Ecuador and other notes

Ecuador

Ecuador is generally considered to have the highest biodiversity of plant and animal species in the world and about 4000 species of orchid have been found here, a thousand of them discovered in the past 12 years alone. Orchids are very common in Ecuador and some 4000 species are already classified although many more await official recognition. They are there as epiphytes on trees, as lithophytes on rocks or rooted in the soil in the more traditional terrestrial fashion.

On December 3, 2009–The world’s smallest known orchid —just over 2 millimeters (0.08 inch) across and nearly see-through—has been discovered nestled in the roots of another flower in Ecuador, scientists announced this week. It belongs to genus Platystele.

Hymenopus coronatus – Orchid Mantis

Hymenopus coronatus, also called H. bicornis, is a mantis from the rain forests of South East Asia. It is known by various common names including walking flower mantis and orchid mantis.