Orchidaceae is a diverse and widespread family of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and often fragrant, commonly known as the orchid family. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species, found in 880 genera.The determination of which family is larger is still under debate, because verified data on the members of such enormous families are continually in flux. Regardless, the number of orchid species nearly equals the number of bony fishes and more than twice the number of bird species, and about four times the number of mammal species. The family also encompasses about 6–11% of all seed plants.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 Vanilla (the genus of the vanilla plant), Orchis (type genus), and many commonly cultivated plants such as Phalaenopsis and Cattleya. Moreover, since the introduction of tropical species into cultivation in the 19th century, horticulturists have produced more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars.
Orchids can be such spectacular flowers, that we often forget that there also hundreds of small and rather insignificant orchids too. It’s a huge family!
Thank you for participating in the Floral Friday Fotos meme.
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That’s true! I will post some of our indigenous orchids this week!
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These are all gorgeous! It’s amazing how many different orchids there are.
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It really is amazing!
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Exciting plant family!
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They are!!
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Gorgeous! When i saw that first shot i felt i was home in guernsey as we have a wonderful selection. When we get back from a long trip away we never know whether they will be in full bloom or ‘resting’
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That must be great! I have never had one of my own! Perhaps it’s time!!
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People think they are difficult to keep but my husband nurtures them for years on end- he says his secret is loving neglect!
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I like that!!
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Orchids are one of my favorite flowers. I attended an orchid show in Taiwan last year where they had huge displays of them! They were so pretty!
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That would be nice to go to a display of orchids!! Must have been amazing!
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Beautiful gallery! I love orchids!
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Thanks, Amy! I like their beautiful colours!
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Wow! Absolutely stunning!
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Thank you, Lore!
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I love orchids, fab post hun… 💞
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Thank you Amanda!
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