thepalms

The TV told me about this tonight. In Madagascar, there is an orchid with a star shaped flower. As I recall, it is affectionately called The Comet orchid, due its long stem that protrudes down from behind the flower. At the bottom of this stem is the nectar, the juicy goodness of which insects like to gobble. Many, although not VERY many, years ago, Charles Darwin was presented with this flower by a friend or associate or somebody – I really don’t know, but this person knew that Charles Darwin would be taken by it. He was. And, Madagascar at the time being a relatively unexplored place by biologists and such, meant that Charles Darwin could only make a prediction as to what sort of creature from Madagascar benefits from this beautiful flower. He predicted that it would be a moth, and that it would have a proboscis of about thirty centimetres. Low and behold! – this moth, predicted to exist by Charles Darwin, was discovered. And yes, it DID eat from The Comet Orchid!

Now, how amazing is that? I’ve always believed that it is human nature to look for patterns in things, but oh, how it delights me when somebody has a really keen eye for something! Yippee! By drawing on his knowledge, observing the flower, and doing the maths, he was able to envision an existing creature that he has never actually SEEN before! It’s like fucking forensics! It’s amazing! It’s like the tiniest glimpse into God’s vision!

Amaaaaaaaaaaazing!

Oh – I found a youtube clip about it. Here it’s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMVN1EWxfAU