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Orchid
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae
(/ˌɔːrkɪˈdeɪsi.iː, -si.aɪ/),[2] a diverse and widespread group of Orchid
flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and Temporal range: Late Cretaceous –
fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in Present
almost every habitat on Earth except glaciers. The world's
richest diversity of orchid genera and species is in the tropics.

Orchidaceae is one of the two largest families of flowering

plants, the other being the Asteraceae. It contains about
28,000 currently accepted species in 702 genera.[3][4]

The Orchidaceae family encompasses about 6–11% of all

species of seed plants.[5] The largest genera are Bulbophyllum
(2,000 species), Epidendrum (1,500 species), Dendrobium
(1,400 species) and Pleurothallis (1,000 species). It also
includes Vanilla (the genus of the vanilla plant), the type
genus Orchis, and many commonly cultivated plants such as
Phalaenopsis and Cattleya. Moreover, since the introduction
of tropical species into cultivation in the 19th century,
horticulturists have produced many hybrids and cultivars.

Description
Orchids are easily distinguished from other plants, as they
share some very evident derived characteristics or
synapomorphies. Among these are: bilateral symmetry of the Scientific classification
flower (zygomorphism), many resupinate flowers, a nearly
Kingdom: Plantae
always highly modified petal (labellum), fused stamens and
carpels, and extremely small seeds. Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Stem and roots Clade: Monocots
All orchids are perennial herbs that lack any permanent Order: Asparagales
woody structure. They can grow according to two patterns: Family: Orchidaceae
Juss.[1]
Monopodial: The stem grows from a single bud, leaves
are added from the apex each year, and the stem grows Type genus
longer accordingly. The stem of orchids with a monopodial
growth can reach several metres in length, as in Vanda Orchis
and Vanilla. Tourn. ex L.

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Sympodial: Sympodial orchids have a front (the newest Subfamilies

growth) and a back (the oldest growth).[6] The plant
produces a series of adjacent shoots, which grow to a Apostasioideae Horaninov
certain size, bloom and then stop growing and are
replaced. Sympodial orchids grow horizontally, rather than Cypripedioideae Kosteletzky
vertically, following the surface of their support. The
Epidendroideae Kosteletzky
growth continues by development of new leads, with their
own leaves and roots, sprouting from or next to those of Orchidoideae Eaton
the previous year, as in Cattleya. While a new lead is
developing, the rhizome may start its growth again from a Vanilloideae Szlachetko
so-called 'eye', an undeveloped bud, thereby branching.
Sympodial orchids may have visible pseudobulbs joined
by a rhizome, which creeps along the top or just beneath
the soil.
Terrestrial orchids may be rhizomatous or form corms or
tubers. The root caps of terrestrial orchids are smooth and
white. Distribution range of family

Some sympodial terrestrial orchids, such as Orchis and Orchidaceae

Ophrys, have two subterranean tuberous roots. One is used as

a food reserve for wintry periods, and provides for the
development of the other one, from which visible growth
develops.

In warm and constantly humid climates, many terrestrial

orchids do not need pseudobulbs.

Epiphytic orchids, those that grow upon a support, have

modified aerial roots that can sometimes be a few meters long.
A Phalaenopsis flower
In the older parts of the roots, a modified spongy epidermis,
called a velamen, has the function of absorbing humidity. It is
made of dead cells and can have a silvery-grey, white or brown
appearance. In some orchids, the velamen includes spongy
and fibrous bodies near the passage cells, called tilosomes.

The cells of the root epidermis grow at a right angle to the axis
of the root to allow them to get a firm grasp on their support.
Nutrients for epiphytic orchids mainly come from mineral
dust, organic detritus, animal droppings and other substances
collecting among on their supporting surfaces.
Germinating seeds of the temperate
The base of the stem of sympodial epiphytes, or in some
orchid Anacamptis coriophora
species essentially the entire stem, may be thickened to form a
pseudobulb that contains nutrients and water for drier
periods.

