In this article you will know the Characteristics of the Orchid Flower and its Meaning. The first characteristic is that there are around 25.000 to 30.000 species, with the botanical family Orchidaceae having the largest number of species. Another characteristic is that they are born from temperate regions to tropical regions, there are large Orchids and other microscopic ones. I invite you to discover the world of the beautiful Orchid flowers.
The Orchid Flower
Orchids are around more than 25.000 different species belonging to the Orchidaceae family, which is the most abundant in species within the plant kingdom. This diversity of species leads to various forms, adaptations to climates and types of crops, among others. Despite this great diversity, belonging to the same botanical family means that, from a taxonomic point of view, they have common features among them.
Knowing the different Orchid Flowers is like taking a journey through nature, to learn about their different mechanisms of adaptation and evolution to pollinate, their botanical characteristics, their physiological response to light, environmental humidity, nutrition, and learn its different forms of reproduction and propagation by seeds, vegetative and also by in vitro cultures.
Although there is a great diversity of orchids, they are the least known plants by most people. This is due to the fact that when reference is made to the Orchid Flower, it is usually thought of the Orchids that are known by their common name of Flor de Mayo, which belong to the genus Cattleya sp. This is because it is the most commercialized and cultivated genus by fans of Orchid plants.
Orchids can grow in different environments, in the terrestrial environment, on trees because they are epiphytes, Orchids are known to grow on stones. They are not parasitic plants, because they do not feed on the sap of their host, they only live on them to adhere to their roots. They are relatives of the amaryllidaceae and liliaceae, however, their flowers have undergone a remarkable metamorphosis over millions of years.
Features
Orchids, as previously indicated, have a terrestrial habit, epiphytes and even climbers. They are perennial plants that bloom once or twice a year. According to the life of epiphytic Orchids, they are conditioned to the survival of the host tree. The growers of these plants refer to Orchids collected in the XNUMXth century, which are still alive and blooming.
Orchids with terrestrial habit have stems like rhizomes or corms and, on the other hand, epiphytes have their leaves modified to form pseudobulbs in which they accumulate nutrients and water. These pseudobulbs are covered by leaf sheaths, which are membranes that wither over time.
growth type
These plants can have two types of growth, namely: forming many stems, that the sympodial type growth or being an Orchid that have a single stem or monopodial type growth, in this type of growth occurs in the apical bud from which new leaves and flowers are born and the plant increases in height, for example the Phalenopsis y vandas. The most common is sympodial growth, which is when the pseudobulbs are observed, where they reserve nutrients and water for their maintenance, for example the cattleyas.
As noted, the pseudobulbs are the modified leaves of the Orchids, they grow vertically and between each pseudobulb, new stems that grow horizontally develop. At the very base of a pseudobulb, other pseudobulbs are born from which new leaves and roots are born (forming a new plant).
These pseudobulbs behave as reservoirs of water and nutrients for the vitality of the plant and the formation of flowers, even though it has lost its leaves. Among the orchids with sympodial growth are the Oncidium, Dendrobium and as already indicated cattleyas. Monopodial orchids have a single stem that grows on its own axis constantly.
In monopodial plants, each time the stem grows, it forms knots from which new leaves and roots are born, which are directed downwards. As new nodes form roots and new leaves, the old leaves die, which are the lower leaves. Once a year its inflorescence emerges from which its flowers may bloom, sometimes twice or rounds. The genera in which this type of growth is observed are ascocentrum, Phalaenopsis y Wanda.
Roots
Epiphytic Orchids have very long green aerial roots that hang from the branches of trees. The functions of the roots of the epiphytic Orchids are to fix the plant on the branches of the trees and also to absorb the nutrients that the plants need for their nutrition. The epidermis of this type of roots is called "velamen" which consists of layers of dead cells when mature and with thick cell walls with lignin.
The "velamen" is a spongy white sheath that protects the roots and prevents dehydration. The "velamen" is a parchment wrap that surrounds the roots, when filled with water it becomes transparent to allow the function of photosynthesis. The "candle" occurs in epiphytic roots and in some terrestrial roots. The terrestrial roots of Orchids are tuberous.
Leaves
The leaves of the Orchids are simple with an entire edge, they arise from the stems, whether they are aerial or of the rhizome type. Their arrangement is alternate, with whorl, basal or grow along the stem. The leaves can sometimes be reduced to sheaths, they can have parallel and sheathing venation. Orchids that live in places with dry seasons grow with fleshy leaves where they store water and nutrients.
orchid flowers
Orchid Flowers are very diverse among the genera and it is the most specialized organ of these plants. However, in all of them the same structure or floral diagram is maintained. Its flowers, like all monocotyledonous plants, its perianth is trimer. Its flowers have 3 external sepals: Two lateral sepals and one dorsal sepal; 3 internal petals: a labellum (a modified petal of larger size and stronger color) and two lateral petals.
In addition, these flowers present the phenomenon of "resupination", this is observed by the torsion of this organ with respect to its original position. This twisting is meant to be more attractive to your pollinators. In general, the labellum covers to protect the sexual organs of orchids. The outer sepals resemble overlapping or overlapping petals.
The two dorsal sepals are usually united in the same element called "synsepals". In the inner part of the flower, the petals are separated from each other, they can be of different colors and they can also have spots or spots of different sizes. The third modified petal or labellum is larger than the two lateral ones and, with different shapes. This labellum is a characteristic of orchids.
The labellum can be lobed, in this case it would have a central lobe and two lateral ones. Also, two parts may be obliquely different and identify the basal as "hypochile" and the distal "epichile". In this characteristic petal of the Orchids it is possible to observe bright sectors, crests, keels, as well as calluses.
