Platystele sp., Bahia Solano, Colombia

Meet one of the world's smallest orchids. The genus Platystele is known for orchids with tiny flowers, and within the genus, this one has some of the smallest flowers. A single flower is a mere 2-3mm in size.
Taking this photo was horrible but also hilarious. We were in extremely heavy rain and I was sitting on the forest floor, two people holding umbrellas over my head whilst I tried to do a handheld shot of this absurdly small flower.

comments (12)

Christine Young

Lion

WOW! You have some super cool adventures Ferdy! I'm surprised anyone noticed this microscopic flower. It is beautiful though! I wonder what pollinates it - maybe some tiny flies?! Posted 7 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Colombia is full of adventures :)
  That's a really good question I hadn't even considered yet. Looks like you're right about the tiny flies:
  
  "The smallest Platystele on Earth, recently discovered by accident in Ecuador, was found growing among the root mass of a larger plant: its flowers are only 2 mm across (<1/10th inch), and the gossamer petals are just 1 cell layer thick. The minute flowers of this genus rely on even more minuscule flies for their pollination."
  
  It's from this book:
  https://books.google.nl/books?id=TqSDBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA168
  
  Which also mentions that these tiny fruit flies are such poor flyers (wind affecting their flight) that platystele species are often very local. The flies are attracted to microscopic drops on the petals.
  
  Some incredible biology going on here. Posted 7 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

Wow! One cell layer thick! Incredible. Definitely amazing that these flowers survive and that the flies are able to find them. Another fantastic and surreal example of how nature trumps all man-made creations. Posted 7 years ago

WildFlower

Lion

It looks like the plants were detached from the ground and put onto a car seat, isn't it? It's not your usual style. Posted 7 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  It's actually my camera bag. But indeed, the plant was detached from a trunk it was growing on, or more specifically a layer of mossy vegetation, so in an intact way. Our guide Manuel regularly does this for a level shot and then puts it back. Since I don't have a tripod with me, usually I'm flat on the floor to get a steady shot, they are just so tiny to focus on. Posted 7 years ago
2. 1. WildFlower
    
    Lion
    
    I hope they would continue growing after that. Posted 7 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Normally they should be fine due to being epiphytes. The way it is taken is fully with whatever it was growing on. Posted 7 years ago
3. Manuel Espejo
  
  Green Fly
  
  Actually I only detach them from fallen trees or branches after a thunderstorm, much of them are canopy dwellers so you don't find them growing on ground, after the pictures I usually attach them back to a tree with some string. Posted 6 years ago

englishindiangirl

Lion

It's wonderful in all meanings of the word. I saw tiny orchids in Borneo but they seem giant compared to this. Thanks for sharing. Posted 7 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  The pleasure is all mine to share it :) Posted 7 years ago

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

Unbelievable! What a beauty!

I'm with Christine! How did anyone even notice this? Posted 6 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  All credit goes to our guide in finding these orchids, I didn't spot a single one. Yet I do know how to look for them now, so hoping to spot some in the next trip, although the next trip won't cover many cloud forests. Fingers crossed. Posted 6 years ago

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By Ferdy Christant

Uploaded Feb 23, 2018. Captured Oct 21, 2017 10:54.

Explore Colombia 8,334 2,805 0

NIKON D810
f/11.0
1/60s
ISO64
105mm

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