c/greenspace · by minishoemaze@beehaw.org · 3y

Showy Lady's Slipper

cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/507709

Minnesota's state flower! Took this on a recent trip to the Arboretum

33 points · 8 comments · view on lemmy.world

8 Comments

feetongrass@beehaw.org · 4 pts · 3y (3 replies)

Looks like one of those carnivorous plants. Does it serve any purpose for the plant to look like this?

minishoemaze@beehaw.org · 5 pts · 3y (2 replies)

Good question! I did a quick search and found this:

The slipper-shaped lip of the flower serves as a trap for pollinating insects, forcing insect visitors to climb past the reproductive structures and deposit or receive pollinia (pollen masses) to fertilize the flower.

feetongrass@beehaw.org · 3 pts · 3y (1 reply)

nice. Sounds similar to some flowers with nectar deep inside so that the bees have to get pollen all over them by reaching deep inside.

minishoemaze@beehaw.org · 3 pts · 3y

I had never heard of that before! Thanks for helping me learn something today 💪🧠

Wigglet@beehaw.org · 3 pts · 3y

Gorgeous!

Foon@beehaw.org · 3 pts · 3y

What a beauty!

chalkman@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 3y

Beautiful. The lady slipper orchids are some of my favorite. My dad and I would go orchids hunting and it was always a special experience to find them. We found yellow and pink lady slipper but never showy.