In some genera the labellum develops a spur that goes backwards or downwards and in which there is a nectary. The spur may have a long and thin shape as seen in Orchis, and Gymnadenia, even look like an oval sac, as seen in (Coeloglossum viride). In other species this modified petal does not present nectar or nectaries may be observed and not be included in the labellum.
The androecium (male sexual organ), in the Orchid Flower, is usually made up of one or two stamens, very rarely three. When it is a single stamen, it is generated from the middle stamen of the ancestral external reproductive apparatus and commonly with two vestigial staminodes that are born from the lateral stamens of an ancestral internal reproductive apparatus. In some cases they have two or three fertile stamens as can be seen in the Subfamilies Apostasioideae or Cypripedioideae.
When they have two fertile stamens, these come from the two lateral stamens of the ancestral internal reproductive apparatus, and likewise, when there are three fertile stamens, they come from the two lateral stamens of the internal androecium and from the middle stamen of the external androecium. The reproductive system is linked to the style and the stigma. Both the style and the stigma are highly modified and form a structure called "column", "gynostemus" or "gynostegio".
In the part of the "gynosternal" known as "clinandro" or "androclino", the thecae of the anthers are located. The shape of its pollen is granular, grouped from two to eight soft or hard masses called pollinia. In these pollinia the "caudicle" is located, which is a thin complement similar to a filament, united through a sticky mass, which gives it the name of "retinacula" or "viscidium", located above the "rostellum", which is It derives from the stigma similar to an elongated lobe and can be seen above the receptive part of the stigma.
The pollinary (a structure that groups the pollinia, caudicules and retinacula), is in charge of moving the pollen at the time of pollination. Likewise, the anthers are the terminal part of the stamens, it is a longitudinal dehiscence and its union element is reformed in an “operculum” that protects the anther until the moment of pollination.
The female reproductive system or gynoecium is made up of three carpels joined together, the ovary of Orchids is inferior, with one locule or three locules, and in addition millions of ovules arranged in the ovary cavity, that is, of parietal placentation and, also of Axillary placentation, possibly.
Most Orchid Flowers produce nectar, those Orchids that do not have nectaries are autogamous or apomictic, which produce seeds without having to be pollinated. Nectar-producing Orchids present their nectaries or organs where the flower's nectar is produced, in different shapes and locations. In some genera the nectary is located in the spur of the labellum, in others it is detected in the apices of the sepals, or also in the internal parts of the gynoecium.
Types of inflorescences
The inflorescences of these plants are varied, even within the Orchid species of the same genus. Consequently, the location of the flowers, which can be indeterminate, or simply have a single flower, with a terminal or axial location. In general, Orchids have inflorescences with two or more flowers, made up of a stem called a pendulum, which grows from a floral axis and is slightly elongated. And a smaller stem called the rachis, which is where the flowers are.
In many of the Orchid species, the flowers are located in an erect and elongated raceme, where the flowers are arranged in loose spirals around the rachis, as observed in the genus Cymbidium. In the raceme-like inflorescence, the individual flowers are attached to the floral axis identified as the pedicel. Some species, their flowers come directly from the rachis, in this case the inflorescence is a spike type, an example of genera with this type of inflorescence. Peristylus y neuwiedia.
Flowering in the case of Orchids of the genus Bulbophyllum, its rachis is contracted and it seems that its flowers come from the same place and the inflorescence looks like an umbrella or parasol. Also, the genres Oncidium y Renanthera, have panicle-type inflorescences, because the arrangement of their flowers is branched.
Fruits and Seeds
The fruit consists of a loculicidal fleshy capsule, which when ripe opens its carpels. Within this dehiscent fruit are contained millions of seeds (up to about 4 million). The seeds are poorly developed and without cotyledons (embryonic layers with which they seek their nutrients), or endosperm (where nutritious tissues, fat or albumin are stored), due to this they have to be nourished with external organic substances for their germination.
To germinate the Orchids in their natural habitat, with the intervention of a fungus, which coexists with the roots of the Orchids, forming symbiosis. In natural environments, germination by seeds is very difficult, because all the right conditions have to be present at the same time. Because, this is the reason why Orchids have so many seeds.
The seeds are very small, about the size of the head of a pin. It presents a membranous integument that does not present phytomelanins, it only has a firm outer layer and its internal tissues collapsed. These seeds can be winged and are dispersed by the wind. The seeds have a very small embryo and do not have the endosperm because it is lost during embryonic development.
Meaning of Orchids
To start talking about the meaning of Orchids, you have to start with the origin of their name because, from it, these exotic plants are associated with virility, sexuality and even fertility. This is so since the collectors of these beautiful Orchid Flowers from different civilizations and cultures, make use of them.
Meaning of his name
The origin of the word Orchid comes from the Greek (órjis “testicle”) and (idéa “form”). Due to the tubers of the species of the genus Orchis, which is a terrestrial Orchid that has two tubercles that resemble testicles. The origin of the name of the Orchids was reported for the first time in the work De Causis Plantarum of Theophrastus, Greek philosopher, written 375 years before Christ, possibly.
Ancient meaning and beliefs
According to the parents to choose the sex of the child they ate the roots of the Orchids. This apparently was practiced in ancient Greece, it turns out that if the father consumed the large roots of an orchid plant, the expected child was male and, instead, if the mother consumed the small roots of the plant in question, they conceived a female .
In Asian culture such as China, Orchid Flowers have been cultivated since before Christ, for the Chinese Orchids have a meaning of integrity, honesty, beauty, friendship and distinction. For their part, the ancient Aztecs discovered the Orchid plant where vanilla comes from and mixed it with chocolate because that drink gave them vitality and power.