The pseudobulb typically has a smooth surface with lengthwise grooves, and can have different
shapes, often conical or oblong. Its size is very variable; in some small species of Bulbophyllum, it is
no longer than two millimeters, while in the largest orchid in the world, Grammatophyllum
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speciosum (giant orchid), it can reach three meters. Some

Dendrobium species have long, canelike pseudobulbs with
short, rounded leaves over the whole length; some other
orchids have hidden or extremely small pseudobulbs,
completely included inside the leaves.

With ageing the pseudobulb sheds its leaves and becomes

dormant. At this stage it is often called a backbulb. Backbulbs
still hold nutrition for the plant, but then a pseudobulb
usually takes over, exploiting the last reserves accumulated in
Neotinea lactea, collected in Sardinia; the
the backbulb, which eventually dies off, too. A pseudobulb
small size, compared to a one-Euro coin,
typically lives for about five years. Orchids without noticeable and the two globose tuberoids typical of
pseudobulbs are also said to have growths, an individual the Neotinea genus are highlighted
component of a sympodial plant.

Leaves
Like most monocots, orchids generally have simple leaves
with parallel veins, although some Vanilloideae have
reticulate venation. Leaves may be ovate, lanceolate, or
orbiculate, and very variable in size on the individual plant.
Their characteristics are often diagnostic. They are normally
alternate on the stem, often folded lengthwise along the centre
("plicate"), and have no stipules. Orchid leaves often have
siliceous bodies called stegmata in the vascular bundle
sheaths (not present in the Orchidoideae) and are fibrous.

The structure of the leaves corresponds to the specific habitat

of the plant. Species that typically bask in sunlight, or grow on
sites which can be occasionally very dry, have thick, leathery
leaves and the laminae are covered by a waxy cuticle to retain Pseudobulb of Prosthechea fragrans
their necessary water supply. Shade-loving species, on the
other hand, have long, thin leaves.

The leaves of most orchids are perennial, that is, they live for several years, while others, especially
those with plicate leaves as in Catasetum, shed them annually and develop new leaves together with
new pseudobulbs.

The leaves of some orchids are considered ornamental. The leaves of Macodes sanderiana, a
semiterrestrial or rock-hugging ("lithophyte") orchid, show a sparkling silver and gold veining on a
light green background. The cordate leaves of Psychopsiella limminghei are light brownish-green with
maroon-puce markings, created by flower pigments. The attractive mottle of the leaves of lady's
slippers from tropical and subtropical Asia (Paphiopedilum), is caused by uneven distribution of
chlorophyll. Also, Phalaenopsis schilleriana is a pastel pink orchid with leaves spotted dark green and
light green. The jewel orchid (Ludisia discolor) is grown more for its colorful leaves than its white
flowers.

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Some orchids, such as Dendrophylax lindenii (ghost orchid), Aphyllorchis and Taeniophyllum
depend on their green roots for photosynthesis and lack normally developed leaves, as do all of the
heterotrophic species.

Orchids of the genus Corallorhiza (coralroot orchids) lack leaves altogether and instead have
symbiotic or parasitic associations with fungal mycelium, though which they absorb sugars.[7]

Flowers
Orchid flowers have three sepals, three petals and a three-chambered ovary. The three sepals and two
of the petals are often similar to each other but one petal is usually highly modified, forming a "lip" or
labellum. In most orchid genera, as the flower develops, it undergoes a twisting through 180°, called
resupination, so that the labellum lies below the column. The labellum functions to attract insects,
and in resupinate flowers, also acts as a landing stage, or sometimes a trap.[8][9][10][11]

The reproductive parts of an orchid flower are unique in that

the stamens and style are joined to form a single structure, the
column.[10][11][12] Instead of being released singly, thousands
of pollen grains are contained in one or two bundles called
pollinia that are attached to a sticky disc near the top of the
column. Just below the pollinia is a second, larger sticky plate
called the stigma.[8][9][10][11]

