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| General
information about Orchids |
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The
orchid is probably the largest plant family. Orchids grow in
many different countries and most species are found in tropical
rainforests.
There are over 40.000 different varieties. They grow in the
strangest places, for example nestled in tree knots, in rock
crevices and on cactus stalks. One finds varieties that grow
against tree trunks in the misty forests of Brazil with their
roots in the open air and there are varieties, which are only
found in the hilly areas of Asia.
In the 18th century the tropical varieties were introduced to
Europe and people started collecting them because of their intriguing
flowers and the fascinating range of shapes and colours. The
orchid is the queen of flowering plants. For this reason passing
butterflies and humming-birds were tempted to pollinate the
flowers. Butterflies and hummingbirds carry the pollen from
flower to flower. After pollination a capsule is formed which
can contain as many as 30.000 seeds. The seed is the size of
a dust particle. After a gestation period of about 10 months,
the seeds are dispersed by the wind into the atmosphere.
The orchid grows in two ways: monopodial en sympodial.
The monopodial growth process; the orchids have a central upwards
growing stalk with flowers, e.g. Phalaenopsis. |
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The
sympodial growth process; the orchids have a rootstalk
with a new bud on one side. This bud develops into
a shoot. The flower stalk arises from the shoot,
ex. cymbidium, oncidium and the miltoniat. |
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| Epiphytes |
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Plants
that live on other plants are called epiphytes. Epiphytes unlike
parasites do not live off of the host plant. They attach themselves
to a tree and feed from the rain that washes tree trunk. They
don’t take away any food from the host plants as, parasites
do. The most popular/known orchid, the Phalaenopsis is an example
of an epiphytic growing orchid. The Cattleya and Vanda are also
epiphytes. There are also orchids, which grow on the bottom
of the rainforest. These are known as terrestrial growing orchids.
They live mostly in the shade of trees. There are also varieties
that grow in open areas and get more light. Since orchids grow
in so many different places and under such varied circumstances
it is impossible to give them a standard form of care. The light
intensity to which the leaves/petals of an orchid are exposed
is of great importance to the food production in the leaf, and
therefore for its growth and development, which is aided by
the enzyme, chlorophyll. This process is especially effective
in the morning. The temperature is another very important factor.
Any cooling of the warm leaf results in evaporation of the water
in the leaf. The plants and its roots cannot compensate for
excessive evaporation resulting in a wilting plant.
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| Botanicial
species |
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Already
at the beginning of the 20th century, orchids were being imported
for botanical gardens, universities and private collections.
Knowledge of orchid cultivation has developed slowly. Through
the creation of hybrids, a variety of Botanical sorts have arisen
which feel comfortable in every home. From a wide range of varieties,
Euroorchid has selected a few sorts, which are suitable for
your window seats, offices, hotels or as a gift.
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