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A rare orchid with circumpolar distribution, from North America to Asia. It prefers bogs, and coniferous or mixed forests. It attracts pollinators through deception, offering a sweet smell and bright colors but no reward of nectar. Their main pollinators are newly emerged queen bumblebees.

I did find Calypso — but only once, far in the depths of the very wildest of Canadian dark woods, near those high, cold, moss-covered swamps. I felt as if I were in the presence of superior beings who loved me and beckoned me to come. I sat down beside them and wept for joy.

Aechmea brevicollis

name: Ancient greek aichme for "spear". Latin brevicollis for "short necked".

Passiflora Nephrodes

Genus Tridacna (Giant Clams)

Tridacna contains what are some of the most beautiful bivalves. Many bivalves feed by filtering the water for microscopic animals and detritus. They take in water through their inhalant siphon, and out their exhalant siphon. After water passes through the gills, it is filtered for edible particles through its mouth. Though, when it comes to feeding, Tridacna have another strategy. Tridacna are both heterotrophic and autotrophic. While they can consume organic particulate matter, they can also photosynthesize sugar through symbiotic algae that live within their tissues. Tridacna stretch out their fleshy mantles to collect sunlight, like so many oceanic solar panels.

Genus Sobralia

Found in much of South America but most notably Brazil, Ecuador and Peru. Sobralia is a genus of terrestrial orchids. The majestic flowers appear at the ends of tall bamboo-like leafy stalks. Although breathtaking, their beauty is ephemeral; The blooms can live as long as 3 days or as short as 8 hours, depending on the species. Sobralia flowers contain digestive enzymes that cause the flowers to be extremely short-lived.

Sobralia contains a great range of size. S. altissima (The Very Tall Sobralia) is the world's tallest orchid, having been recorded a dizzying 13.2 m tall. In contrast, S. callosa (The Callous Sobralia) reaches a humble 35 cm.

Chaetodon trifascialis (Chevroned Butterflyfish)

Subgenus Megaprotodon

The Chevroned Butterflyfish, like many other butterflyfishes, is a corallivore (predator of coral). Unlike other butterflyfishes, it sports a streamlined elongated body. Adults create territories on colonies of Acropora spp.. They are haremic, with a male's territory often overlapping several females'.