Reproduction Labelled image of Caladenia alpina

Pollination
The complex mechanisms that orchids have evolved to achieve cross-pollination were investigated by
Charles Darwin and described in Fertilisation of Orchids (1862). Orchids have developed highly
specialized pollination systems, thus the chances of being pollinated are often scarce, so orchid
flowers usually remain receptive for very long periods, rendering unpollinated flowers long-lasting in
cultivation. Most orchids deliver pollen in a single mass. Each time pollination succeeds, thousands of
ovules can be fertilized.

Pollinators are often visually attracted by the shape and colours of the labellum. However, some
Bulbophyllum species attract male fruit flies (Bactrocera and Zeugodacus spp.) solely via a floral
chemical which simultaneously acts as a floral reward (e.g. methyl eugenol, raspberry ketone, or
zingerone) to perform pollination.[13][14][15] The flowers may produce attractive odours. Although
absent in most species, nectar may be produced in a spur of the labellum (8 in the illustration above),
or on the point of the sepals, or in the septa of the ovary, the most typical position amongst the
Asparagales.

In orchids that produce pollinia, pollination happens as some variant of the following sequence: when
the pollinator enters into the flower, it touches a viscidium, which promptly sticks to its body,
generally on the head or abdomen. While leaving the flower, it pulls the pollinium out of the anther, as
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it is connected to the viscidium by the caudicle or stipe. The

caudicle then bends and the pollinium is moved forwards and
downwards. When the pollinator enters another flower of the
same species, the pollinium has taken such position that it will
stick to the stigma of the second flower, just below the
rostellum, pollinating it. In horticulture, artificial orchid
pollination is achieved by removing the pollinia with a small
instrument such as a toothpick from the pollen parent and
transferring them to the seed parent.

Some orchids mainly or totally rely on self-pollination,

especially in colder regions where pollinators are particularly
rare. The caudicles may dry up if the flower has not been
visited by any pollinator, and the pollinia then fall directly on
the stigma. Otherwise, the anther may rotate and then enter
the stigma cavity of the flower (as in Holcoglossum
amesianum).

The slipper orchid Paphiopedilum parishii reproduces by self-

fertilization. This occurs when the anther changes from a solid Floral Morphology of an Oncidium Orchid
to a liquid state and directly contacts the stigma surface
without the aid of any pollinating agent or floral assembly.[16]

The labellum of the Cypripedioideae is poke bonnet-shaped,

and has the function of trapping visiting insects. The only exit
leads to the anthers that deposit pollen on the visitor.

In some extremely specialized orchids, such as the Eurasian

genus Ophrys, the labellum is adapted to have a colour, shape,
and odour which attracts male insects via mimicry of a
receptive female. Pollination happens as the insect attempts to
mate with flowers.
Labelled image of Diuris carinata
Many neotropical orchids are pollinated by male orchid bees,
which visit the flowers to gather volatile chemicals they
require to synthesize pheromonal attractants. Males of such
species as Euglossa imperialis or Eulaema meriana have
been observed to leave their territories periodically to forage
for aromatic compounds, such as cineole, to synthesize
pheromone for attracting and mating with females.[17][18]
Each type of orchid places the pollinia on a different body part
of a different species of bee, so as to enforce proper cross-
pollination.

A rare achlorophyllous saprophytic orchid growing entirely Phalaenopsis pollinia (orange) attached
underground in Australia, Rhizanthella slateri, is never to a toothpick with its sticky viscidium
exposed to light, and depends on ants and other terrestrial
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insects to pollinate it.

Catasetum, a genus discussed briefly by Darwin, actually

launches its viscid pollinia with explosive force when an insect
touches a seta, knocking the pollinator off the flower.

After pollination, the sepals and petals fade and wilt, but they
usually remain attached to the ovary.

