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Posted on 7:27 PM by Wanto and filed under
By Robert Hemmings
While orchid plants themselves are extremely varied, in their flowers they know no bounds in terms of variation in structure and colour. The flowers are so diverse and often incredibly beautiful, in stark contrast to what some see as distinctly unattractive plants. Many people are amazed that such beautiful flowers can come from what they consider to be untidy or ugly plants, though to the true enthusiast, most orchid plants are handsome.
In cultivation, hybridization has continued apace since the middle of the 19th century, when the unique structure of the orchid flower was understood. Many early experiments failed because the growers around at that time had little knowledge of compatibility or the relationships orchids had with each other. It was soon realized, however, that most species would breed readily with others of their own genus to produce interspecific crosses.
One part of the flower has always become much exaggerated, with petals or lip dominating the flower. All these modifications have evolved to attract a specific pollinator, and to do this some orchids have gone to extraordinary lengths.
Blinds or net curtains would be sufficient to prevent burning from direct sun, while giving the plants the extra light they need for optimum growth and ripening of the pseudobulbs. In the winter, most orchids will be comfortable in a well-lit window, because the sun will not reach high enough in the sky to cause any problems with burning. The high-risk time here is in the early spring, when the sun begins to climb higher each day, gradually gaining strength.
Although there appear to be similarities between the two genera, parallel evolutionary tracks have taken them down different avenues, segregating their genes, which, it appears, cannot be united. This is surprising, when we consider that a number of the multi-flowered, longpetalled Paphiopedilum species, such as P. rothschildianum and P parishii, resemble phragmipediums such as P. caudatum and P pearcei more closely than they do other paphiopedilums.
In winter, the plants can 3e turned around so that it is the new moths that receive the most light. most orchids will grow better close to rte window than in the centre of a morn, unless it is particularly well lit with a high ceiling and white walls. An area like this would suit phalaenopsis well. While orchids are in flower, they can be brought into the room for splay for as long as the flowers last, - returned to their growing area.
On the underside of the column is a sticky patch. This is the stigmatic surface into which the pollinia are deposited. The pollen grains extend their growing tubes down through the centre of the column to reach the ovaries situated directly behind the flower, where they meet the thousands of unfertilized seeds. By the time fertilization is complete, the ovaries will have swollen into a large capsule containing up to a million minute, golden yellow, ripening seeds.
The largest of all orchid flowers is produced by the slipper orchid, Phragmipedium grande. In this species, the petals hang down to a length of 45cm (18in) when held out horizontally, and the flower measures a huge 1m (3ft) across. At the opposite extreme, there are minute species of Stelis whose flowers would be covered by a pin's head. In between are thousands of highly desirable flowers from one to several inches wide.
In cultivation, hybridization has continued apace since the middle of the 19th century, when the unique structure of the orchid flower was understood. Many early experiments failed because the growers around at that time had little knowledge of compatibility or the relationships orchids had with each other. It was soon realized, however, that most species would breed readily with others of their own genus to produce interspecific crosses.
One part of the flower has always become much exaggerated, with petals or lip dominating the flower. All these modifications have evolved to attract a specific pollinator, and to do this some orchids have gone to extraordinary lengths.
Blinds or net curtains would be sufficient to prevent burning from direct sun, while giving the plants the extra light they need for optimum growth and ripening of the pseudobulbs. In the winter, most orchids will be comfortable in a well-lit window, because the sun will not reach high enough in the sky to cause any problems with burning. The high-risk time here is in the early spring, when the sun begins to climb higher each day, gradually gaining strength.
Although there appear to be similarities between the two genera, parallel evolutionary tracks have taken them down different avenues, segregating their genes, which, it appears, cannot be united. This is surprising, when we consider that a number of the multi-flowered, longpetalled Paphiopedilum species, such as P. rothschildianum and P parishii, resemble phragmipediums such as P. caudatum and P pearcei more closely than they do other paphiopedilums.
In winter, the plants can 3e turned around so that it is the new moths that receive the most light. most orchids will grow better close to rte window than in the centre of a morn, unless it is particularly well lit with a high ceiling and white walls. An area like this would suit phalaenopsis well. While orchids are in flower, they can be brought into the room for splay for as long as the flowers last, - returned to their growing area.
On the underside of the column is a sticky patch. This is the stigmatic surface into which the pollinia are deposited. The pollen grains extend their growing tubes down through the centre of the column to reach the ovaries situated directly behind the flower, where they meet the thousands of unfertilized seeds. By the time fertilization is complete, the ovaries will have swollen into a large capsule containing up to a million minute, golden yellow, ripening seeds.
The largest of all orchid flowers is produced by the slipper orchid, Phragmipedium grande. In this species, the petals hang down to a length of 45cm (18in) when held out horizontally, and the flower measures a huge 1m (3ft) across. At the opposite extreme, there are minute species of Stelis whose flowers would be covered by a pin's head. In between are thousands of highly desirable flowers from one to several inches wide.
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