In European culture in Victorian times, the known Orchid plants came from the tropical regions of the New World (the American continent), and were very exotic and rare compared to known flowers. Back then collecting Orchids was a symbol of social status. Whoever gave them, transmitted through this gift the love and passion for the person to whom it was intended and, the rarer the Orchid, the greater and deeper their feelings were.
Esoteric and spiritual meaning
If you have a place in your home to meditate or have a good time relaxing with readings or other pleasant activities. You can buy some Orchids or if they give you one, it is suggested to decorate this place with these flowers and place it in a place with good sunlight. If it happens that the Orchid Flowers wither, apparently it means that you still need to meet the objectives set or that you have left them.
If, on the other hand, the Orchid plant grows and becomes stronger and prosperous, it means that you are on the right track and overcoming obstacles, achieving your goals, gradually until you reach the goal. Likewise, it is suggested that the Orchid be imagined as a clock, and that midnight and noon can be marked in the same place.
In ancient Chinese medicine, the Orchid plant was used to make medicines to relieve the symptoms of cough and other pulmonary ailments, as well as to medicate problems of kidney, digestive and visual deficiencies.
Meanings of Orchids according to their color
Orchids with pink flowers mean femininity, happiness, joy and are usually given to commemorate marriage anniversaries, especially the 14th and 28th years of marriage. Instead, purple orchids are given to those who are admired and respected. It means admiration and respect.
Red Orchids have several meanings, such as strength, fearlessness, passion and desire. This is why it is one of the most gifted Orchids on Valentine's Day. White Orchids signify good adventure, beauty, prosperity and innocence. They are widely used for flower arrangements for baptism ceremonies, and welcomes for newborn babies. As well as wedding ceremonies.
If you want to wish a person good luck, a lot of joy and a desire for success for a new venture, then give Yellow Orchids, which in addition to having these meanings, also mean friendship. Due to the meaning of orange Orchids, it is appropriate to give them as a gift to express enthusiasm and fearlessness, it is an appropriate gift to wish that a presentation goes well and you are nervous.
Meaning of green Orchids, is health, long life, nature and good luck. If you want to wish someone you appreciate long life and prosperity, it is opportune to give them Orchids with Green Flowers. Some people give Orchids with Blue Flowers (dyed), to express that it was unique and exotic. It should be noted that there are no blue Orchid Flowers in nature.
History
Orchid Flowers have been loved and cared for by human beings since ancient times. According to ancient texts written in China more than 1.500 years ago, the cultivation of Orchid plants was already spoken of. Between the years of 551-479 BC, Confucius made reference to the cultivation of Orchid plants, in those writings he pointed out that the Easterners were the first to worry about cultivating these plants.
Many years before Western travelers were aware of Orchid Flowers, illustrations of Orchid Flowers are already seen in Chinese and Japanese paintings. The name of this family of plants was placed by the Greek philosopher Theophrastes (350-283 BC), from the Greek Opxis and the Latin word Orchis, which means testicles.
In Western civilization, reference is made to these plants for the first time in the year 1552 in an Aztec manuscript published by Baudiano. In this writing the species Vanilla (vanilla pom pom), in that document parts of the plant were drawn. In the document Species plantarum, published in 1745, by Carlo Linneus classified 8 genera of Orchids.
On the European continent, Orchids arouse interest at the time that an Orchid from the collection of Charles Wager, brought from the New World from the tropical region, called bletia purple (without. bletia verecunda) and, was in custody at the Chelsea Botanic Garden. From that moment on, plant growers showed great interest in learning how to cultivate orchids and, in having their own orchidarium or orchid garden, a place of cultivation, which was a requirement in accordance with the status of horticulturist, generally of the English elite.
In the year 1818, Englishman William Cattley received a group of plants collected in Brazil, of which English botanists were unaware and whose flowers created excitement in London. When the English botanist Lindley received it, he classified it as an Orchid and in honor of Mr. Cattley, the genus originated. Cattleya and the scientific name of the species Cattleya labiata.
This type of event led to the fact that every time an orchid plant bloomed, it was cause for celebration and the news came to be published on the front page of local newspapers. At that time, the collectors who became professional in the search for new plant and animal species, to meet the demand of European consumers. They were usually people from France and Great Britain, who traveled to the American continent and, without measuring consequence, plundered the forests of this continent.
This grotesque commercialization of exotic orchids, as well as other rare plants and animals, put many species in danger of extinction. Having species that today what remains is the bibliographic reference. Fortunately, with the arrival of the XNUMXth century, the "orchidiomania" of European collectors decreased, due to the high cost of maintaining this type of plants. Among these, because they are plants from warm environments and not very resistant to winter frosts, heating had to be installed in the orchid nurseries, and their cost was high.
Back then, the cost of energy was very high. Due to the First World War that affected the maintenance of the various plant collections and among these the orchid gardens of private collectors. With the arrival of the depression that occurred in 1929, most Orchid collectors were economically affected and their collections passed into the hands of Botanical Gardens and commercial horticulturists.
Ecological aspects
The Orchidaceae family is the botanical family with the largest number of Orchid species, between 25.000 to 30.000 species, grouped into about 800 genera, which grow in different habitats on the planet. The Orchidaceae family is widely distributed, Orchids can be found from the Arctic Circle region to Tierra del Fuego in the Antarctic and Australia. Where these plants do not grow are in desert regions and at the two poles.
Distribution
Its distribution is wider in subtropical and tropical regions, in the latter region most orchids are epiphytes. Orchids can be observed in places at sea level up to about 5000 meters above sea level, in different ecosystems, be they mountainous regions, humid forests, savannahs, coastal and others. In environments where soils are low in nutrients, Orchids behave as dominant species.
