A Biology Lesson on Orchids

Ever wonder what all those "orchid parts" are? Even though there are over 20,000 species of orchids in the wild (and up to 100,000 hybrids) they share common characteristics that makes it an orchid. Otherwise it would be a rose, which "by any other name smells as sweet" :)

Orchids have male and female parts like most all living things do, but orchids combine both into one called the "Column". Inside this column are the female parts. The male part, or the "pollinia" is located under the "anther cap" where the sticky pollen resides.

Around that "column" of male and female parts, grow the sepals and petals - those showy parts of the flower. They are similar but not the same. There are three (3) sepals on an orchid flower - 2 lateral (to the side) and one dorsal . The dorsal sepal is larger that the two lateral ones

The petals of the orchids are always a trio, never more than three and never less than three. The size of petals on the orchid varies with the species to very very large, to tiny like on the minature varies.

Two of these petals will be flat or slightly rounded ovals. The third larger one is called the "Lip" where pollination occurs - the landing stipe for the suitors :) like

• Bees
• Birds
• Butterflies
• Flies
• Bats
• more..

This "lip" can be tube-shaped and hold nectar at the base. This type of lip is called a "spur". Pollen is carried from this "landing strip lip" on the insects body parts to the next orchid flower.

Moving on to the stem which support the flower and the unusual root structure of the orchid...orchids grow in anything BUT soil. Orchid Roots cabe be

• Tree clingers or "epiphytes"
• Rock clingers or "lithophytes"
• sand clingers or "terrestrials"
• other media clingers or "saprophytes"

Roots are usually exposed which gives access to water, air and fertilizer in the way of bird droppings!

These clever orchids have many such unique adaptations that make it so interesting. And there you have the very basic anatomy course on the orchid plant.