Photo taken on Nov 09, 2012

Psychopsis Mariposa is a hybrid of Psychopsis papilio x Psychopsis kramerianum, the genus is native to Central and South America. The name Psychopsis means “like a butterfly”: Greek psyche butterfly (аnd soul as well) + opsis alike). And by the way, the specific epithet of one of parent species (papilio) means a beautiful genus of butterflies — swallowtails.

Indeed: the upper petals are so narrow and long that they resemble insect antennas; the flower grows on long thin inflorescence and that makes it dangle (“flick”) from the slightest wing. Well, to tell the truth, in spite of all this I don't think that these flowers looks like a butterfly, but the flowers don't care about my opinion. The butterfly orchids are pollinated by a species of South American butterfly, the flowers resemble the female of the species and the male butterflies effect pollination while attempting to mate with it (pseudocopulation). So, as far as I can understand from the term “pseudocopulation”, the male butterfly stays persuaded that it's a female butterfly until the very end of the intercourse. Moreover, the male probably is quite satisfied, as later it repeats the act with at least one more flower (otherwise, there would be no pollination and no more Psychopsises).

Well… there is also another option: the flower could look like an enemy to an insect and thus the insect would get smeared with pollen while attacking the flower to protect it's territory. American botanist Calaway Dodson claims to have seen zebra butterflies, in the 1950s, attacking this Central and South American orchid species, as if to defend their territory. It is possible that pollen was transferred in this altercation. But no one has actually witnessed the pollination of this type of orchid in the wild. “It is a species that has been in cultivation for well over a century, and yet no one is really sure what pollinates it or why,” says Mirenda. “It is just amazing that such a mystery has lasted all this time.” Still, as there are orchid species with proven and video-filed successful pseudocopulation pollination, it is still probable in this case, too.

St. Petersburg Botanical Garden, orchids and bromeliads exhibition

species Psychopsis Mariposa