Many species of Orchids grow tropical forests located in mountainous areas, which, due to their topography, form natural barriers and the dispersion of plant species is more difficult, therefore a high number of endemic species occur. These endemisms, it is common to observe them in places such as islands and in the southeast of the Asian continent.
The countries that report the greatest diversity of endemic Orchid species are: On the South American continent, Colombia reports the greatest number of diversity of Orchid species with some 4.270 described species, followed by Ecuador with around 3.500 classified species. The Brazilian Atlantic mass continues with 1.500 reported and described species. Then come the mountains of Central America, on the American continent.
On the Asian and African continents, large numbers of species are known to exist in the mountains south of the Himalayas in China and India, and in southeastern Africa on the island of Madagascar. This wide distribution occurs due to its ability to adapt and resistance to grow in places near the coast; mountainous places such as moorland ecosystems, humid forests and others.
They are “lithophytic” plants, that is, they can live on rocks; epiphytes because they live on the branches of trees and also have terrestrial habits. Orchids have even been reported living in underground environments. It should be noted that although they live on trees, they are plants that only rest on the branches of trees and do not absorb the sap. In addition, at that height they can better receive sunlight. Some Orchids measure just millimeters and other Orchid plants, on the other hand, have the size of a tree up to more than 3 meters high.
Pollination
In the wild, Orchid Flowers get to open at the same time every year, once a year. Because they are conditioned by environmental factors, be they: such as increase or decrease in temperature, seasonal changes, hours of sunlight, increase or decrease in environmental humidity.
There are species whose flowers open for a single day, for example the Orchid of the genus sobralia and others whose flowers last open for up to three months, for example the genera Paphiopedilum y Phalaenopsis. On the other hand, hybrid Orchids bloom even more than twice a year. Most of them require a pollinator for the pollination of their flowers to take place.
It can be said that practically all Orchids around 97% require a pollinator to be able to transfer the pollen grains to the pistils of other flowers and, consequently, fertilization and the subsequent formation of the fruit and seeds take place. It should be noted that the pollen of these plants is located in the pollinia or pollinarium.
Because it is protected in this structure, the pollen cannot spread from one flower to another Orchid Flower, by itself or by the wind. Due to this, these plants, to reproduce sexually, require the assistance of Orchid pollinators, which vary depending on the species, some pollinators are flies, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, beetles and some birds such as hummingbirds.
The relationship of Orchid Flowers with pollinating animals means that these pollinators have frequent contact with the flowers and that they are in them for quite some time. This is so that the anthers and the stigma can be touched with a certain continuity, so that the pollen remains attached to the pollinators in such a safe way and thus reaches the stigmas of other Orchid Flowers.
The success of the pollination of the Orchid Flowers depends on the interaction between the Orchid plants and their pollinators, for this the flowers have certain mechanisms to attract these pollinating animals and that they are also attracted by flowers of the same species, some of these products and mechanisms are: flower pollen, nectar and baits. They also attract pollinators by attracting them by smells and colors, and thus also by having sticky or sticky pollen.
During the evolution of the plant kingdom, evolutionary mechanisms have been produced to survive the environmental changes suffered by nature. In view of this, there are zoophilic angiosperm plants, which are plants that depend on interaction with animals to reproduce. Likewise, the fact that there is a group of animals that have adapted to them is a response of co-evolution conditioned by a close relationship between these animals and plants.
This co-evolution can be seen in the close relationship between orchid plants and the animals that pollinate them, becoming such that one cannot live without the other. This intrinsic pollination relationship is a co-evolutionary response, and one that is beneficial to both. Well, the pollinator can in some cases obtain the nectar of the flower and they transfer the pollen to another flower of the same species.
However, sometimes Orchids trick the pollinator to attract him to pose and carry pollen on his legs and wings to other flowers and he does not get any reward. In most cases this happens differently. Due to the fact that many species of Orchids provide food for their pollinating animals, some of these foods are: nectar, oils or food hairs. So also resins, waxes and essences.
The plants offer these foods as a way to compensate the pollinators for helping in the transport of pollen and achieving pollination of the Orchids, and in this way strengthens the behavior of the pollinators. Due to the close relationship between the pollinators and these Orchid Flowers, it has led to a certain degree of specialization, of a single type of pollinator to ensure the efficient transfer of pollen and, for their part, the flowers specialized their conformation and floral structure to be most conspicuous to a species of insect.
In view of this, the different forms of flowers in Orchids are observed in order to be attractive to certain types of pollinating insects, such as: bees, wasps, moths, butterflies and flies. And other pollinating animals such as bats, toads and birds. Some Orchids also attract pollinators of all kinds and others if they are very specialized being attractive to one or a few species of pollinating animals.
The rewards for pollinators can be nectar, aromas of flowers, pollen, and some genera of Orchids such as the cypripedium, blackmails its pollinator and does not give it any reward, likewise, genera such as Ophrys y cryptostylis, their flowers resemble or mimic the shape and aroma of female insects such as bees, flies or wasps and when the males seek to mate, the Flowers of these Orchids are pollinated because they confuse them with females of their species, producing the phenomenon of pseudocopulation.
This process occurs with the assistance of the labellum, which functions as a landing strip and, due to its shape, color and texture, projects visual or tactile signals to direct the pollinator. The flower's pollinia adheres to the body of the pollinator, and is usually deposited, in a depression in the lower part of the column, which is the stigma of another flower.
