What in the world could have led botanists to call this cheeky flower the Monkey Orchid?

By JILL REILLY

Funny flower: Found in south-eastern Ecuadorian and Peruvian cloud forests the unusual flower's scientific name is Dracula simia

They are usually secretively hidden nearly 2,000 metres above eye-level in the cloud forests of south-eastern Ecuadorian and Peruvian.
But an enthusiastic flower collector has snapped some stunning photos of the Monkey Orchid. Found in south-eastern Ecuadorian and Peruvian cloud forests, the unusual flower's scientific name is Dracula simia.
Dracula, literally means 'little dragon' referring to the strange aspect of the two long spurs of the two long sepals.

Unusual namesake: Its scientific name is Dracula simia, the last part nodding towards the fact that this remarkable orchid bears more than a passing resemblance to a monkey¿s face

Simia is a nod towards the fact that this remarkable orchid bears more than a passing resemblance to a monkey’s face
The orchid was only named in 1978 by the botanist Luer, but is in a family containing over 120 species mostly found in Ecuador.
Up in the cloud mountains the Monkey Orchid can flower at any time - it is not season specific. It's scent resembles that of a ripe orange.

Discovery: The orchid was only named in 1978 by the botanist Luer but is in a family containing over 120 species mostly found in Ecuador

source: dailymail