While orchid plants themselves are extremely varied, in their flowers they know no bounds in terms of variation in structure and colour. The flowers are so diverse and often incredibly beautiful, in stark contrast to what some see as distinctly unattractive plants. Many people are amazed that such beautiful flowers can come from what they consider to be untidy or ugly plants, though to the true enthusiast, most orchid plants are handsome.
Not all orchid blooms can be described as beautiful, however. While the most favoured and widely grown orchids are undeniably lovely, there are many whose flowers are curious, strange and even grotesque in appearance. The genus containing the greatest number of species is Bulbophyllum, but, among its thousand or so species, there are very few that could be described as pretty. While all orchids conform to one basic design, this has been duplicated and modified a thousand times, each variation designed to suit one orchid's particular habitat or way of growing.
One part of the flower has always become much exaggerated, with petals or lip dominating the flower. All these modifications have evolved to attract a specific pollinator, and to do this some orchids have gone to extraordinary lengths.
Cymbidiurn species from vastly different parts of the world, thousands of miles apart, will cross:breed, pointing to a close relationship between them that has endured despite a long separation from a common ancestor. Cymbidium devonianum, which originates from the Himalayas can be crossed with C. madidum from northern Australia; the resulting hybrid produces blooms that are midway between the species. Among the slipper orchids, the paphiopedilums and phragmipediums appear similar. Hybridizing among the former has produced some fantastic results. However, there are no crosses with the South American phragmipediums.
At the centre are a number of ridges that guide the insect to the bloom. These are usually bright yellow and are called the honey guides. Above the lip is the column - a single, finger-like structure containing the reproductive parts of the flower. The pollen is found at the end dorsal sepal of the column, usually in two, four or six masses. These pollen masses contain the pollen grains, or pollinia, which, unlike other flowers, are not in a powder form. "l'hey are held at the end of the column under a protective cap called the anther.
The pollen masses are golden yellow and attached to a viscid disc by two thin threads. As an insect emerges from a flower, the sticky pad attached to the pollinia adheres to its head or thorax. The anther falls away as the insect flies off, carrying the pollinia to the next bloom.
The spectacular vandas from Southeast Asia appear, at first glance, to be compatible with the vast number of angraecoid orchids from Africa and Madagascar. The foliage of Angraecum sesquipedale, for example, resembles that of the vandas more closely than those other monopodials, the phalaenopsis. However, the vandas are closer in evolutionary terms to the phalaenopsis, and these two will hybridize, along with many others that make up this alliance but that look totally different.
Be aware of those places that could be harmful to orchids. Do not stand the plants directly in front of, or above, an open fire, where they will quickly succumb to overheating and dehydration. Remember that appliances such as the fridge in the kitchen and the television in the living room both give out warmth when working, which is harmful to orchids placed nearby. Also, avoid any area where the plants will be in a draught (draft) from an open doorway or other source of cold air. Finally, wherever you place your orchids, take care to prevent them being knocked over or damaged by pets or children.
Not all orchid blooms can be described as beautiful, however. While the most favoured and widely grown orchids are undeniably lovely, there are many whose flowers are curious, strange and even grotesque in appearance. The genus containing the greatest number of species is Bulbophyllum, but, among its thousand or so species, there are very few that could be described as pretty. While all orchids conform to one basic design, this has been duplicated and modified a thousand times, each variation designed to suit one orchid's particular habitat or way of growing.
One part of the flower has always become much exaggerated, with petals or lip dominating the flower. All these modifications have evolved to attract a specific pollinator, and to do this some orchids have gone to extraordinary lengths.
Cymbidiurn species from vastly different parts of the world, thousands of miles apart, will cross:breed, pointing to a close relationship between them that has endured despite a long separation from a common ancestor. Cymbidium devonianum, which originates from the Himalayas can be crossed with C. madidum from northern Australia; the resulting hybrid produces blooms that are midway between the species. Among the slipper orchids, the paphiopedilums and phragmipediums appear similar. Hybridizing among the former has produced some fantastic results. However, there are no crosses with the South American phragmipediums.
At the centre are a number of ridges that guide the insect to the bloom. These are usually bright yellow and are called the honey guides. Above the lip is the column - a single, finger-like structure containing the reproductive parts of the flower. The pollen is found at the end dorsal sepal of the column, usually in two, four or six masses. These pollen masses contain the pollen grains, or pollinia, which, unlike other flowers, are not in a powder form. "l'hey are held at the end of the column under a protective cap called the anther.
The pollen masses are golden yellow and attached to a viscid disc by two thin threads. As an insect emerges from a flower, the sticky pad attached to the pollinia adheres to its head or thorax. The anther falls away as the insect flies off, carrying the pollinia to the next bloom.
The spectacular vandas from Southeast Asia appear, at first glance, to be compatible with the vast number of angraecoid orchids from Africa and Madagascar. The foliage of Angraecum sesquipedale, for example, resembles that of the vandas more closely than those other monopodials, the phalaenopsis. However, the vandas are closer in evolutionary terms to the phalaenopsis, and these two will hybridize, along with many others that make up this alliance but that look totally different.
Be aware of those places that could be harmful to orchids. Do not stand the plants directly in front of, or above, an open fire, where they will quickly succumb to overheating and dehydration. Remember that appliances such as the fridge in the kitchen and the television in the living room both give out warmth when working, which is harmful to orchids placed nearby. Also, avoid any area where the plants will be in a draught (draft) from an open doorway or other source of cold air. Finally, wherever you place your orchids, take care to prevent them being knocked over or damaged by pets or children.
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