Orchid 101: A Beginner's Primer
Orchid 101: A Beginner's Primer
Despite the common perception of rarity, the orchid and its entire family is the biggest of all flowering plant varieties with an estimated specie count possibly exceeding 30,000. Add to that a great deal more of your popular plant hybrids and cultivars produced out of the scientific gardens of horticulturists and hobbyists.
Even the orchid itself seems to promote its own even without the help of science. Considered to have the most remarkable ability of evolution among flowering plants, its aggressive symbiotic strategies along with its active interaction with nature's pollinators introduce new species every year.
In structure, the orchid is a monocotyledon which means that they have a single embryonic leaf in comparison with most flowering plants which have two. The said plant is also considered a perennial herb because it doesn't have any woody parts. It can be grouped according to how it gets nutrients which also determines its geographic locations. With the exception of very cold regions and deserts, the orchid grows in every possible habitat. Its favorite is the tropics.
A Distinguished Orchid History
It was Theophrastos, the father of the studies of Botany and Ecology who first used the word orchid (from the Greek orchis). But the plant's origins go back further to the Late Cretaceous period, about 80 million years ago. An Amber resin with fossilized insect remains show evidence that insects of that period were already pollinating the orchid.
Knowing where your orchid comes from can be useful in knowing how to take care of it.
If it flourishes being anchored on a tree, it's a perennial epiphyte. Those who can grow on rock surfaces and don't need much care are much likely to be hardy lithophytes. If you can grow your orchid in loose soil, it's a terrestrial plant. Another kind which lacks chlorophyll and depends on decaying plant matter is myco-heterotrophs.
Travelers to the tropics who are fond of hiking on nature trails will find it pleasurable to come upon the sight of beautiful orchids. But think twice before you attempt to take it home. This species are classified as protected in their natural habitat and taking them out of that habitat might be considered illegal and a punishable offense.
Be careful when someone gives you an orchid as a gift. Ask the giver first if it is a hybrid. If you live in the United States, you may need to acquire a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) permit before you can bring the gift into the country.