Orchid Family Corbin, KY August 1, 2008 When Dr. Thomas Barnes (a professor at the University of Kentucky) emailed me and asked if I'd like to come up and look for this orchid I jumped at the chance! The area had been burned the year before to control encroaching weeds, so the plants were about a week behind their expected blooming schedule. We saw lots of these orchids in bud, but only one open flower. What a disappointment to drive over 100 miles to find just one flower! We were headed back up the hill to move on to another site when Tom's friend Lowell casually said, "Here's one with a lot of flowers." That one plant justified the whole trip (and the muddy boots and the chiggers)! I was amazed at how long the spurs are on these flowers, it must be pollinated by an insect with a really long tongue, like a butterfly! The following photo shows a close-up of a single flower, which may better show how it gets the name Monkey-face Orchid.
Orchid Family August 1, 2008 Corbin, KY
Orchid Family Height: 4" to 16" August 12, 2005 This is a very lovely orchid, the tiny white flowers spiral around the stem. If you ever wondered what purpose sweat bees serve (other than stinging and irritating people on hot summer days), note the pollinating sweat bee on the flowers in the middle of the stem. So, they actually are good for something! See next photo for close-up of the tiny flowers. Perennial Where seen:Oak Ridge Greenways, University of Tennessee Arboretum, Great Smoky Mountains NP, Warrior's Path SP
