The Mystical Ghost

See ghost orchid in the wild…check. Last weekend I was fortunate enough to be invited to look for some flowering ghost orchids. We were more than successful, finding many in bloom, some even with 2 flowers.

The ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) has been hunted by orchid enthusiasts for decades and is the subject of books and movies. It is an endangered species and on Appendex II of Cites. It is a leafless orchid that prefers popash and pond apple sloughs, special places on their own. I tried to show the naked roots behind the flowers in some of my pictures. It was a great day out, thanks Keith and Chris.

The habitat of the ghost

The habitat of the ghost

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9 Comments

  1. Posted June 30, 2009 at 12:37 pm by Juan C Aguero | Permalink

    Good work Paul and the mosquitoes??

  2. Posted June 30, 2009 at 2:36 pm by Ed Cooley | Permalink

    Incredible! Thanks for post GPS in the EXIF — just kidding.

  3. Posted June 30, 2009 at 5:36 pm by Paul | Permalink

    Thanks Juan, mosquitoes weren’t too bad. Nothing like the southern glades right now. That’s just miserable.

  4. Posted June 30, 2009 at 5:36 pm by Paul | Permalink

    Haha, almost scared me Ed. Thanks.

  5. Posted July 1, 2009 at 9:00 am by Justin Parkkonen | Permalink

    I was hoping you would photograph this orchid one day, so that I could see how you would do so. I admire all of your work, and these photos of the Ghost are no exception! Thank you for sharing.

  6. Posted July 1, 2009 at 7:45 pm by Paul | Permalink

    Thanks Justin,

    I was very excited to have the oppurtunity. You have some great/rare moments captured in your gallery. Nice job.

  7. Posted July 9, 2009 at 2:54 pm by dkchristi | Permalink

    The Ghost Orchid bloomed again for my July birthday at Corkscrew Audubon Sanctuary, Naples, FL. It is there for everyone to admire from the boardwalk. I am obsessed and visit it every day of its three-month blooming (since it was discovered in July 2007). As an author, I was inspired to write the novel titled, Ghost Orchid, a story of love, lies and redemption through the blooming of this mystical flower and it power of attraction.

    I hope you photograph the Corkscrew Ghost; I need a mystical, feminine ghost for my book cover……….www.dkchristi.com books and more…

  8. Posted July 9, 2009 at 5:55 pm by Paul | Permalink

    Thanks, I am planning to get up there so maybe I will try and get a shot soon.

  9. Posted July 17, 2009 at 7:57 pm by dkchristi | Permalink

    Great! My novel is in editorial stage but is moving rapidly up the pipeline. L & L Dreamspell is the publisher; they usually do their own covers; but I’ve been sending them pictures of the ghost orchid because it is the story focus. I’d love to show some of your pictures at my site with your credits as I build the page to advertise the book. There are many excellent ghost orchid photographers, but there is something appealing about yours. http://www.dkchristi.com books and more

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