Discovery New Orchid smells like 'sweaty feet'

16 July 2007

Q. What has tennis-ball yellow flowers, flourishes only in the wet meadows of a national park and smells like sweaty feet?

A. A rare orchid species.

Scientists announced the discovery of the rare orchid species Monday. The plant, which is the only known orchid species endemic to California's Sierra Nevada range, grows in spring-fed areas between 6,000 and 9,000 feet. All nine sites where the orchid has been spotted are in Yosemite National Park.

WHAT'S THAT SMELL?
Botanist Alison Colwell said the smell led her to the species. The Yosemite bog-orchid emits the smell to attract pollinators.

"I was out surveying clovers one afternoon, and I started smelling something. I was like, 'Eew, what's that?'" said Colwell, who works for the U.S. Geological Survey in El Portal. "It smelled like a horse corral on a hot afternoon."

-- Megan K. Scott

Source :
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