Fun Facts About Orchids

Fun Facts About Orchids

Image Source: "Haeckel Orchidae" by Ernst Haeckel - Kunstformen der Natur (1904), plate 74: Orchidae (see here, here, here and here). Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Haeckel_Orchidae.jpg#/media/File:Haeckel_Orchidae.jpg

1. Orchids belong to the orchid family (Orchidaceae) and are exotic plants grown for their beautiful, showy, and long lasting flowers.

2. Although most species of orchids are epiphytic ( i.e., naturally grow on trees or other plants), some grow on rocks or are terrestrial (i.e., grow in soil).

3. Orchid flowers come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but all have six petal-like parts with a waxy or velvety texture.

4. Orchids are commonly thought of as greenhouse plants, but many species grow well as  houseplants.

5. Orchids get their name from the Greek Orchis meaning “testicle”

6A. The word “Orchis” was first used by Theophrastus (372/371–287/286 B.C.) in his book “De historia plan tarun” (The natural history of plants) is considered the father of botany and ecology.

6B. Orchids are cosmopolitan in distribution. Occurring in every habitat, except Antarctica
 and deserts.

7. The great majority are to be found in the tropics, most Asia, South America and Central America. They are found above the Artic Circle in Southern Patagonia and even on Macquarie Island,close to Antarctica,

8. About 800 to 1000 new species are added each year.

Image Source: 

"Flor de Orquídea - Orchid Flower" by José Manuel López Pinto - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flor_de_Orqu%C3%ADdea_-_Orchid_Flower.JPG#/media/File:Flor_de_Orqu%C3%ADdea_-_Orchid_Flower.JPG

9. Over  800 described genera and 25,000-35,000 species (exact number is unknown since  classification differs.

10. Orchid exhibit an incredible range of diversity in Size, Shape and Colour.

11. Occupy top position among all the flowering plant.

12. Valued for cut flower production and as potted plants.

13. Known for their longer lasting and bewitchingly beautiful flowers. 

14. Orchids are truly flowers of superlatives. Even a complete layman in botany is awed by the beauty of orchids.

15. No plant family has as many different flowers as the Orchid family.

16. Most African Orchids are white, while Asian Orchids are often multi colored.

17. Some Orchids only grow one flower on each stem, others sometimes more than a hundred together on a single spike.

18. Maxican Laelics and Indian dendrobiums, cymbidiums and vandas have played a major role in the development of modern Orchid industry in the world.

19. Vanilla is commercially important; used as a foodstuff flavoring.

20. The Coca-Cola company is the word’s largest user of vanilla.

21. The underground tubers of terrestrial Orchids are ground to a powder and used for cooking, such as in the hot beverage salep or “fox-testicle ice cream” salepi dondurma.

22. The scent of Orchids is frequently used by perfumists to identify potential fragrance chemicals.

23. Other than this Orchids have virtually no commercial value other than for enjoyment of the flowers.