Orchids

Did you know? The largest orchid is generally agreed to be the Grammatophyllum speciosum. It can weigh up to 2,000 pounds or 900 kilograms and is reputed to produce up to 10,000 flowers on a mature plant in nature.

Orchids are one of the most exquisite and fascinating flowers in the world. In fact, so fascinated is the world with Orchids that many countries have adopted different varieties of orchids as their respective National Flowers. Orchids are proliferated across most countries.The orchid flowers are especially prolific in the tropics, where the majority of the species grow on the trunks and branches of trees. In the temperate zones, such as southern Australia, most Orchids grow on the ground.

Kingdom

Plantae

Division

Magnoliophyta

Class

Liliopsida

Order

Asparagales

Family

Orchidaceae

No flowering plant has captured the attention of humans, or stirred their passions, in quite the way that Orchids have. In the past, Orchids have been hunted and collected in almost every part of the world. Today, millions of people remain devoted to the plant and its exotically beautiful "faces." The human fascination with these strangely compelling flowers is often referred to as theObsession with Orchids.

In 1735, Carl Von Lin (Linnaeus), a Swedish botanist, used the wordOrchidaceae (taken from Orkhis), which led to further discoveries carried on by Darwin. Orchids belong to the family Orchidaceae. There are 2 different growth types of Orchids. Generally Orchids are divided into Monopodial and Sympodial varieties. Monopodial Orchids have a central stem of growth. Monopodial Orchids have no pseudo bulbs, but produce new growth from the crown of the plant. Flowers are produced from the stem between the leaves, usually alternating from side to side.

Sympodial Orchids possess a rhizome, which sends out a shoot. This develops into a stem and leaves and eventually produces flowers. Later, from the base of this growth, a new shoot develops and goes on. The buds are often protected by a sheath.

Categories in Orchids

Depending on their growth habits, Orchids are generally divided into three main categories-

• Epiphytic Orchids are grown perched high on the trees clinging to branches or in the trunk apex of the tree. They derive their nutrients from the air, rain, and any decaying vegetation, which the roots can contact. Epiphytic Orchids have specialized aerial roots, which have a white spongy layer of cells called velamen. This protects the inner root tissues and absorbs water. These roots will also often dangle free in the atmosphere.
• Lithophytic Orchids are seen covering the bases and forks of trees or filling crevices in rocks, and absorb a maximum supply of nutrients from decaying mosses.
• Terrestrial Orchids are seen under the ground, having a symbiotic relation with a special fungus, which in turn supports the orchid with the essential nutrients.

Orchids make up the world's most diverse plant family with a number of species estimated to be between 30,000 and 40,000 in over 800 genera.

Orchids are broadly constituted into five Sub-Families
1. Cypripedioideae
2. Epidendroideae
3. Neottiodeae
4. Orchidoideae
5. Vandoideae