Orchids 101

By William Berg

Orchids are flowering plants belonging to the family Orchidaceae in the order
Asparagales. Orchidaceae is a remarkably diverse family that contains over 25,000
recognized species divided into more than 800 different genera. Five subfamilies are used
- Apostasioideae, Cypripedioideae, Epidendroideae, Orchidoideae and Vanilloideae.The
classification of orchids varies among botanists, and there might actually be up to 30,000
described species of orchids. One of the most recognized authorities on the subject, the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, includes around 24,000 species in their official list of
known orchids. To this we can add more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars that have
been produced by man. Future research utilizing genetic testing is believed to lead to
significant revisions within the family Orchidaceae.

The name orchid is derived from the Greek name for testicle – orchis. The subterranean
tuberoids found on orchids from the genus Orchis look a bit similar to a human testicle.
The first known use of the word is from the book De historia plantarum (The natural
history of plants) which was written by Theophrastos. Theophrastos lived from
approximately 372 to 287 B.C. and was educated by Aristotle. Theophrastos is considered
to be the father of botany as well as of ecology.

Wild Orchids can be found all over the world in a wide range of different habitats, with
the exception of desert environments and the harsh Antarctic continent. You can find
orchid species on the Macquarie Island near Antarctica, and on the opposite side of the
planet orchids are growing above the Arctic Circle. You will however encounter the
greatest selection of orchids in tropical regions in Asia and South and Central America.

Around 300-350 of the recognized orchid genera are native tropical America. Tropical
Asia is home to at least 250-300 genera, and tropical Africa has approximately 125-150
orchid genera. Oceania has 50-70 recognized orchid genera, Eurasia 40-60 genera and
North America 20-30 known genera.

Orchids are often divided into four broad groups depending on how they retrieve their
nutrients.
1.) Epiphytes anchor themselves on other plants, but they are not parasites. The orchids
found in this group use photosynthesis to utilize energy from the sun. They are sometimes
called “air plants” since they will not root in soil. A majority of the orchid species are
epiphytes.

2.) Lithophytes are similar to epiphytes, but instead of anchoring themselves to other
plants the lithophytes grow on rocks and rocky soil. They derive nutrients from rain
water, litter, humus and similar sources and can break down and re-use their own dead
tissue.

3.) Terrestrial orchids will root in soil or in pockets of loose substrate located above
ground. They will retrieve nutrients from the soil/substrate in which they grow and this
type of orchid is very common in temperate regions.

4.) Myco-heterotrophs have no chlorophyll of their own and will instead form
ectomycorrhizal relationships with soil fungi that feed on decaying plant matter, e.g.
fallen leaves. Earlier, the orchids in this group used to be known as saprophytes.

Most orchid species are listed under Appendix II in the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), but some have been
placed in Appendix I. Appendix I contains species that are considered threatened with
extinction of trade is not haltered. Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily
threatened with extinction right now, but which may become so if they remain completely
unlisted. Examples of orchid species listed in Appendix I are the orchids in the genera
Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium. When an orchid is listed in Appendix I, it is illegal
to trade wild-caught specimens of that species unless you obtain a special license. These
licences are only issued in exceptional cases. Cultivated specimens are legal to trade, but
a non-detriment finding and an export permit is necessary if you want to export the
orchids.

The author of this article writes for a number of flower sites including sunflower guide
and the meaning of roses.

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