The orchid
family, Orchidaceae, is the most numerous in the plant kingdom. There are about
25,000 to 30,000 known species of orchids around the world. Orchids are found
in all continents except Antarctica, from hot tropical jungles to the cold
climate in North America. However, some orchids are found only in certain
region of the world and nowhere else, for example, the Vanda genus colonizes only South East Asia.
There are two
types of orchids: terrestrial orchids and epiphytes. Terrestrial orchids, such
as Cymbidium, grow on the ground, while
epiphytes establish themselves on trees. Each type of orchids can grow in two
different ways:
- Sympodial orchids: the new shoots emerge alongside of the old plants, causing lateral spread. Cattleya is sympodial-epiphytes. Most epiphytic- sympodial orchids have storage stems, pseudobulbs or bulbs, to help them survive the dry season.
- Monopodial orchids: new growth is added to the apex, increasing the plant's height. The leaves are arranged alternately around the stem. Examples of monopodial orchids are Vanda, Phalaenopsis etc...
Most popular
orchids grown today are hybrid species, creating by plant breeders in their
hundreds of thousands. These "new" species may be the result of
crossing two related species, or from three to four different genera like Mokara orchid.
Orchids are
the most beautiful, the most sensual, the most exotic, and the most costly
flowers. But you can enjoy them free at this site. Most orchid pictures in
these pages were taken from the annual Orchid Show at the Missouri Botanical
Garden in St. Louis, Missouri.
Source: http://www.flowerpictures.net
