swamplands of Florida and Cuba many years ago. In the mid nineteenth century it was discover by a scientist by the name of Jean Jules Linden on the Island of Cuba. Even though it was first discovered in Cuba there were more ghost orchids that were found almost fifty years later. These flowers could have been brought over by other people or is a natural habitat for these interesting plants. Here are some interesting facts regarding these rare orchids.
With roughly an estimated amount of 2,000 ghost orchids that are located in the swamplands of Florida they can be one of the greatest sights to see when it is fully flowering. It is a really low percentage of these flowers that are actually able to bloom, but even a lower percentage of them are actually pollinated by a special moth called Cocytius antaeus also known as the giant sphinx moth. Some believe that it actually can hone in on the scent that these flowers give off and they use this scent to find them in their habitat. Not only do these moths need to find one flower, but they actually have to find others in order to pollinate as many as they can since this is their primary food source. When these ghost orchids die these moths will have lost a very important food source. There is a place in Naples Florida that had one of the world's largest ghost orchid at a height of 45 feet!
These flowers can still be found in various areas in the state of Florida and in some parts of Cuba as well. They are commonly found on trees because they are normally mounted on these trees for proper conditions. Many people think that these plants steal nutrients from the tree that is found on when in fact it doesn't take any nutrients away from the tree it is hosted on. It is not a parasite at all and is a flower that needs a special fungus to help in the uptake of many nutrients that it needs to flower and bloom properly. That is why it is very difficult for a single person to grow these plants in their home. The ghost orchids should be left in their natural habitat because of their dwindling numbers from people who take these flowers illegally.
You can only find ghost orchids blooming in the months between June and August. You don't want to try and look for blooming ghost orchids during any other month because you will probably not have much luck. These very beautiful white flowers have a fascinating aroma that some say resembles a more fruit like smell like an apple. These amazing plants are also sometimes referred to as frog orchids because the long tendrils that come from the plant resemble the legs of a frog.
These are some facts that enthusiasts should know about the rare and unique ghost orchids.
