Smile of Earth- 29

Orchid flowers

Phalaenopsis species

Orchids are one of the oldest family of flowering plants. Orchid varieties have been found all over the world. This leads experts to believe that they have been around even before the continents separated!
Orchid plants are valued for their exquisitely beautiful flowers. Many of these flowers stay for months and this makes them good cut flowers and much cherished ornamental plants. The flowers are used in the preparation of perfumes and beauty products. Vanilla essence is extracted from a species of orchid, which is of high commercial value.
Orchids are considered as a symbol of love. These exotic blooms are also considered unrivalled symbol of luxury.
Orchids have the tiniest seeds in the world. A single seedpod can have up to 3 million seeds inside! The seeds are so small they can only be seen under a microscope.
My first two pictures show two varieties of Phalaenopsis species. The third picture is that of Crucifix orchid (Epidendrum ibaguense) and the last picture is that of Ground orchid (Spathoglottis plicata).

Phalaenopsis – another variety

Crucifix orchid

Ground orchid

Friends in my garden- 71

Two lovely butterflies

Little orange tip

See these beautiful friends in my garden.
Colotis etrida, the Little orange tip, is a species of butterfly native to Indian subcontinent. From the pattern of the patches on the upper part of the wings, I presume the first picture shows a female butterfly. She is a real beauty, isn’t it?
The second picture is taken against the backlight.
The Lime blue butterfly, Chilades lajus, is a small butterfly found in India and Southeast Asia.
It is fairly common and can be seen both in forested areas as well as in gardens near human habitation.
The males have a more bluish colour on the upper side of the wings, as seen here. Females have more brownish wings. Both males and females have similar colour and patterns on the ventral side.

Against backlight

Lime blue butterfly

Lime blue-Ventral side