A modification to attract its pollinator is observed in the genus Coryanthes, the flowers of this genus have a labellum that has the shape of a pocket that is full of a fluid that emanates from the column of the flower and, when a bee falls, it submerges in this liquid that leads it to travel through a tunnel and forcing the insect to the deposition of the pollinary in its body. This movement of pollen through the pollinia is a possible adaptation to achieve the fertilization of large numbers of ovules.
Orchid species are known that are rarely pollinated and remain functional and showing their beauty for a long time. This is because the wilting of the perianth happened after fertilization. In a species of Orchid native to Madagascar Angraecum sesquipedal, has been widely studied for its particular pollination biology.
This species has evolved to adapt its pollination process to the morphology of the lepidoptera species (a butterfly) Xanthopan morganii praedicta. orchid flower Angraecum sesquipedal present a labellum in the form of a spur 20 to 35 centimeters long and the butterfly that pollinates it has a proboscis of the same length. The naturalist Charles Darwin in his theory of the evolution of species, predicted this type of relationship between plants and their pollinators, long before this species was discovered.
its germination
Orchids produce millions of tiny seeds that, due to their size, their small grains look like dust. In most species they are dispersed by the wind and their nutrition depends on a mycorrhizal fungus to germinate. the subfamilies Cypripedioideae y vanilloideae they form fleshy fruits that ferment in their place of origin (in situ), and due to their attraction mechanisms such as the fragrance emanating from the Orchid commonly called Vanilla, birds and mammals are attracted and end up being dispersing agents.
The seeds produced by Orchids are formed by an embryo composed of few cells, around 100 to 200, and surrounded by a very hard testa. Depending on the species, each fruit can produce between 13.000 and 4.000.000 seeds per capsule. The weight of these tiny seeds is about 0,3 to 14 µg and their approximate size is 0,25 to 1,2 millimeters in length and 0,009 to 0,27 millimeters in width. Orchid seeds do not have endosperms and it is a tiny embryo that hangs inside a transparent and in some genera pigmented membrane.
They are of various shapes, namely elliptical, winged, round, threadlike, globular, and fusiform. All these forms are possible evolutionary adaptations that help enhance the fertility and proper dispersal by the wind of these tiny Orchid seeds. Another distinctive feature of Orchids is that the germination process of their seeds is carried out through a different process from that of most angiosperms, due to the tiny size of the embryos of these plants.
This occurs due to the tiny sizes of the seeds and therefore their structure and anatomy are very small and simple. This is why their embryos germinate and develop and form a mass of cells called "protocorm". The "protocorms" have a structure in the form of roots, identified as "rhizoids" that sometimes fulfill the function of photosynthesis. However, for the "proto-like" to actually develop and grow as a sucker, it has to interact with a fungus and establish a symbiotic association.
This is a relationship of mutual benefit, in this symbiotic relationship the fungus contributes sugars to the protocorm, over all those that do not carry out the photosynthesis process, due to lack of chlorophyll. The fungus that provides the sugars, after taking it from the substrate where the Orchid plant is fixed, be it the ground or the branch of a tree.
For its part, the protocorm supplies the fungus with some vitamins and a place to live. While living in symbiosis, the fungus lives between the protocorm and the substrate. When the Orchid begins to grow and develop, it already produces its own nutrients and the symbiotic relationship comes to an end.
Orchid Evolution and Phylogeny
Being the Orchidaceae family the most diverse in genera and species, little is known about the origin of Orchids, due to the lack of a fossil record of these plants, adequate to track their history and evolution. In the search for its possible origin, in 2007 the discovery in the Dominican Republic of an Orchid pollen was reported, which was identified as Meliorchis Caribea.
The orchid pollinator Meliorchis caribea was found preserved in amber and attached to the mesoscutellum (oral apparatus) of the bee species dominican proplebeia, already extinct. The fossil found is from the Miocene, and possibly dates from about 15 to 20 million years old. This discovery is a great step forward for the study of the origin of Orchid plants and is also historical evidence of the relationship between this family of plants and their pollinators.
This discovery also contributed, together with cladistic studies on the analysis of its morphology, that apparently the most recent ancestor of the current Orchids existed in the Upper Cretaceous, about 76 to 84 million years ago. The monophyly, that is, the relation of the Orchids to a single common ancestor, is supported by the morphology of this plant and also by the studies carried out on its DNA sequence, carried out by several researchers, such as Dressler between 1981 and 1993; Dressle and Chase in 1995; Burns-Balogh and Funk in 1986; Judd et al. 1993; Chase et al. 2000; Fay et al. 2000, and Freudenstein et al. 2004.
Research continues to specify the phylogenetic relationships within the Orchidaceae family, which have been discovered through cladistic studies of the morphology of these plants and their DNA sequence, which have been preserved. Currently there is much research being carried out.
In reference to the phylogeny studies of orchids, these are very advanced as they allow reconstructing the ancestral states and the study and monitoring of several specific and rarely seen adaptive characters. As the realization of a quite specialized pollination. The conquest of epiphytic habitats and the function of the acid metabolism of crassulaceae (CAM).
The CAM or acid metabolism of crassulaceae is a way of carrying out photosynthesis that has been observed in the taxonomy of other plants, especially in those plants that live in places with water and carbon dioxide restrictions, which usually occurs in the canopy of tropical forests (the canopy is the layer of leaves and branches that form the neighboring and higher trees of the forests, which cover large areas, below these, the place is drier and warmer).
The animals and plants that live under this layer are arboreal, and there is a restriction in water availability, in the canopy of these forests the water is seasonal or intermittent. Photosynthesis is of the C3 type, it is the ancestral phase of the Orchidaceae family and metabolism is carried out by the Epidendroideae subfamily, which is the clade (grouping with more common ancestors and descendants) with the greatest diversity of epiphytic species of all the different botanical families of known plants. That apparently was related to a very rapid evolution of many species that occurred in the Tertiary period.
