Phalaenopsis Haides, colloquially referred to as the ‘Death Mask Orchid’, is a new world member of the Phalaenopsis genus that has evolved into a semi-parasitic liana species. It has come to be associated with the idea of death due to its habit of growing rapidly over dying plants and fresh corpses.

The seed of Phalaenopsis Haides leaves its mother plant by way of transportation through the air, typically by way of attachment to a small animal. When the animal brushes up against a seeding orchid’s seed pod, seeds will become dislodged from the pod and stick to the animal’s body and legs. They will remain there as the animal goes about its business until they are loosened and fall to the ground, where they will go dormant until ready to take root.

Typically the signal that a seed uses to begin germination is the presence of a high amount of ether content present in the ground around it- whether this be from the spilled blood of a fallen megafauna, or a sickly tree that is hemorrhaging ether. After growing a rudimentary root system to support itself, Phalaenopsis haides’s roots will sprout upwards and begin growing towards the most potent source of ether nearby.

Its thick roots climb quickly over any vertical surface in order to maximize its sunlight intake, worming its way into the flesh of nearby plants with weakened immune systems, sapping their nutrients and ether in order to support itself. It does the same with corpses, making it a pioneer species in the process of decomposition. It will even grow over walls, buildings, and other abiotic, sheer surfaces– though oftentimes these specimens of Phalaenopsis Haides are much smaller, with more complex inground root systems and stunted aboveground growth. Whenever it reaches an area with an appropriate amount of sunlight, it will quickly sprout stems and leaves.

The rapid growth Phalaenopsis Haides experiences is overall unusual in the realm of mundane flora, expanding from seed to flowering within only a few weeks of leaving dormancy. The flowers of this species are similarly unusual, with ten thick petals that share a passing resemblance to the face of a folk- with two stamen that mimic eyes. It is theorized that this ‘false face’ pattern was evolved in order to dissuade potential predators - such as the ever-expanding Bugterria species or the voracious Cuddlebugs - from consuming the plant. The stamen of the flower also produce a horrible, ‘corpse-like’ smell, likened to the smell of rotting flesh. While most species steer away from the vines due to their smell, there exists a special species of butterfly who cannot exist without Phalaenopsis Haides – and being the plant’s primary pollinator and propagator, it is likely Phalaenopsis Haides would not be such a successful species without the assistance of this butterfly.

The presence of wild death masks on your own plants may be a symptom of a greater issue within your plant’s health; if you are seeing death mask growth within your garden, it may be time to consult a chloromancer for a wellness check.