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Monkey Orchids: Dracula Simia And Dracula Anthracina Flowers Look Like Baboons (PHOTOS)

Orchid see, orchid do.

That's right. Despite their uncanny resemblance to some baboons, these are actually two distinct types of orchids: Dracula simia and Dracula anthracina.

According to the University of British Columbia's Botanical Garden and Centre For Plant Research, Dracula simia translates to "little dragon monkey." It was named in 1978 and grows between 3,280 and 6,560 feet above sea level in forests in southeast Ecuador. Its name comes in part from its cape and fang-like resemblance, evocative of the Count Dracula character from the Bram Stoker classic.

Eeerkia Schulz, a 57-year-old amateur photographer, snapped these photos at the Gardens of Herrenhausen flower show in Hanover, Germany.

"When I found these flowers I couldn't believe how much they looked like monkeys," Schulz said, according to Caters News Agency. "I can't believe how lovely they are and everyone that I show pictures of them to are instantly surprised just like me."

Nature doesn’t need an audience. These wonderful orchids come from the south-eastern Ecuadorian and Peruvian cloud forests from elevations of 1000 to 2000 meters and as such not many people throughout history got to see them. However, thanks to intrepid collectors we do get to see this wonderful Monkey Orchid. Someone didn’t need much imagination to name it though, let’s face it.

Its scientific name is Dracula simia, the last part nodding towards the fact that this remarkable orchid bears more than a passing resemblance to a monkey’s face – although we won’t go as far as to be species specific on this one. The Dracula (genus) part of its name refers to the strange characteristic of the two long spurs of the sepals, reminiscent of the fangs of a certain Transylvanian count of film and fiction fame. (Source)








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