Shocked? No the images are not photoshopped! They are for real! The Monkey Orchid (Dracula simia) actually exists. It’s quite easy to guess how this remarkable orchid got its name - it has an an uncanny resemblance to a small monkey's 'grinning face'.
The orchid species was only named in 1978 by the botanist Carlyle A. Lueren. The Dracula genus comprises more than 120 species. Dracula simia translates to "little dragon monkey, with reference to its long fang like petals," resembling the fangs of Count Dracula of film and fiction fame.
This unusual orchid only grows in the cloud forests of Ecuador, Colombia and Peru. In general, species of Dracula enjoy cooler temperatures.
Dracula simia blooms at any season, and flower anytime it like. The flower smell a lot like a ripe orange.
Somewhat ironic, because with the flower's eerie resemblance to a monkey's face, you’d expect it to smell like bananas, right?
