The Ghost Orchid of southwestern Florida and adjacent Caribbean islands is dependent on the Giant Sphinx Moth, with which it shares a symbiotic relationship. The moth is the only creature within the orchid's range with a proboscis long enough to traverse the five-inch nectar spur of the flower. It is thought that the light color and light scent of the orchid's flower attract the moth during the night. Without the moth, the orchid would have been unlikely to evolve its unusual nectar spur; should the moth vanish, the plant's extinction would be all but assured.
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keywords (defined):
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keywords (additional): |
pollination, orchids, moths |
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