An endangered slipper orchid in southwestern China fakes the look and smell of a fungal infection in order to attract one particular pollinator, the flat-footed fly.

Black-brown spots mark the leaves of the orchid, mimicking the diseased look of a plant covered with fungus. The flowers even smell like they are rotting. When a fly lands on the orchid intending to dine on the infected patches, the deceived insect comes away hungry and covered in pollen.

“This is the first time we’ve seen an orchid that uses both its flowers and leaves in the deception,” said orchid researcher Peter Bernhardt of Sa...