Orchid is the popular name for any plant of the family Orchidaceae. They are found in temperate and tropical regions and have showy flowers with three sepals and three petals, of which the lower one is usually larger, wider and more brightly coloured than the others and is known as the labellum. Orchids occur all over the world, but are most common in tropical countries. In temperate regions orchids are generally terrestrial, while thousands of tropical species are epiphytic, growing upon branches of jungle undergrowth and trees, without being parasitic. Almost all orchids are specially modified for insect fertilization, most interesting being the arrangement of pollen in club-shaped pollen masses or pollinia, which become glued to the head of any insect seeking the flower's nectar, and are so borne to other flowers.
Orchids are extensively cultivated for the variety and beauty of shape and colour from several species of orchids salep is prepared, and vanilla from unripe fruit of the species Vanilla planifolia. Research Orchid
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Nature
Research Orchid
