The San Francisco Orchid Society celebrates Carnaval a week behind most of the world at this year's Pacific Orchid Exposition, opening Feb. 26 at the Fort Mason Center. Carnaval's all about ...

The orchid uses both visual and olfactory mimicry to resemble a female wasp. This mimicry lures male wasps into attempting to mate with the flower, during which they pick up or deposit pollen.

Mimicry is another one, and it crops up all over the plant world. A kind of orchid, for example, convincingly mimics the scent and shape of a female thynnid wasp.

Chinese scientists have found that orchid mantises, hailed as a classic example of flower mimicry, use their petal-shaped legs for gliding.

Some will be as tall as 12 feet but always remain proportionate between pollinator and flower, said Elton. Orchids can grow in ... The slipper orchid uses chemical mimicry to attract hoverflies ...

Orchids, known for their flamboyant petals, deceptive mimicry and fascinating lifestyles, have captivated biologists and horticulturists for centuries. With nearly 30,000 described species, they ...