Orchids

Plant profiles

The 25,000 or so species from this diverse family occupy habitats from the Equator north and south to the edge of the polar regions. Many have complex flowers, which attract highly specific insect pollinators. Their light airborne seeds need to encounter a fungal partner in order to germinate. Tragically, another feature shared by many is their proximity to extinction in their wild habitats.

Of all the ground-living orchids, one of the most spectacular is the lady's slipper orchid Cypripedium macranthos, bearing single flowers, each with a hugely inflated purple lip. It grows in open woodlands, across northern Russia, north-eastern China, Japan and Korea. To the other extreme, another temperate woodland species, the tiny colourless ghost orchid (Epipogium aphyllum), lives in deep shade where it survives on nutrients from decomposing plant material. From the tropical forests, in contrast, come coelogynes, dendrobiums, odontoglossums and other epiphytic orchids, balanced precariously on branches high above the ground. Flowers in all shapes, sizes and colours advertise their presence amongst the trees' foliage.

Plant profiles

Red helleborine, Cephalanthera rubra

Paphiopedilum sanderianum

Vanilla, Vanilla planifolia

More plants

Back up to: orchids index