The term orchid was first introduced in 1845 by John Lindley. Orchid is a shorted form of Orchidaceae. Orchids are one of the most diverse and also largest group of plants. The Orchidaceae have about 28,000 currently accepted species and distributed in about 800 genus’s.
These plants can live to be up to 100 years old. Some of wild species have been known to live for as long as more than 200 years. They belongs to the Orchidaceae family. Instead of having a classical root, these plants have rhizome, tuber or aerial roots.
The shape, size and color of the flower depends on the species. Orchid’s families are perennial herbs that have a prominent lack of woody structure. Orchids have the tiniest seeds in the world.
More about Orchids
- Orchidaceae is the scientific name Of Orchids.
- Largest species of orchid in the world is Grammatophyllum speciosum.
- It is the national flower of Singapore.
- The smallest orchid species in the world is the Platystele jungermannioides orchid. Smaller orchids need more attention than larger species to stay healthy.
- The tallest orchid species in the world is the Grammatophyllum speciosum orchid. They can grow up to 8 feet tall.
Features of orchids
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Plantae
Category: Angiosperms (flowering plants)
Category: Monocot (one seed leaf)
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae.
The orchid flower is bilaterally symmetrical.
The orchid flower consists of three sepals and three petals that are arranged in a whorl and a reproductive column.
Types of orchids
There are so many varieties of orchids that are found all over the world. So many different kinds of species with different types of shape, size, and colors.. Below are some popular orchid varieties:
- CATTLEYA – large showy flower in white, lavender, purple, yellow, red (Found in American tropics).
- CYMBIDIUM – tallest stems of flower in white, pink, red, green, yellow. (Found in East Asia and Thailand).
- DENDROBIUM – easy to grow and available in stripes or spots – largest species of orchid. (Found in Southeast Asia).
- MILTONIA – pansy orchid, fragrant (Found in Brazil).
- PAPHIOPEDILUM – known as moth orchids, these usually produce single flower (Found in Pacific island).
- PHALAENOPSIS – popular and available in multi-color with strips and spots (Found in Indonesia).
Orchid Uses –
- Perfumery: They are used commercially in many famous cologne fragrances. They are used as scent and perfumes because of its fragrance property.
- Horticulture: These bright orchid flowers are a very important part of nature throughout the world.
- As a food: These plants are also very useful for food. The most commonly used orchid is the vanilla orchid, which provides the flavor we call vanilla from its beans.
- Decorative: Orchids are of course used as cut flowers, and are the most common flower to be worn in corsages. Many people like to grow them in their homes.
- Medicinal properties: Various orchids have been used by many ancient cultures as medicine. Orchids have also been widely used to treat malaria and skin diseases and blemishes.
Quick important facts:
- Some orchid species are parasitic as they are not to produce food.
- Orchid flowers are bilateral symmetric, that means they can be divided in two equal parts.
- Phalaenopsis orchid are known as moth orchids because of the appearance of the blooms.
- Vanilla is extracted from the pod of a species of orchids known as vanilla planifolia.
- Vanilla planifolia is also the only commercially grown orchid crop.
- Orchids are generally thought of as a tropical plant but they grow on every continent
- Many species of this flower are shaped and colored to mimic the appearance of bees.
- Thailand is the largest world exporter of tropical orchids.
- The delicate, exotic and graceful orchid represents love, luxury, beauty and strength.
