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Major Groups, Families and Genera
Orchidaceae
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an orchid?
What should I do if I find an orchid in the wild?
Are there any orchids that are native to Britain &
Ireland?
Which is the largest orchid?
Which is the smallest orchid?
Which is the largest genus of orchids?
How can I get my orchid house-plant to re-flower?
Why is my orchid house-plant dying?
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| Eulophia zeyheri Hook.f. |
Q. What is an orchid?
A. All orchids have protocorms, and these are not found
in any other family. A protocorm is the structure formed after the germination
of the seed and before the development of the seedling plant. The protocorm
has no radicle and instead has mycotrophic tissue (and hence differs from
other flowering plant seedlings).
Other important characters shared by most orchids include:
* The fusion of the male and female organs into a single structure, called
the column.
* They have large numbers of small seeds per ovary.
* Stamens are found on the abaxial side of the flower (the side facing
downwards/away from the stem).
* The lip/labellum (a modified petal) occurs opposite the fertile stamen(s).
* Flowers are often resupinate (have twisted through 180° during development).
* Pollen is usually bound together to form large masses (called pollinia).
More details on 'What is an orchid?'
Q. What should I do if I find an orchid in
the wild?
A. You should leave it alone (NEVER pick wild orchids). If you think it
may be rare then get in contact with your local wildlife trust (see www.wildlifetrusts.org
for the UK).
Q. Are there any orchids that are native
to Britain & Ireland?
A. Yes, there are 46 species of orchids that are thought to be fully resident
in Britain & Ireland. These include the rare lady’s slipper
orchid and lizard orchid, as well as more common species such as the bee
orchid, which can be found in most counties of England and Wales.
Q. Which is the largest orchid?
A. The largest orchids are probably vanillas, which are lianas that reach
into the crowns of rain-forests trees and may be 20 metres or more in
length. Some tropical orchids also form very large clumps on rocks or
in trees. Grammatophyllum speciosum plants of several hundred
kilograms have been reported from Southeast Asia.
Q. Which is the smallest orchid?
A. The smallest orchid is thought to be Bulbophyllum minutissimum
which is 3-4 mm tall, but many other orchids approach it in size.
Q. Which is the largest genus of orchids?
A. Bulbophyllum is probably the largest orchid genus. It currently
includes about 1800 accepted species.
Q. How can I get my orchid house-plant
to re-flower?
A. This will depend on the type of orchid that you are growing, but it
is worth bearing in mind that many orchids need a 5-10°C drop in temperature
at night to initiate flowering.
For further information on growing orchids see the Royal Horticultural
Society’s Help & Advice Pages:
Growing
orchids - Cymbidium and Phalaenopsis
Growing
orchids - Odontoglossum and Paphiopedilum
Q. Why is my orchid house-plant dying?
A. There could be many reasons for this, but one of the most common problems
is over-watering.
For further information on growing orchids see the Royal Horticultural
Society’s Help & Advice Pages:
Growing
orchids - Cymbidium and Phalaenopsis
Growing
orchids - Odontoglossum and Paphiopedilum