Ghost orchid  (Polyradicion lindenii)

Description

This beautiful orchid has recently achieved fame on the silver screen, in the film 'Adaptation' that focuses on Susan Orlean's book 'The Orchid Thief' (3). The ghost orchid is so-called due to the appearance of the leafless plant that consists only of a network of thin roots wrapped around the host branch; the flowers (borne on spikes arising from the root network) appear to be suspended in the forest air (4). The white flower also explains this species' other common name of 'frog orchid'; as the elongated lip petal resembles the back legs of a jumping frog.

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