Orchid leaves and flowers are very good scent imitators
Most orchids have smooth-edged leaves which have parallel veins. There can be small or very large (reaching 3 feet across). Due to their adopting nature orchids have numerous different leaves. Some have broad leave while others have narrow ones.
Some have hard paper thin leaves and others have flesh soft leaves. By inspecting the leave colour a botanist can identify were the orchid originated from. Dark green leaves means tat the orchid originated from places with poor light while fresh green or grey leaves show that the orchid comes from sunny conditions.
Orchid leaves are normally striped and have a checkered pattern.
The orchid flower
There come in various shapes, patterns, colours, structures and scents. Some are minute (pin-head-size) while others are humongous. Some orchid species only develop single flowers wile some develop inflorescences (with more than one flower)
Orchids are perhaps one of the most interestingly scented flowers in the world. They have a pleasant aroma which they use to attract pollinating inserts. Orchids have the unique ability to change their scent in order to attract a particular type of pollinator.
Philaenopsis smells of lily-of-the valley during the day and smells of roses in the night. Orchids are very good scent imitators some being able to produce scents of spices, leather and honey. Some orchids smell like rotting meat to attract flesh flies.
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The structure of an orchid flower
The common structure is 6 symmetrically arranged coloured petals. The flower consists of
- 3 outer sepals
- 2 inner petals
A coloured lip ( labellum) shaped like a small pouch in flowers that have 2 fertile stamen. In flowers with 1 fertile stamen it is shaped like a funnel or pipe.
A column in the centre of the flower. Its finger shaped and contains both male and female reproductive organs.
Orchid pollination and seed production
Orchids rely mostly on inserts for pollination although they are not restricted to these alone. Snails, bats and humming birds all assist and orchids are perfectly adapted to attract them. The orchids are constructed in a manner which discourages auto-pollination and self-pollination.
The flower lip looks and smells like the female partner of a pollinating insect. This special adaptation attracts the male insert and helps to pollinate the plant. After successful pollination takes place the petals wither and the ovary starts to swell, ripen and develops seed capsules. The capsules house thousands of power-like seeds which are very light (2 seed weigh a millionth of a gram)
When the seeds are ripe the capsule burst open and the seeds are gracefully scattered away by the wind.
Are orchids toxic?
Orchids are generally not known to have any toxins but it is recommended to keep them away from children and pests as the matter is still under investigation. Some orchids produce scents that cause headaches in sensitive people. The hairy leaves of Cypripedium pubescent cause skin infections. Handle orchids with gloves at all times.
Origin of orchid names
Wild tropical v names are derived from the genus name for example Paphiopedilum , the species name which specifies certain features such as collosum with calluses and niveum snow white.
Orchids were named after the first person to have discovered them. Species such as Rchb.f. for Reichenbach filius. They are also named according to subspecies and variety (var.) eg Paphiopedilum primulinum var. purpurescens.