Research carried out by physiologists has found that a close relationship between CAM metabolism and plants with epiphytic habits has been evidenced. Apparently these characters have evolved together for approximately 65 million years. As the earth's environment was transformed, with the gradual aridification and decrease in the concentration of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere in the Tertiary period.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkrgJ6RBysk
According to these studies, the high difference of species within the Orchidaceae family may be due to the conquest of the epiphytic habit and, by achieving the CAM type of metabolism, which is linked to this type of epiphytic life, which allows it to carry out photosynthesis with little water consumption. Going from being Orchids with a terrestrial habit to acquiring an epiphytic habit, in addition to specifying the CAM metabolic capacity, also requires other adaptive processes.
It should be noted, the fine and small roots of the Orchids that help them climb and fix themselves in the substrate like the branches of trees that have little stability. The morphology of its roots, which are succulent and have a canopy, is an adaptive response to survive long periods without water and to be able to adhere to a substrate with little or no water storage capacity.
Finally, the populations of epiphytic species are generally low, due to this, they require a very specialized pollination method to be able to transport pollen from one plant to another of the same species. Having achieved these physiological modifications and adaptations by the different species of Orchids is what has made it possible to achieve the great abundance of different species of the Orchidaceae family and that almost 70% of the species of this family are epiphytic plants.
According to different researchers, the genera belonging to the subfamily Apostasioideae, be they Apostasy y neuwiedia They are relatives of the rest of the genera of the Orchidaceae family. The researchers indicate that both genders specifically neuwiedia, maintain several ancestral characters, some of which are the presence of two stamens in the flowers of the genus Apostasy or three stamens in the flowers of the genus Neuwiedia, that in both cases they are somewhat attached to the style and the pollen grains, they are independent of each other and are not sticky.
On the other hand, in the other genera of Orchids, the pollen is sticky and the pollen grains are united between them when they are removed or are released from the stamens. Among the subfamilies of Orchids with sticky pollen can be named Cypripedioideae and Vanilloideae, which are two basal clades. The subfamily Cypripedioideae, where the genera cypripedium y Paphiopedilum, it is monophyletic.
The genera that comprise it all have some exclusive characters, for example, the labellum is shaped like a sack (which looks like the front part of a shoe) and the anther is modified into a staminode that resembles a shield and has two functional stamens. The subfamily Vanilloideae, among its genera are: Vanilla, Pogonia and Cleistes, its flowers have a functional stamen and no pollinia.
The other sub-families are noted: the pollen grains are clustered to form pollinia, they have a single functional stamen, and the stamen filament is fully united with the style. This clade brings together all the species of the Orchidaceae family, with pollen agglomerated in pollinia, their flowers have a single functional stamen, which is why they are called monadras. Also, the two lateral stamens are converted into slender staminodes or lack them altogether.
In studies carried out in 1999 and 2000, they refer to the Orchids identified as monandras as monophyletic. However, in other studies carried out between 2000, 2004 and 2006, they carried out molecular analyzes concluding that the decrease in terminal stamens has occurred in two evolutionary moments of the family. When studying the Orchids called monandras with polynya, two large sub-families are distinguished Epidendroideae and Orchidoideae (circumscribing Spiranthoideae).
The genera of the subfamily Epidendroideae show an apomorphy (which is a new biological and evolutionary trait, with respect to a phylogenetically close ancestor), they have a beaked anther because it is curved on the apex of the column. On the other hand, the genera and species of the Orchidoideae subfamily all have the apomorphy of having an acute anther apex, soft stems and leaves with convolute vernation.
Taxonomy
In 1985, according to botanist taxonomists such as Dahlgren and collaborators, they identified three families of Orchids, classifying them according to the number of androecium anthers. According to this classification was the family Apostasiaceae whose individuals have two or three anthers partially attached to the gynoecium.
The Cypripediaceae family, which have two anthers attached to the gynoecium, and the Orchidaceae family, which is the family with the greatest diversity of species and is distinguished by having a single anther attached to the gynoecium. However, this classification was refuted by molecular studies, since the results showed that the Orchidaceae family had to be broadly delimited, from this a new systematization or classification of the family was published, according to the phylogeny studied and published by Chase and his team in 2003. In which 5 subfamilies are described.
Apostasioideae
The Orchid subfamily Apostasioideae, according to botanist taxonomists, are the most primitive group of Orchids. These have two or three stamens in their flowers, considered "regular" and similar to those of the genus hypoxia (Hypoxidaceae family). Its leaves grow in a spiral arrangement on the stems, they are plagued, resupinate leaves, that is, they are inverted, with the exception of the genus Apostasy.
It is observed that it has a bisporic embryo sac (Allium type), Its basic chromosome number is x= 24. This subfamily is made up of two genera Apostasy y neuwiedia, of which some 16 species have been classified. Synonymy: Apostasiaceae Lindley, Neuwiediaceae Reveal & Hoogland.
Cypripedioideae
This second subfamily of Orchids is an independent lineage. The plants that are grouped in this subfamily Cypripedioideae present primitive characteristics, such as having two stamens in the Orchid Flowers. It brings together five genres: cypripedium, Mexipedium Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium y Selenipedium, in which about 150 species have been identified. These are arranged in five monotypic tribes. They are distributed in Eurasia and in the American continent.
These Orchids call them with the common name of "ladies slippers", this comparison occurs because the labellum is bulging and is wrapped similar to a slipper, its function is to catch insects, in this way the insect is forced with the back by the staminode , this allows you to pick or place the pollinia. Orchids have two fertile anthers placed on each side of the column.
