Orchid flower (Phragmipedium besseae). The Phragmipedium orchids have a distinctive anatomy: there are two lateral petals sticking out to either side, a pouch-shaped lower petal (called the lip), and a large upwards pointing sepal. The lip attracts and can trap pollinators. This orchid is from the tropical parts of the eastern slopes of the Andes mountains of South America. It is a terrestrial orchid (one that grows in the ground), sometimes found growing on cliffs. There are more than 30,000 species of orchids worldwide, many of which are grown as ornamental flowers.