20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Marry Poppins hanging on an orchid flower

I may seem strange, but this apparently modest-looking, greenish orchid gave me, over the years, particularly interesting, artistic images. Its name is Neottia ovata, commonly known as the Eggleaf Twayblade or the Common Twayblade. The vernacular names are a reference to oval shape of the leaves, unfortunately, not shown here. Nevertheless, the flowers resemble small samurai dressed in large green trousers and wearing big hats on. It is a nectariferous orchid, attracting many insects, such as solitary bees, beetles, mosquitoes, flies and butterflies. At times, instead of insects, silver-tufted fruits of the common dandelion, may get caught, hanging in the inflorescence. The fluffy tufts resemble small open Marry Poppins-like umbrellas, with little, brownish seeds hanging by the handle (Orchids of Romania, by Nora De Angelli & Dan Anghelescu, 2020).

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Sinaia, Romania
Copyright: © Nora De Angelli