In 2011, Bulbophyllum nocturnum was discovered to flower

nocturnally.[19]

Asexual reproduction
Some species, such as in the genera Phalaenopsis,
Dendrobium, and Vanda, produce offshoots or plantlets
formed from one of the nodes along the stem, through the Ophrys apifera is about to self-pollinate
accumulation of growth hormones at that point. These shoots
are known as keiki.[20]

Epipogium aphyllum exhibits a dual reproductive strategy, engaging in both sexual and asexual seed
production. The likelihood of apomixis playing a substantial role in successful reproduction appears
minimal. Within certain petite orchid species groups, there is a noteworthy preparation of female
gametes for fertilization preceding the act of pollination.[21]

Fruits and seeds

The ovary typically develops into a capsule that is dehiscent by
three or six longitudinal slits, while remaining closed at both
ends.

The seeds are generally almost microscopic and very

numerous, in some species over a million per capsule. After
ripening, they blow off like dust particles or spores. Most
orchid species lack endosperm in their seed and must enter
symbiotic relationships with various mycorrhizal Cross-sections of orchid capsules
basidiomyceteous fungi that provide them the necessary showing the longitudinal slits
nutrients to germinate, so almost all orchid species are
mycoheterotrophic during germination and reliant upon fungi
to complete their lifecycles. Only a handful of orchid species have seed that can germinate without
mycorrhiza, namely the species within the genus Disa with hydrochorous seeds.[22][23]

As the chance for a seed to meet a suitable fungus is very small, only a minute fraction of all the seeds
released grow into adult plants. In cultivation, germination typically takes weeks.

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Horticultural techniques have been devised for germinating

orchid seeds on an artificial nutrient medium, eliminating the
requirement of the fungus for germination and greatly aiding
the propagation of ornamental orchids. The usual medium for
the sowing of orchids in artificial conditions is agar gel
combined with a carbohydrate energy source. The
carbohydrate source can be combinations of discrete sugars or
can be derived from other sources such as banana, pineapple,
peach, or even tomato puree or coconut water. After the Disa uniflora seedling on a sphagnum
preparation of the agar medium, it is poured into test tubes or leaf, on a thumbtack
jars which are then autoclaved (or cooked in a pressure
cooker) to sterilize the medium. After cooking, the medium
begins to gel as it cools.

Taxonomy
The taxonomy of this family is in constant flux, as new studies continue to clarify the relationships
between species and groups of species, allowing more taxa at several ranks to be recognized. The
Orchidaceae is currently placed in the order Asparagales by the APG III system of 2009.[1]

Five subfamilies are recognised. The cladogram below was made according to the APG system of 1998.
It represents the view that most botanists had held up to that time. It was supported by morphological
studies, but never received strong support in molecular phylogenetic studies.

⁠ Apostasioideae: 2 genera and 16 species, south-eastern Asia

⁠

Cypripedioideae: 5 genera and 130 species, from the temperate regions of the world,
⁠
⁠ as well as tropical America and tropical Asia

Vanilloideae: 15 genera and 180 species, humid tropical and subtropical regions,
⁠ ⁠
⁠ ⁠ eastern North America
⁠
⁠
⁠Monandrae Epidendroideae: more than 500 genera and more or less 20,000 species,
⁠ ⁠
⁠ cosmopolitan
⁠
⁠
⁠ Orchidoideae: 208 genera and 3,630 species, cosmopolitan
⁠

In 2015, a phylogenetic study[24] showed strong statistical support for the following topology of the
orchid tree, using 9 kb of plastid and nuclear DNA from 7 genes, a topology that was confirmed by a
phylogenomic study in the same year.[25]
⁠
⁠ Apostasioideae
⁠
⁠
⁠ Vanilloideae
⁠

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⁠ ⁠ Cypripedioideae
⁠
⁠
⁠ ⁠ Epidendroideae
⁠ ⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠ Orchidoideae

