Great pretenders

Flowers are essentially reproductive organs that evolved with the sole purpose of attracting pollinators and possibly repelling undesirables. There are 28,000 species of orchids alone, so it’s not surprising — yet still a source of wonder — that, across the millennia, plants have assumed myriad shapes and forms, some of which resemble animals, birds and all kinds of other mythical and natural beings. Here are some of nature’s more extraordinary doppelgängers. OFF THE PLANET Happy alien (Calceolaria uniflora) Also designated C. darwinii or Darwin’s slipper, this tiny (10cm) member of the slipperwort family was discovered in Tierra del Fuego by Charles Darwin during his famous voyage. PUCKER UP Hooker’s lips (Psychotria elata) Another South American native, hot lips — known less politely as labios de puta — is a tropical tree that rocks vividly red kissable bracts reminiscent of the…