coryanthes-macrantha

Pollination of the extremely complex flowers of the genus Coryanthes is a strikingly complicated process: first of all , special glands fill in the reversed lip with a liquid; subsequently ,the pollinators (bees)are attracted by the peculiar fragrance of the flower and often end up immersed in the liquid. When trying to save themselves ,they are unable to fly and are bound to crawl through a small tunnel at the top of the lip, sticking the pollen onto their bodies as they crawl. After they are set free,the whole process is repeated on the stigma of the next flower, where the bee delivers the pollen. Amazingly,each species has its own specific fragrance and thus attracts only ''its own'' particular species of bees -hybridization is therefore prevented ! The species C. macrantha has yellow -and-white flowers with delicate red dots and a very complex morphology . Grow it as you would the preceding species . The plant comes from Peru, Venezuela,Trinidad and Guiana.