So what is an orchid

[Apteryx]

I grow them, but I don't know what actually differentiates them from other flora. Can anyone smart help?

[Stelios]

Well i am not a biologist nor a votanist and if smart that's a think for others to judge. However i am definatelly familiar with mythology so i will provide a mythological explanation of what Orchids are according to my ancestors

According to Greek mythology Orchis was the son of a nymph and a satyr. During some ritual celebrations he commited sacreledge by trying to rape a priestess. His punishments was to be eaten by wild beasts and to be transformed to a frail and modest plant.
Theophrastos was the first from the ancients writers that mentiond Orchids. He gave them the name orchis scientifically by reflecting the ressemblance of their root with male reproductive organs (named Orchis in Greek even in modern days) that were the cause of the troubles of Orchis (the attempted rapist that was punished).

In ancient Greece it was believed that the sex of an unborn child could be affected by eating the bulbs from the roots of an Orchid. If the father ate big oung bulbs the child would be male, if the mother ate small ones the child would be female.

[Hummer344]

The genus Orcidaceae(sp) is the largest in the world. With the exception of AntArtica, native species are found on every continent. According to the last count I saw, there are over 30k indentified native species. I don't think anyone knows how many there are since cross polination started. One could only imagine. I am sure that another one of us geeks will have an answer to that question.

[patticake]

I believe what sets them apart is the column. They're the only genus with that type of reproductive system.

[Ron]

Hi
Thanks Patti.
My attempt would be to say "An orchid is any highly priced plant with a lovely bloom"

Ron

[patticake]

Originally Posted by Ron

Hi
Thanks Patti.
My attempt would be to say "An orchid is any highly priced plant with a lovely bloom"

Ron

That's a good one, Ron!!

[brookn]

My attempt would be to say "An orchid is any highly priced plant with a lovely bloom"

Ron

Good answer!

[LouisW]

Exellent question Apteryx! This is a great subject for us to talk about on geeks because the question is so difficult that it can be hard to get a good answer even from someone very knowledgeable about their care. Almost all descriptions of what an orchid is will contain some "most"s and some "some"s but your question requires an "ALL", its a good challenge.

Heres what I know:

Flowers:
-ALL orchids have three petals, two sepals (monanderous: Phrags, Paphs) or three sepals (dianderous: most other orchids fall into this category), and a column(these structures are sometimes difficult to recognize but a trained eye can pick them out)
-ALL orchids have modified sex organs in a structure called the column (most have both male and female parts both in the column, few have seperate male flowers and female flowers)No other plant has this structure, it sets orchids apart.

Plant:
This part of identifying an orchid is much less talked about but much more useful in the field because plants often aren't in bloom but I want to see them anyways (because i like the plants too). In this part it is particularly hard to avoid "Some"s.

ALL Orchids have parallel veins on their leaves.

Oh and one other thing.

Im pretty sure all orchids have microscopic seed that contains no stored nutrients which is why they are so hard to germinate.

Here are some other not so strong facts
Most orchids have water/nutrient storage structures(either psudobulbs or fleshy leaves)
Many orchids are epiphitic: they live on other plants(most tropical species)
Many are terrestrial: they live in the soil.
Many are lithophitic: they live on rock.

Anyone care to add?

[lmartiny]

Ron, Funny

[violetta]

I would add the fact that they are sooo slow growing!

[kid a]

I would say that it is the seeds, anatomy, and variety in the flower shapes that makes orchids orchids lol. I know that is very vaugue lol. But not all orchids are slow growing. Some can grow pretty fast depending on the conditions and how it is grown. Some grow slower than other for sure though lol.

[kmarch]

The defining characteristic that makes na orchid an orchid is that the reproductive organs typically found in flowers (pistil & stamen) are fused together into one structure called the column.

Neither parallel veins (no plant veins are perfectly parallel but if parallel in this instance means running side by side, this characterist is is not unique to orchids) nor petal structure is definitive although many (most?) orchids have a third petal that is morphed into a lapellum or pouch (some don't though).