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Bird's nest orchid


Bird's nest orchid
Photo Information
Copyright: steve weeks (weeksy) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 17 W: 0 N: 29] (106)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-15
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Nikon D200, 105mm 1:2.8 Sigma
Exposure: f/11, 1/60 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-05-25 7:44
Viewed: 397
Points: 2
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The bird's nest orchid (Neottia nidus-avis) grows in the dense shade of the woodland floor. It is locally common in mature woodland in some areas of southern England, but is scarce in the remainder of Britain.

The plant has no leaves and are completely dependent on nutrients provided by a fungal partner. You only know the plant exists when it puts up a flower above ground.

Normally the pollen is fused together to form two pollinia, but in this photo the pollinia have started to break down into individual pollen grains. This happens after a few days when the plant has "given up" on an insect pollinator, the free pollen can fall down into the stigma and effect self pollination.

Because bird's nest orchids grow in dense shade I've often had difficulties photographing them. The day I took this photo I was using a tripod but the wind was constantly blowing the flower stem around. This is why I had to use flash, with the draw back of the "taken at night" black background.

Thanks, Steve
tuslaw has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

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  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 504 W: 20 N: 1385] (4841)
  • [2009-11-05 19:32]

Hello Steve,
You post a very unusual yet interesting flower. It reminds me a lot of our Indian Pipe Flowers with it's delicate texture and almost fungi type of look to it. I had never heard of this beautiful little treasure of a flowering plant until I viewed your photo. Wonderful image shown very well!! TFS.
Ron

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