Orchids

The Elegance and Ingenuity of Orchid Flowers

Have you ever fallen under the spell of an orchid flower? If so, you should. The spectacular coloration and refined elegance of these flowers are sure to strike a chord with plant lovers. In this column on orchids, we’ll try to understand why orchids are so enchanting.

Orchids don’t really bloom to please us (that’s us humans). Rather, they try to attract the attention of insects so that they can be fertilized and thus ensure the survival of the species. This is no easy task, as orchid pollen is heavy and sticky. It must be transported to other flowers by a “pollination vector,” usually an insect pollinator, but occasionally a hummingbird or bat. 

To attract pollination vectors, orchids have developed all kinds of seductive stratagems, such as attractive colors, large flowers visible from afar, beguiling scents, nectar reserves “to reward pollinators,” etc. To illustrate my point, here are two terrestrial orchids native to southern Quebec.

The Seductive Platanthera

Large Purple Fringed-Orchid (Platanthera grandiflora). Photo: Robert Charpentier.

One of my personal favorites is the extraordinary ‘Large Purple Fringed-Orchid’ also known as the Platanthera grandiflora. The refined delicacy of this flower is truly striking. If I were a small insect, I’d want to land on it to admire every detail and enjoy its delicate fragrance. 

Large Purple Fringed-Orchid (Platanthera grandiflora). Photo: Robert Charpentier.

Although the flower is small (about 2 cm x 3 cm – around 1″), it grows in colorful clusters on a flowering stem long enough to emerge from the surrounding vegetation. North of Quebec City (where these photos were taken), it blooms in the first weeks of July when pollinating insects are abundant.

The Ingenious Lady’s-Slipper 

Yellow lady’s slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum). Photo: Robert Charpentier.

If you’re lucky, you might come across the lady’s slipper with its striking yellow color. The hollow pouch (called a labellum by botanists) has an “inviting” opening for the pollinating insect that is likely to seek refuge there. Once inside, the visitor will discover that the floral capsule is lined with very fine hairs that restrict its progress, forcing it to exit through the top of the flower. As the bee leaves the flower, a sticky pollinia attaches itself to the bee, providing free transportation to the next flower. Ingenious, isn’t it?

Cypripède acaule (Cypripedium acaule). Photo: Robert Charpentier.

The access to the little “flower cave” is less obvious in the Pink Lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule), as it’s a flexible slit that closes after the insect has passed through. This slit also leads to a mini labyrinth at the end of which the yellowish pollinia wisely waits to stick to its carrier insect. If you look at the photo of the pink lady’s slipper opposite, you can easily see the entrance slit (at the bottom of the flower bubble) and the narrow exit at the top of the flower from which the insect will emerge, “picking up the pollinia as it escapes”. The color of the lady’s slipper is very variable, ranging from red to pure white with many pink tones. 

In Quebec, there are five different species. The best known are the pink and the yellow lady’s-slippers, affectionately called “the little pink moccasins” or “the little yellow moccasins” by First Nations.

Practical Tips for the Wild Orchid Lover

Lady’s-slipper orchids usually flower at the end of June for a fairly long period of 2 to 3 weeks. They can be found in damp undergrowth rich in decomposing organic matter.  We recommend avoiding trampling around wild orchids as their roots are very fragile. What’s more, the terrestrial orchids found in our undergrowth live in symbiosis with certain fungi that are even more fragile than the roots themselves. These orchids are protected by various laws. They cannot be taken from the wild. In short, treat them with great care and respect. Remember that the Yellow Lady’s-Slipper can take 5 to 7 years to grow before producing its first flower! Pink lady’s slipper often takes twice as long – 10 to 15 years – to produce its first inflorescence. 

These flowers are true botanical treasures. If you come across them on your walks in the woods, stop for a moment to admire and/or photograph them. It only takes a moment to appreciate their elegance and refinement. 

Pink lady’s-slipper emerging from a bed of caribou lichen – on the “Brandy Pot” Island (i.e. St. Lawrence River). Photo: Robert Charpentier.

Robert started growing houseplants in his teens and hasn't stopped since. His current collection includes about a hundred orchids, hoyas, and gloxinias. His interest in lighting technologies also goes back a long way, since he specialized in 'Optics and Photonics' after his studies in engineering physics (Polytechnique '79). Now retired, he devotes most of his time to forestry, orchid growing and windsurfing.

2 comments on “The Elegance and Ingenuity of Orchid Flowers

  1. As a kid (50 or so years ago) I didn’t know lady’s slippers were orchids but we all knew they were a rare treasure to watch for when we hiked in the woods. We knew not to touch them and felt lucky to see them. Sadly I haven’t seen one here in PA for years.

  2. Orchids really are amazing. The Plantanthera bloom looks like a tropical bird in flight. Lovely photographs too.

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