Flowers Imitating Monkeys

I saw this photo floating around the internet this week and had to share with our readers. We’ve all seen mimicry in nature, mostly with insects, but have you ever seen it this clear? At first glance, you might think these are little baby monkeys! I was blown away by the incredible characteristics these orchids share with primates.

The orchids above with the little monkey faces are Dracula simia, which translates to Little Dragon Monkey. The flowers are fragrant with the scent of a ripe orange. They are native to the cloud forests of southeast Ecuador, and as such not many people throughout history have seen them.

The flowers above that look like little dancing monkeys are called Orchis simia. They are found in Europe, the Mediterranean, Russia, Asia Minor and Iran. These you might not want in your garden since they smell strongly of feces.

While these exotic flowers may not be readily available, stop by your local florist to preview your local selection of orchid house plants.

Images spotted on Beware of Images