They have an infertile central stamen and their shape is modified similar to a shield that prevents direct entry of pollinators from the front of the flower to the central part. They have the stamens are hidden behind the staminode. Its sacculiform (sac-shaped) labellum has evolved to trap insects for pollination.
Its inner walls are slippery despite having a ladder-like structure of hairs on the inside of the dorsal wall. This leads the lower part of the ventral stigma to either of two outlets located at the base of the lip on either side of the column. Synonymy: Cypripediaceae Lindley.
vanilloideae
The Orchids of this subfamily Vanilloideae, is a small set of genera in which Vanilla is found, this genus consists of about 70 species of Orchids that grow as lianas. Some 15 genera and 180 species have been classified in this subfamily and are distributed throughout the humid tropical and subtropical region and in the United States.
orchidoideae
This subfamily includes the largest number of orchid genera with tubers or succulent rhizomes. The type genus Orchis and the Orchids of the genus Ophrys which have the common name "Bee Orchids" are in this group. In this subfamily, 208 genera and some 3630 species have been classified that grow in different regions of the planet, with the exception of the most arid deserts and at the terrestrial poles. The most distinctive genera of this Orchidoideae subfamily are: Cynorkis, diuris, Goodyer, habenaria, Orchis, platanthera, Spiranthes, and Zeuxine.
epidendroidae
It is the subfamily with the most genera, to date more than 500 genera and around 20.000 species have been classified that are born in the tropical and subtropical regions of the planet and in the United States, similar to the Orchidoideae subfamily, it also includes the Australian desert where some species of subterranean orchids develop and grow.
The Epidendroideae subfamily is represented by the tropical epiphytes, represented by some of the following genera: Bulbophyllum, catasetum, Dendrobium, Epidendrum, Encyclia, maxillaria, Oncidium, Pleurothallis y Wanda. The differentiation between the genera of this subfamily is clearly problematic and the larger genera are not monophyletic. They are mostly tropical epiphytic orchids, mostly with pseudobulbs, there are also terrestrial and saprophytic species, which feed on organic waste.
Your contribution to the economy
The first, of which there is information that cultivated Orchids were the Chinese about 500 years before Christ, then according to the Greeks from the V century, those ancient civilizations already used Orchid plants as ornamental and for medicinal use. With the discovery of America, the first Europeans who arrived on the continent appreciated that the Aztecs in Mexico used Orchids as medicinal plants and for use as spices, food and as ornamental plants.
In addition to other Orchid plants, this Mexican people used vanilla a lot and gave it the name "tlilxóchitl" in their Nahuatl language, this species was described by botanist taxonomists with the scientific name of vanilla planifolia, they used it as a spice to flavor chocolate.
As part of the gifts that they brought to the European kings during the discovery of America, this species Vanilla planifolia It was brought to Europe at the beginning of the XNUMXth century and from then on it was cultivated in other tropical regions such as Madagascar. Currently, Madagascar is the first producer of vanilla, which is used as a spice to aromatize and flavor desserts and gastronomic dishes in different parts of the world.
The great diversity of species that have been classified within the Orchidaceae family, are used as ornamentals thanks to the beauty of their flowers, their morphological characteristics, color, which is why they have a high economic impact due to the trade in their plants, has led to to the elaboration of laws to protect these plants and places where they grow. In addition to promoting the commercialization and creation of hybrid cultivars that are in high demand by their admirers around the world.
In addition to the use of Vanilla sp., to make the vanilla spice, a few other species of Orchids are used as flavorings for tea such as those of the genus Jumellea or plants of the genus Vanilla to flavor tobacco. plants of the species Anacamptis morio Its tubers were used in Turkey to make a hot drink called salep, which was traditional in that country and was drunk during the cold days of winter. It is currently in the category of vulnerable species of protection.
The tradition of cultivating Orchids due to the beauty of their flowers began to evolve gradually, going from a hobby for European high society to being commercialized. Orchids arrived on the European continent during the trips made by the European conquerors to the New World and, as of 1731, the first specimens began to be brought.
However, due to the costs of its maintenance and cultivation from 1821, it came to be grown for commercial use in greenhouses adjacent to the City of London. In the year of 1913 in Singapore the company "Sun Kee" was inaugurated with the aim of propagating and marketing cut Orchid flowers.
In these times the main countries that grow orchids are: United States, England, France, Taiwan, Japan, China, Thailand, Australia, Hawaii and Singapore, countries where there has been increased interest in the cultivation and marketing of orchids, with the objectives of: Produce cut Orchid Flowers to supply the international flower trade market. Second objective is to cultivate and commercialize different species of Orchids of different sizes, especially those that are about to bloom, in the internal shops of ornamental plants in the respective countries.
Thailand has become one of the countries that has specialized the most in the cultivation and propagation of Orchid Flowers to meet the demand for Orchid plants by the main markets for ornamental plants throughout the world. Obtaining a profitability of about 40 million dollars per year for the exports of these cultivated Orchid plants.
Of the great diversity of orchid genera on the planet, only a few are the genera that are most cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants. This means that little is actually known about the large number of Orchids that grow in nature. Among the most cultivated genera are: Cattleya, Dendrobium, Epidendrum, Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis, Vanda, Brassia, Cymbidium, Laelia, Miltonia, Oncidium, Encyclia y Coelogyne. It should be noted that due to conservation measures, most cultivars are Orchid hybrids, around 100.000 hybrids achieved between two or more species of various genera.
Reproduction and Propagation
The most used method of reproduction is by orchid growers, whether they are collectors or dealers, is the division of plants or stems. The stem in plants of the genus dendrobium, the pseudobulb is long and articulated because it is divided into several segments, in each division knots are formed in which new plants (suckers) are formed.