Evolution
It has been hypothesised that the origin of the orchids goes
back much longer than originally expected.[26] An extinct
species of stingless bee, Proplebeia dominicana, was found
trapped in Miocene amber from about 15–20 million years
ago. The bee was carrying pollen of a previously unknown
orchid taxon, Meliorchis caribea, on its wings. This find is the
first evidence of fossilised orchids to date[26] and shows
insects were active pollinators of orchids then. This extinct
orchid, M. caribea, has been placed within the extant tribe
Artist's interpretation of orchid phylogeny,
Cranichideae, subtribe Goodyerinae (subfamily
showing the evolution of the family
Orchidoideae). An even older orchid species, Succinanthera
baltica, was described from the Eocene Baltic amber by
Poinar & Rasmussen (2017).[27]

Genetic sequencing indicates orchids may have arisen earlier, 76 to 84 million years ago during the
Late Cretaceous.[28] According to Mark W. Chase et al. (2001), the overall biogeography and
phylogenetic patterns of Orchidaceae show they are even older and may go back roughly 100 million
years.[29]

Using the molecular clock method, it was possible to determine the age of the major branches of the
orchid family. This also confirmed that the subfamily Vanilloideae is a branch at the basal dichotomy
of the monandrous orchids, and must have evolved very early in the evolution of the family. Since this
subfamily occurs worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, from tropical America to tropical
Asia, New Guinea and West Africa, and the continents began to split about 100 million years ago,
significant biotic exchange must have occurred after this split (since the age of Vanilla is estimated at
60 to 70 million years). Recent biogeographic studies conducted on densely sampled phylogenies
indicated that the most recent common ancestor of all extant orchids probably originated somewhere
83 million years ago in the supercontinent Laurasia.[30] Despite their long evolutionary history on
Earth, the extant orchid diversity is also inferred to have originated during the last 5 million years,[30]
with the American and Asian tropics as the geographic areas exhibiting the highest speciation rates
(i.e., number of speciation events per million years) on Earth.

Genome duplication occurred prior to the divergence of this taxon.[31]

Genera
There are around 800 genera of orchids. The following are amongst the most notable genera of the
orchid family:[32]
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Aa Bletilla Gymnadenia Pleurothallis

Abdominea Brassavola Habenaria Pomatocalpa
Acampe Brassia Herschelia Promenaea
Acanthophippium Bulbophyllum Ionopsis Pterostylis
Aceratorchis Calanthe Laelia Renanthera
Acianthus Calypso Lepanthes Restrepia
Acineta Catasetum Liparis Restrepiella
Acrorchis Cattleya Ludisia Rhynchostylis
Ada Chiloschista Lycaste Roezliella
Aerangis Cirrhopetalum Masdevallia Saccolabium
Aeranthes Cleisostoma Maxillaria Sarcochilus
Aerides Clowesia Meliorchis Satyrium
Aganisia Coelogyne Mexipedium Seidenfadenia
Agrostophyllum Coryanthes Miltonia Selenipedium
Anacamptis Cycnoches Mormodes Serapias
Ancistrochilus Cymbidium Odontoglossum Sobralia
Angraecum Cyrtopodium Oeceoclades Spiranthes
Anguloa Cypripedium Oncidium Stanhopea
Ansellia Dactylorhiza Ophrys Stelis
Aorchis Dendrobium Orchis Thrixspermum
Aplectrum Disa Paphiopedilum Tolumnia
Arachnis Dracula Papilionanthe Trias
Arethusa Encyclia Paraphalaenopsis Trichocentrum
Armodorum Epidendrum Peristeria Trichoglottis
Ascoglossum Epipactis Phaius Vanda
Australorchis Eria Phalaenopsis Vanilla
Auxopus Eulophia Pholidota Yoania
Barkeria Gastrochilus Phragmipedium Zeuxine
Bartholina Gongora Platanthera Zygopetalum
Beloglottis Goodyera Platystele
Biermannia Grammatophyllum Pleione

