Mothra here is a Phalaenopsis Orchid, whose species and hybrid names remain mysteries to this careless amateur botanist.
She caught my eye at the 2019 Longwood Gardens Orchid Fest, but so engrossed was I in her beauty that I failed to shoot the name-plate that Longwood gardeners thoughtfully plant alongside. I know her genus is Phalaenopsis and the species may be Vand Pink, but forget about nailing the hybrid or cultivar — there are hundreds of thousands to choose from.
Hence I named her for my favorite Horror Movie of Japanese cinema’s Golden Age. Phalaenopsis means “Moth,” presumably because some real botanist thought they resemble the winged things.
Personally I see zilch likeness—do YOU see one?—nevertheless…
Moths seem to have been our Creator’s Favorite Plant in the family Orchidaceae, with myriad species, meaning I don’t remember how many, but it’s a bunch. Orchids, moreover, boast something like 28,000 species, in some 763 genera, making them possibly the biggest family of flowering plants on earth. Some claim there are more Asteraceae, but then the Orchid-counters come up with a dozen more, and besides, when was the last time you bent to inhale the scent of an Aster?
To give you some idea of what this means, there are twice as many Orchid species as there are bird species on our planet — and 400% more Orchid species than mammals. In all, the Orchidaceae tribe comprise as much as 11% of all seed plants, and if that ain’t sayin’ somethin’ I didn’t say anythin’.
They smell good too. I lack words to evoke the intoxicating fragrance of Mothra here, but assure you she smelled nice if not even nicer. I also love her delectable red-pink lip and lovely buds, plump with promise…
But what do YOU love or detest about her? Let me know with your LIKE and COMMENT!
Shot with Fujifilm XT-3 and Fujinon 80mm f2.8 Macro
