iNaturalist Plant Observations - Costa Rica (iNaturalist:Plants-Costa Rica)
Epidendrum radicans Pav. ex Lindl.
Orchidaceae
Fire-star orchid
icosahedron
2011-02-01
Costa Rica, Guanacaste, TilarĂ¡n, arenal Region, Costa Rica
10.5742220783 -84.9710083008
Hoped especially to see butterflies in costa rico, but the rains where we stayed precluded much... Did see Monarchs, and I'm sorry I forgot to ask the naturalist we had about their life in central america. Here's a local milkweed one was favoring; looking much like an ornamental variety sold in our nurseries. Actually--thanks to an alert member--this proves not to be milkweed; but a clever orchid mimic that fooled me that muggy afternoon... and more significantly, was foxing a lady monarch that visited it repeatedly. In my garden, and elsewhere, I've been struck by the extraordinary trophism that draws Monarchs to Milkweed despite any variety of nearby plants. Since flowers are not necessary for this, I'd assumed it was scent or some other visual cue. These nice psuedoasclepuloid flowers would have to show that the sight of flowers are certainly part of it...