Etymology
The type genus (i.e. the genus after which the family is named) is Orchis. The genus name comes from
the Ancient Greek ὄρχις (órkhis), literally meaning "testicle", because of the shape of the twin tubers
in some species of Orchis.[33][34][35] The term "orchid" was introduced in 1845 by John Lindley in
School Botany,[36] as a shortened form of Orchidaceae.[37]

In Middle English, the name bollockwort was used for some orchids, based on "bollock" meaning
testicle and "wort" meaning plant.[38]

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Hybrids
Orchid species hybridize readily in cultivation, leading to a large number of hybrids with complex
naming. Hybridization is possible across genera, and therefore many cultivated orchids are placed
into nothogenera. For instance, the nothogenus × Brassocattleya is used for all hybrids of species
from the genera Brassavola and Cattleya. Nothogenera based on at least three genera may have
names based on a person's name with the suffix -ara, for instance × Colmanara = Miltonia ×
Odontoglossum × Oncidium. (The suffix is obligatory starting at four genera.[39])

Cultivated hybrids in the orchid family are also special in that they are named by using grex
nomenclature, rather than nothospecies. For instance, hybrids between Brassavola nodosa and
Brassavola acaulis are placed in the grex Brassavola Guiseppi.[40] The name of the grex ("Guiseppi"
in this example) is written in a non-italic font without quotes.[41]

Abbreviations
As a unique feature of the orchid family, a system of abbreviations exists that applies to names of
genera and nothogenera. The system is maintained by the Royal Horticultural Society.[42] These
abbreviations consist of at least one character, but may be longer. As opposed to the usual one-letter
abbreviations used for names of genera, orchid abbreviations uniquely determine the (notho)genus.
They are widely used in cultivation. Examples are Phal for Phalaenopsis, V for Vanda and Cleis for
Cleisostoma.

Distribution
Orchidaceae are cosmopolitan, occurring in almost every habitat apart from glaciers. The world's
richest diversity of orchid genera and species is found in the tropics, but they are also found above the
Arctic Circle, in southern Patagonia, and two species of Nematoceras on Macquarie Island at 54°
south.

The following list gives a rough overview of their distribution:

Oceania: 50 to 70 genera
North America: 20 to 26 genera
tropical America: 212 to 250 genera
tropical Asia: 260 to 300 genera
tropical Africa: 230 to 270 genera
Europe and temperate Asia: 40 to 60 genera

Ecology
A majority of orchids are perennial epiphytes, which grow anchored to trees or shrubs in the tropics
and subtropics. Species such as Angraecum sororium are lithophytes,[43] growing on rocks or very
rocky soil. Other orchids (including the majority of temperate Orchidaceae) are terrestrial and can be
found in habitat areas such as grasslands or forest.

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Some orchids, such as Neottia and Corallorhiza, lack chlorophyll, so are unable to photosynthesise.
Instead, these species obtain energy and nutrients by parasitising soil fungi through the formation of
orchid mycorrhizae. The fungi involved include those that form ectomycorrhizas with trees and other
woody plants, parasites such as Armillaria, and saprotrophs.[44] These orchids are known as myco-
heterotrophs, but were formerly (incorrectly) described as saprophytes as it was believed they gained
their nutrition by breaking down organic matter. While only a few species are achlorophyllous
holoparasites, all orchids are myco-heterotrophic during germination and seedling growth, and even
photosynthetic adult plants may continue to obtain carbon from their mycorrhizal fungi.[45][46] The
symbiosis is typically maintained throughout the lifetime of the orchid because they depend on the
fungus for nutrients, sugars and minerals.[47]

Uses

Perfumery
The scent of orchids is frequently analysed by perfumers (using
headspace technology and gas-liquid chromatography/mass
spectrometry) to identify potential fragrance chemicals.[48]

