Monkey Orchid Flowers

Type of Flower

Monkey Orchid:

It’s not very hard to guess how the Monkey Orchid or ( Dracula Simia ) got its name, but ever since photos of it started circulating on the internet about a year ago, people have had a hard time believing such a flower actually exists. 

The scientific name of this very rare flower is Dracula simia.Dracula Simia means little dragon monkey, based on trusted information from the University of British Columbia's Botanical Garden and Centre For Plant Research. This orchid was named in 1978 by the botanist Luer. 

As photoshoped as it may look, the Monkey Orchid actually exists, and yes, it really does match the grinning face of a very small monkey.with the first part hinting at the resemblance between its two long spurs to the fangs of Bram Stoker’s famous vampire count, and the second meaning “monkey” in Latin. 

It only grows in the mountainous regions of Ecuador, Colombia and Peru, at an elevation of between 1,000 and 2,000 meters above sea level, but there are a few lucky collectors who have managed to grow it in “captivity”. 

The Monkey orchid is not season specific, and in its natural habitat it can flower at any time. As if its striking resemblance to a monkey’s face wasn’t astounding enough, this flower actually smells a lot like a ripe orange. 

Dracula Simia can only be grown in partial shade and the cold areas. That’s why not many people who can take care of it, even we are definitely quite strange to hear about the monkey flower. It remains very rare in “captivity”. For those lucky enough to have one, so please keep it well. Just like all orchids, it needs a lot of care and patience.

References:
http://prasetio30.hubpages.com/hub/The-beauty-of-Monkey-Orchid 
http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/the-amazing-orchid-that-looks-like-a-monkeys-face.html