Roots begin to grow at the base of these suckers, when the suckers have grown a little you can cut the rooted suckers to separate them from the mother plant and propagate the Orchid plants by transplanting it to another container or substrates. The most commercialized orchid genera are: Cattleya, Laelia, Miltonia y Odontoglossum.
These genera can reproduce by dividing their rhizome-type stem, sectioned and each section must have three to four pseudobulbs (water and nutrients are stored in these to maintain the plants). Pseudobulbs that have lost their leaves are called "back pseudobulbs" and are usually used to reproduce clones of Cymbidium. To propagate them, they are separated from the plant and planted in another suitable substrate for new roots to form.
Orchid Propagation
Orchid plants produce fruits with many seeds, between 13.000 and 4.000.000, so if they are propagated in suitable substrates and good environmental conditions, such as mycorrhizal fungi, they would generate new plants with different characteristics in each of the plants.
However, as they are seeds with few nutrient reserve conditions, it is difficult for them to propagate by their own resources, for this reason, in their natural environment, they have to associate with a fungus to achieve germination. This relationship with the fungus is beneficial for the seeds because it provides them with nutrients for their development and germination and the fungus can have a place to live.
symbiotic reproduction
One way to reproduce orchids by seed is to scatter seeds on and around the roots of orchid plants that are grown in a pot and that the substrate is kept moist. If good conditions are found, the seeds germinate in the following weeks and prosper slowly. Seed-grown plants flower for the first time five to ten years after birth. This method of reproduction is called symbiotic.
Asymbiotic reproduction or in vitro culture
Until the year of 1922 that was the only way to propagate Orchids was by seeds. Based on the study published by then Professor Lewis Knudson of Cornell University, this scientist described an artificial way of germinating orchid seeds without the intervention of a fungus. They called this way of propagation asymbiotic germination, applying micropropagation techniques. This germination method allows orchid seedlings to develop in an artificial culture medium and in infertile conditions.
To achieve successful propagation of Orchids through in vitro meristem culture or cloning. This method consists of cutting the tip of the root or the end of a shoot, placing this cut in the middle of a prepared culture and in sterile conditions, with great asepsis. When applying phytohormones these meristems are transformed into a mass of undifferentiated tissue, from which new seedlings germinate.
The seedlings that emerge from these meristems are separated or removed from the other seedlings and are taken to test tubes where they are grown independently. The plants that are born by this method of asymbiotic germination or in vitro culture are clones of the mother plant and it is currently the most widely used propagation method in the large-scale propagation of a specific variety or sterile hybrids.
Orchid Care
Like all plants grown far from their place of origin, you have to know what the environmental conditions are in that place, such as sunlight, precipitation, amount of nutrients. These doubts can be clarified with the grower and even for Orchids propagated in vitro, or by plant division. Some indications of care are the following.
- It requires indirect sunlight (in nature they live under treetops), for this use nursery netting to filter the light or place it near a window.
- It is suggested to water once a week, to maintain humidity, place a plate under the pot where the Orchid is planted, fill it with water for a while and then remove it to prevent the roots from rotting. Twice a week you can apply the water by spraying the leaves, which is where Orchids absorb water in nature, preferably in the morning.
- Preferably apply fertilizers with maintenance formulas, while the Orchids are in their vegetative phase and when they are in bloom, apply fertilizers with flowering formulas, the frequency once a month or as indicated on the product label. Remember to apply the suggested dose and it is preferable to place less fertilizer doses, than to exceed fertilizer.
- In order for the plant to flower more abundantly, when the flowers dry, cut above the third bud of the floral stem and in the next flowering its flowers will be stronger.
- Orchids are suggested to be transplanted when the roots begin to come out from under the pot, this means that there is little soil left and fewer places for the roots. It is known to change to another pot no bigger than the plant because they grow better in small pots.
Nursery for Orchids
In case you have an abundant collection of Orchids and this hobby began to have more importance and therefore you want to continue growing and caring for these plants or want to grow them for sale, it is suggested to build a nursery for their maintenance and flowering. Considerations to take:
- Build a place that is pleasant and functional to grow Orchids, with the aim of maintaining interest in their cultivation.
- Build a good nursery without having to be expensive.
- Choose a place where it does not get much shadow from walls or trees, has good lighting and ventilation.
- The materials with which the nursery is built must be resistant to environmental conditions and above all to humidity, fungi, corrosion and insects.
- Taking into consideration the height of the ceilings and the nursery fabrics or meshes to provide shade and the plastics to control rainwater, are essential to create the different environments within the nursery space.
In addition to these conditions, other basic aspects must also be taken into account so that the plants that are going to be cultivated achieve adequate growth and flowering.
- Climate. This is a fundamental aspect to consider. Depending on the weather conditions and the types of Orchids you want to grow and reproduce, the nursery will be totally closed or open, with higher or lower ceilings.
- Location. In this aspect, both the geographical location and the specific location selected within the selected terrain surface are taken into account. Like the slope, vegetation of the area, bodies of water and others.
- Nursery area. It refers to the measures of length and width of the structure of the nursery, this to take the space of the nursery to the most commercial measures of the construction materials that are sold in the market.
- Budget. It is suggested to be a good administrator of the resources in view, that a place to grow Orchid plants can be expensive or very cheap and bring the same benefit to the cultivated plants.
- Plant species. Orchid growers often want to have a nursery in which to propagate and care for a large number of orchid genera. However, to achieve proper growth of all of them is a bit difficult. For this reason, it is suggested to group in the same nursery the genera of Orchids with the same or similar requirements of environmental conditions.
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