Horticulture
The other important use of orchids is their cultivation for the
enjoyment of the flowers. Most cultivated orchids are tropical or
subtropical, but quite a few that grow in colder climates can be found
on the market. Temperate species available at nurseries include
Ophrys apifera (bee orchid), Gymnadenia conopsea (fragrant orchid),
Anacamptis pyramidalis (pyramidal orchid) and Dactylorhiza fuchsii
(common spotted orchid). As decoration in a flowerpot

Orchids of all types have also often been sought by collectors of both
species and hybrids. Many hundreds of societies and clubs worldwide have been established. These
can be small, local clubs, or larger, national organisations such as the American Orchid Society. Both
serve to encourage cultivation and collection of orchids, but some go further by concentrating on
conservation or research.

The term "botanical orchid" loosely denotes those small-flowered, tropical orchids belonging to
several genera that do not fit into the "florist" orchid category. A few of these genera contain
enormous numbers of species. Some, such as Pleurothallis and Bulbophyllum, contain approximately
1700 and 2000 species, respectively, and are often extremely vegetatively diverse. The primary use of
the term is among orchid hobbyists wishing to describe unusual species they grow, though it is also
used to distinguish naturally occurring orchid species from horticulturally created hybrids.

New orchids are registered with the International Orchid Register, maintained by the Royal
Horticultural Society.[49] Several thousand new grexes are registered each year.[50]

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Food
The dried seed pods of one orchid genus, Vanilla (especially Vanilla
planifolia), are commercially important as a flavouring in baking, for
perfume manufacture and aromatherapy.

The underground tubers of terrestrial orchids [mainly Orchis mascula

(early purple orchid)] are ground to a powder and used for cooking,
such as in the hot beverage salep or in the Turkish mastic ice cream
dondurma. The name salep has been claimed to come from the Arabic
expression ḥasyu al-tha‘lab, "fox testicles", but it appears more likely
the name comes directly from the Arabic name saḥlab. The similarity
in appearance to testes naturally accounts for salep being considered
an aphrodisiac. A × Brassolaeliocattleya
("BLC") Paradise Jewel 'Flame'
The dried leaves of Jumellea fragrans are used to flavour rum on hybrid orchid. Blooms of the
Reunion Island. Cattleya alliance are often
used in ladies' corsages.
Some saprophytic orchid species of the group Gastrodia produce
potato-like tubers and were consumed as food by native
peoples in Australia and can be successfully cultivated,
notably Gastrodia sesamoides. Wild stands of these plants
can still be found in the same areas as early Aboriginal
settlements, such as Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in
Australia. Aboriginal peoples located the plants in habitat by
observing where bandicoots had scratched in search of the
tubers after detecting the plants underground by scent.[note 1]

Cultural symbolism Vanilla fruit drying

Orchids have many associations with symbolic values. For

example, the orchid is the City Flower of Shaoxing, China. Cattleya mossiae is the national
Venezuelan flower, while Cattleya trianae is the national flower of Colombia. Vanda Miss Joaquim is
the national flower of Singapore, Guarianthe skinneri is the national flower of Costa Rica and
Rhyncholaelia digbyana is the national flower of Honduras.[52] Prosthechea cochleata is the national
flower of Belize, where it is known as the black orchid.[53] Lycaste skinneri has a white variety (alba)
that is the national flower of Guatemala, commonly known as Monja Blanca (White Nun). Panama's
national flower is the Holy Ghost orchid (Peristeria elata), or 'the flor del Espiritu Santo'.
Rhynchostylis retusa is the state flower of the Indian state of Assam where it is known as Kopou
Phul.[54]

