Orchids of the world
Orchids (Orchidaceae) are the largest flowering plant family on earth. They belong to the monocot family in the super order liliiflorae. Botanists estimate that there are 20,000 to 25,000 orchid species growing in the wild, and as many as 50,000 unique hybrid species spawned by orchid collectors using cross-pollination and DNA manipulation to create new hybrid orchids. Many natural-growing, rare orchid species will remain undiscovered because the continued destruction of tropical forests results in the tragic loss of many unknown orchid species each year.
These irresistible flowers first evolved in the tropics, but migrating birds and strong wind currents have spread orchid seeds around the globe. Orchids can now be found on every continent except Antarctica. While most orchids are still found in tropical and subtropical areas, they are amazingly sturdy and resilient and have adapted to grow naturally in habitats as diverse as deserts and the Arctic.
Many orchids are epiphytic, meaning they do not grow on the ground. Instead of competing for soil on the forest floor, epiphytic orchids evolved and developed the ability to grow on trees, stumps or logs. They often position themselves on branches high above all other plants, where light and water are abundant. In south Florida, most epiphytic orchids grow under the tree canopy where the humid microclimate offers protection from frosts in winter and desiccation in spring. Orchids that grow on rocks are referred to as lithophytes. They, too, have evolved to survive among competing jungle plants.
When an orchid blooms, it is ready to be pollinated. Since many orchid species resemble insects, pollination occurs when an insect mistakes the orchid blossom for kin or prey. Many orchids reward their insect pollinators with nectar or essential oils. When an insect lands on the flower, pollen sticks to its body. As the insect repeats the action, the pollen is then deposited on the stigma of the second flower.
The orchid is a slow-growing plant. After pollination, it takes an orchid seed approximately seven years to mature into a flowering plant. Once an orchid blooms, it will rest for several months.
While individual orchid species vary in color, fragrance and size, they do have many commonalities that set them apart from other flowering plants. For example, orchids are unique in that their stamen and pistil (male and female parts) are fused in one structure called a column. The column makes up the center of the flower. Other distinct characteristics include numerous tiny seeds, as well as pollen that is bound together in large masses called pollinia.
All orchids have three petal-like sepals and three petals inside the sepals. The easiest way to identify an orchid in bloom is that one petal is different from the others in size, color and/or complexity. This unique petal, referred to as the labellum, or lip, will look like a human lip and is usually quite large. On some species, the labellum resembles a tongue.
The leaves of an orchid will either be coriaceous (tough/leathery) or membranaceous (thin/flexible). If the leaves have a fold in the center, they are known as conduplicate. Those that are pleated with several prominent veins are called plicate. With few exceptions, the major veins in orchid leaves (epistephium) are parallel to one another.