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Orchids are beautiful plants, and they can brighten up any room with their graceful stems and bright, colorful flowers. According to the American Orchid Society (AOS), phalaenopsis orchids are the most popular for indoor growing, although there are nearly 20,000 recorded species of orchids around the world. Taking care of your... more »
The phalaenopsis orchid is one of the easiest orchids to grow in the home. It is also one of the most beautiful. Its impressive blooms were originally thought resemble moths, and thanks to the diligence of breeders around the world, these orchids are available in many colors. Phalaenopsis orchids enjoy a location that offers bright,... more »
In nature, orchids obtain nutrients from organic debris that collects around their roots. Orchids will grow best if you follow this process by fertilizing them often. There are many types of fertilizers available that are convenient to use and will keep your orchids healthy and beautiful. The following article discusses how to... more »
Orchids are tropical plants that for the most part grow on trees in the rain forests. They are called "epiphytes," which means they attach themselves to another plant instead of growing out of the ground. They use the other plant, mostly trees in the case of the orchid, for structural purposes but not for nutrients. They get the... more »
The orchid (Orchidaceae) is the most diverse family of plants. According to Paul Thomas of the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, more than 28,000 species of orchid are known to exist. They are the fastest changing group of plants and more new species of orchid have been discovered than any... more »
Container gardens add color to your patio or sunroom and can include just about any kind of...
Creating a garden filled with plants and flowers from exotic bulbs like amaryllis and oxalis may...
Spring, summer, and fall flowers grow from bulbs that you can plant in containers or in your...
Choose an orchid that is already a mature plant with blossoms. You want to be able to see what type of plant you will be growing. Mature orchids... more »
Orchids have long been considered exotic and mysterious, but many of them are easy to maintain as houseplants. Some of the best orchids for home... more »
Orchids are well known for their beauty, which may explain the myth surrounding their growth requirements. Because of their exquisite appearance,... more »
Orchids are beautiful flowers and they can be very satisfying to grow at home. Many people are intimidated by the thought of caring for, and... more »
In the wild, orchids grow on trees, at the base of trees or on rocks. Because of their unique native environments, orchids require different... more »
Orchids are a finicky but beautiful and diverse flowering plant. If you've never cared for an orchid be prepared for a little more trial and... more »
With thousands of species growing on every continent except Antarctica, orchids are characterized by their stunning blooms. Though notoriously... more »
One of the only orchids grown for its foliage rather than the flower, although the flowers are beautiful, Jewel Orchids are not as difficult to... more »
Although orchids are highly-adaptable plants, they can be tricky to raise because they need the proper combination of light, moisture and... more »
While many orchids have a reputation for being quite finicky and hard to grow, Phalaenopsis orchids are the exception to the rule. When it comes... more »
The key to growing beautiful, healthy and thriving orchids requires keeping the root system fresh and clean. Trimming the roots and cleaning the... more »
Phalaenopsis orchid, commonly known as moth orchid, is the easiest orchid to grow at home. This variety has a bloom time range of up to nine... more »
Orchids are beautiful flowers but can be difficult to get them to bloom time and again. More than one orchid has been purchased with the... more »
image_caption Color plate from [[Ernst Haeckels regnum [[Plantae
|unranked_divisio unranked_classis [[Monocots
|ordo familia_authority [[Antoine Laurent de Jussieu|Juss.
|subdivision_ranks Subfamilies
|subdivision * Apostasioideae
* Cypripedioideae
* Epidendroideae
* Orchidoideae
* Vanilloideae
|range_map Orchidaceae.png
|range_map_caption Distribution range of family Orchidaceae
}}
Orchidaceae, the Orchid family, is the largest family of the flowering plants (Angiospermae). Its name is derived from the genus Orchis.
The Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew list 880 genera and nearly 22,000 accepted species, but the exact number is unknown (perhaps as many as 25,000) because of taxonomic disputes. The number of orchid species equals about four times the number of mammal species, or more than twice the number of bird species. It also encompasses about 6–11% of all seed plants. About 800 new orchid species are added each year. The largest genera are Bulbophyllum (2,000 species), Epidendrum (1,500 species), Dendrobium (1,400 species) and Pleurothallis (1,000 species). The family also includes the Vanilla (the genus of the vanilla plant), Orchis (type genus) and many commonly cultivated plants like some Phalaenopsis or Cattleya.
Moreover, since the introduction of tropical species in the 19th century, horticulturists have produced more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars.
The complex mechanisms which orchids evolve to achieve cross-pollination were investigated by Charles Darwin and described in his 1862 book Fertilisation of Orchids.
Distribution
Orchidaceae are cosmopolitan, occurring in almost every habitat apart from deserts and glaciers. The great majority are to be found in the tropics, mostly Asia, South America and Central America, but they are also found above the Arctic Circle, in southern Patagonia and even on Macquarie Island, close to Antarctica.
The following list give read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchidaceae
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