Orchid Flowers

The orchid is a very exotic and elaborate flower studied widely throughout the world. Its technical name in the plant kingdom is orchidaceae and it is the largest family in the angiospermae class, or, in other words, the class of flowering plants.

This family of plants is so large that it may have over 25,000 species of orchid flowers but because of some disputes among those that study in this field there are officially only 22,000. To put this in perspective, there are four times as many orchid species than there are species of mammals on the earth. As you can see, the orchid can be very intricate and vast, as the study of it can also be.

Orchids can be found growing in almost any climate or environment, with the exception of a place extremely hot and dry like a dessert or the other extreme of frozen ice caps. Although orchidaceae, as a family, can grow just about anywhere, each species has a particular environment that it will thrive in specifically, and it may not flourish, or even survive in its sister species’ climate. This is one of the many things that make the orchid so very complex.

The art of identifying the orchid can also be very detailed, but one who knows the specifics will be able to label it just by viewing or studying certain features on the flower that is produced by the plant. Another identifier is the many, many microscopic seeds that the orchid flowers hold. The leaves and root systems vary according to the different species and climate it is grown in, but there are some characteristics that may be present in almost all orchids. For example, an orchid grown in a dry , sun rich place may have thick waxy leaves while one grown in a shady moist environment will probably have long thin leaves, but both of these different species will likely have the parallel veins that are common to the leaves of the orchid. The orchid flowers are also known for their varying forms and appearance. Some plants have only one and others have many, and yet those who study the flower have certain attributes that are tell tale signs of its genus.

The orchid is no simple flower. Its is greatly unique in its look as well as its science. Care should be taken when handling, planting, and even studying this vast plant family. We want to be able to enjoy the beauty of this exotic plant and the natural beauty of the orchid flowers for years and years to come.