Of the incredible variety of flowering plants on our earth, orchids easily hold the most fascination. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they often bring a bit of wonder and mystery with them. Although widespread in distribution, many can only be found in isolated, virtually inaccessible places–volcanic mountainsides, dense jungles, boggy swamps, etc.
Beginning quite seriously in the nineteenth century, orchid fanciers have devoted years and even careers to ferreting out as well as breeding new varieties of these flowering plants. Although most orchids are acquired nowadays from nurseries that specialize in cultivating these plants, many of them being produced through hybridization, it is useful to know something of their origins in nature.
Orchids are herbacious plants of which tens of thousands of species are known, with more still being discovered. They exhibit a startling range of color and form, which has contributed greatly to public interest. Master gardeners often delight in growing a wide range of orchids to demonstrate their mastery of the arts of cultivation.
Orchids have spread throughout the world, excep for the polar and desert zones. About 85% of species occur in tropical or subtropical regions, but this leaves a huge number that may be found in much cooler zones. In some parts of the Himalayan region, orchids make up the most abundant family of plants.
By far the greatest number of orchids occur in three large tropical belts:
- Tropical Africa (including islands to the east in the Indian Ocean). These mostly belong to the genera (families) Angnecum, Bulbophyllum and Disa. Orchids from here have not been as widely cultivated as ones originating from the other tropical zones, but Africa nevertheless harbors many species of interest.
- Tropical Asia. This region, which includes Indonesia and other islands as well as the mainland countries of Southeast Asia, is considered especially rich in orchid genera. Typical of the region are the large genera Dendrobium, Eria and Bulbophyllum and many smaller ones as well.
- Tropical America. This region includes most of South America, along with Mexico and Central America. Isolated from the rest of the world for millennia, this region contains an unusually high number of indigenous orchid genera, many of which contain hundreds of individual species. Among the large indigenous genera are Epidendrum, Pleurothallis and Oncidium; many smaller genera found here also contribute more than their share to orchids that have found favor among cultivators the world over.
In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere may also be found many orchds, though not in so abundant number as in the tropics. In southern Africa the Disa and Calanthe genera furnish a few species judged valuable to cultivation. Australia has a number of genera in common with the tropical Asia. Southernmost South America boasts many temperate-zone orchids, but they are unfortunately overshadowed by those
from the much larger tropical part of thecontinent.
In the northern hemisphere’s temperate zones, we should mention the United States and particularly the northeastern and New Englad regions, as well as Canada. There you will find some 20 native genera, whose members grow particularly in swamps and other moist grounds. The Cypripediuins, or Lady Slippers, are the most celebrated of these.
Europe also has many native orchids, but undoubtedly the most famous and showy is the Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera). The Bee Orchid may be found thriving on dry or semi-dry turf in open areas near or within woodlands. Bee Orchids are common near the Mediterranean coast of Europe, and grows (albeit less abundantly) as far north as Germany and the UK.
Orchids vary greatly in the ease with which they may be grown, but generally speaking they are not the difficult plants that common wisdom would have it. The most complete guide to modern orchid cultivation, it is widely acknowedged, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the Internet. Howard’s well-written guide constitutes a comprehensive education all to itself. And, it is suitable for those just starting out as well as more expeienced orchid cultivators. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing library of articles on many aspects of orchid cultivation.
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