Orchids native to the Mediterranean are depicted on the Ara Pacis in Rome, until now the only known
instance of orchids in ancient art, and the earliest in European art.[note 2] A French writer and
agronomist, Louis Liger, invented a classical myth in his book Le Jardinier Fleuriste et
Historiographe published in 1704, attributing it to the ancient Greeks and Romans, in which Orchis
the son of a nymph and a satyr rapes a priestess of Bacchus during one of his festivals the Bacchanalia
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and is then killed and transformed into an orchid flower as punishment by the gods, paralleling the
various myths of youths dying and becoming flowers, like Adonis and Narcissus; this myth however
does not appear any earlier than Liger, and is not part of traditional Greek and Roman
mythologies.[56]

Some cultivars

Cattleya Mrs. Cattleya Queen Cattleya Hawaiian Rhyncholaeliocattl

Mahler 'Mem. Fred Sirikit 'Diamond Wedding Song eya Chia Lin
Tompkins' Crown' 'Virgin'

Cattleya Hawaiian Cattlianthe Cattleya Cattlianthe Cattleya mossiae

Variable 'Prasan' Barbara Belle Beaumes Chocolate Drop x 'Empress
nil Cattleya Pão de Frederick'
'Parme' Açúcar

'Hermine' Cattleya Little Cattleya Marjorie 'Miva Rhyncholaeliocat Cattleya

Angel Hausermann 'York' Breeze tleya 'Nobile's Pernel
Alize' carnival' George
Barnett
'Yankee
Clipper'

Cattlianthe
Portia

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Conservation
Almost all orchids are included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES), meaning that international trade (including in their parts/derivatives)
is regulated by the CITES permit system.[57] A smaller number of orchids such as Paphiopedilum sp.
are listed in CITES Appendix I meaning that commercial international trade in wild-sourced
specimens is prohibited and all other trade is strictly controlled.[57]

Assisted migration as conservation tool

In 2006 the Longtan Dam was constructed at the Hongshui River, near the Yachang Orchid Nature
Reserve. In response to threats of inundation of wild orchids at lower altitudes (350–400 m above sea
level), 1000 endangered orchid plants of 16 genera and 29 species were translocated to higher
elevation (approximately 1000 m above sea level). After relocation the 5 year survival of low and wide
elevation species did not significantly differ and the mortality due to transplant shock was at only
10%. From this it was concluded that assisted migration might be a viable conservation tool for orchid
species endangered by climate change.[58]

Toxicity
Plants in the genus Phalaenopsis are not toxic to pets, according to the American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.[59]

See also
Adaptation (film), based on The Orchid Thief
Orchid Conservation Coalition
Orchid Pavilion Gathering
Orchidelirium, the Victorian era of flower madness in which collecting and discovering orchids
reached extraordinary levels
Orchids of the Philippines
Orchids of Western Australia
Shangsi Festival
Black rot on orchids
List of taxa named after human genitals

Notes
1. Early western district (Vic.) settler gives account of local Aboriginal people gathering potato orchid
tubers, digging where bandicoots had scratched.[51]
2. The symbolic (or even religious) meaning of the Ara Pacis orchids is not yet known.[55]

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Documentaries
2017: Hidden Beauty – The Orchids of the Saale Valley, directed by David Cebulla
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchid 19/20
7/24/25, 6:16 PM Orchid - Wikipedia

External links
Orchidaceae (http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/orders/asparagalesweb.htm#Orchi
daceae) at the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website (http://www.mobot.org/mobot/research/apweb/)
Orchidaceae (http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=161) at the
online Flora of Zimbabwe (http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/index.php)
Orchidaceae (http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/22787) at the online Flora of the
Western Australian (http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/)
Orchidaceae (http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/Taxon.aspx?id=_5200364d-6ee3-40
d1-9031-4539ee3c4a22&fileName=Flora%202.xml) at the online Flora of New Zealand (http://flora
series.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/index.aspx)
The Global Orchid Information Network (http://www.epidendra.org/)
Orchid Conservation Coalition (http://www.orchidconservationcoalition.org/)
"Orchids" (https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Orchids).
Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 170–172.

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