Embreea Orchid

myminifactory

Embreea herrenhusana is a epiphytic orchid from Ecuador with giant, deliciously fragrant flowers. An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. Its complex fragrance evolved to attract male euglossine bees that toil ceaselessly collecting these fragrances.  Their motivation - SEX-APPEAL! Female euglossines are very choosy; they prefer males that are physically fit and compellingly fragrant. Female euglossine bees determine the biological fitness of potential mates by the degree of complexity of the fragrance cocktail male bees create from foraging floral fragrances in the jungle. This object originates from Smithsonian X 3D, made available under a Share Alike, Non-Commercial license. For more information and all educational resources surrounding this object please visit this link https://3d.si.edu . Please share photographs of your work with us below!