Most orchids come from tropical rainforests but there are some temperate species as well. Appearance and Characteristics Orchids are perennial herbs that grow as epiphytes or from rhizomes or tubers. Orchids are divided into two main groups – monopodial and sympodial.
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae ( / ɔːrkəˈdeɪʃiː / or-kə-DAY-shee[citation needed] ), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering plants.
The colorful orchid tree, which comes from the Fabaceae family, has several common names. This semi-deciduous tree grows best in subtropical and tropical areas, but it can recover from winter frost and drought. More than 200 varieties of orchid tree species exist under the genus Bauhinia.
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.
Can orchids grow in temperate zones?
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).
Our answer is that many species of orchids are epiphytic plants —they grow on the surface of other plants and absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. Potted orchids are often moved outdoors during the appropriate months, and many will thrive in bright shade until its time to bring them back indoors.
Can you self pollinate an orchid?
The answer for orchids in general is “sometimes”. Many species can be self pollinated and you will frequently see seedlings identified as selfings eg. Dendrobium spectabile x self. Other species will not self pollinate. Good examples of species that rarely self pollinate are any Dendrobiums in the Oxyglossum section.
Is the Saint orchid an edible plant?
Most studies have shown that the flowers and leaves are non- poisonous. Some Orchids are edible and not many people know that vanilla bean is also an Orchid. However, there are some species that may cause rashes, skin irritation, and sickness in pets. The potting media used for growing Orchids can be poisonous.
Is a succulent a monocot or dicot?
This confirms that succulents are dicots because the sprout has two baby petals instead of one. Is Cactus a rhizome? Most Cacti have fibre-like root system which spread on in the vicinity of the plant, that is, not penetrate deep into the soil.