Beautiful book: "Fatal beauties"

We are searching data for your request:

Forums and discussions:

Manuals and reference books:

Data from registers:

Wait the end of the search in all databases.
Upon completion, a link will appear to access the found materials.

Under its enigmatic title, * Fatal Beauties * hides the secrets of the life of orchids. From the evolution of hybrid species to the pollination of flowers, the orchid will have no more secrets for you! This plant, more robust than it looks, can adapt to extreme conditions. For example, the leptoceras menziesii measures only 0.6 cm and is 80 million years old! The orchid is rare but knows a great diversity, there are more than 25,000 species. Christian Ziegler's photos highlight the beauty of the orchid in all its forms; a real fireworks display of colors awaits you, from pure white to fiery red, passing by bright yellow and intense purple. We discover flowers with unexpected shapes and very varied colors. The texts are those of an enthusiast who has meticulously studied orchids and their pollinators. Immerse yourself in the world of orchids with this book full of magnificent photos!

Orchids survive the most extreme environments

Christian Ziegler / Minden Pictures This book takes us to the four corners of the globe. Indeed, orchids can acclimatize to various environments, from semi-desert regions to tropical forests through the European scrubland. In this photo, Caladenia Flava sprouted on a pile of coal after a fire in Australia. The Australian rain forests are home to specific species that can adapt to very dry wood.

Pollination or the art of deception

Christian Ziegler / Minden Pictures The scent and shape of the orchid are ways to attract pollinators. Each orchid attracts a type of pollinator (bees, wasps, butterflies, birds like the hummingbird ...). Here, it is the smell of rot that the Masdevallia regina orchid gives off that attracts the scavenger fly. The orchid has several techniques for "trapping" its pollinators. The structure of the flower can trap a bee and thus it is forced to deposit the pollen. Another method is to use food lures and thus imitate the smell of nectar-bearing plants. Otherwise, some orchids can reproduce the smell, appearance or pheromones of female insects to seduce males.

Orchids in tropical forests

Christian Ziegler / Minden Pictures The stanhopea wardii orchid is a species pollinated by orchid bees. This flower is only visible in the highlands of Panama. The tropical forests of altitude have ideal conditions for the development of the orchid, namely a high rainfall, a good solar radiation and a poverty in nutrient. Conversely, low-lying tropical forests experience abundant rain but low light on the ground. Finally, in the mangrove forests, the high salt content of the water and the intense solar radiation create a harsh habitat for orchids except for some which have known how to adapt.