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{{Short description|Family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales}}
{{For multi|the color|Orchid (color)|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = {{fossil range|80|0}}[[Late Cretaceous]] – Present
| image = White orchid in Clara bog. 03.jpg
| image_caption =
| taxon = Orchidaceae
| authority = [[Antoine Laurent de Jussieu|Juss.]]<ref name=APGIII2009>{{Cite journal |last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group |year=2009 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–121 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x |doi-access=free |hdl=10654/18083 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
| type_genus = ''[[Orchis]]''
| type_genus_authority = [[Tourn.]] ''ex'' [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
| subdivision =
* [[Apostasioideae]] <small>Horaninov</small>
* [[Cypripedioideae]] <small>Kosteletzky</small>
* [[Epidendroideae]] <small>Kosteletzky</small>
* [[Orchidoideae]] <small>Eaton</small>
* [[Vanilloideae]] <small>Szlachetko</small>
| range_map = Orchidaceae.png
| range_map_caption = Distribution range of family Orchidaceae
}}

'''Orchids''' are plants that belong to the [[family (biology)|family]] '''Orchidaceae''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɔːr|k|ɪ|ˈ|d|eɪ|s|i|.|iː|,_|-|s|i|.|aɪ}}),<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Philip B. |editor-last=Gove  |title=Webster's Third New International Dictionary |publisher=G. & C. Merriam |year=1961 }}</ref> a diverse and widespread group of [[flowering plant]]s with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are [[cosmopolitan distribution|cosmopolitan]] plants that are found in almost every [[habitat (ecology)|habitat]] on Earth except [[glacier]]s. The world's richest diversity of orchid genera and species is found in the [[tropics]].

Orchidaceae is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, along with the [[Asteraceae]]. It contains about 28,000 currently accepted [[species]] distributed across 763 [[genus|genera]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Christenhusz, M. J. M. |author2=Byng, J. W. |name-list-style=amp | year = 2016 | title = The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase | journal = Phytotaxa | volume = 261 | pages = 201–217 | url = http://biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/download/phytotaxa.261.3.1/20598 | doi = 10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1 | issue = 3 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.kew.org/cgi-bin/vpfg1992/genlist.pl?ORCHIDACEAE|title=WCSP|work=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families|access-date=2 April 2010|archive-date=28 December 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121228032913/http://data.kew.org/cgi-bin/vpfg1992/genlist.pl?ORCHIDACEAE|url-status=dead}} (See ''External links'' below).</ref>

The Orchidaceae family encompasses about 6–11% of all species of [[seed plants]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Yohan Pillon |author2=Mark W. Chase |name-list-style=amp |year=2007 |title=Taxonomic exaggeration and its effects on orchid conservation |journal=[[Conservation Biology (journal)|Conservation Biology]] |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=263–265 |doi=10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00573.x |pmid=17298532|bibcode=2007ConBi..21..263P |s2cid=30157588 |url=https://hal.ird.fr/ird-03644811 }}</ref> The largest genera are ''[[Bulbophyllum]]'' (2,000 species), ''[[Epidendrum]]'' (1,500 species), ''[[Dendrobium]]'' (1,400 species) and ''[[Pleurothallis]]'' (1,000 species). It also includes ''[[Vanilla (genus)|Vanilla]]'' (the genus of the [[Vanilla planifolia|vanilla plant]]), the type genus ''[[Orchis]]'', and many commonly cultivated plants such as ''[[Phalaenopsis]]'' and ''[[Cattleya]]''. Moreover, since the introduction of tropical species into cultivation in the 19th century, [[horticulture|horticulturists]] have produced many [[hybrid (biology)|hybrids]] and [[cultivar]]s.

== Description ==
[[File:Orchid high resolution.jpg|thumb|A ''Phalaenopsis'' flower]]

Orchids are easily distinguished from other plants, as they share some very evident derived characteristics or [[Synapomorphy|synapomorphies]]. Among these are: [[symmetry (biology)#Bilateral symmetry|bilateral symmetry]] of the flower ([[zygomorphic|zygomorphism]]), many [[resupination#Orchidaceae|resupinate]] flowers, a nearly always highly modified [[petal]] (labellum), fused [[stamen]]s and [[carpel]]s, and extremely small [[seed]]s.

=== Stem and roots ===
[[File:Anacamptis fragrans.JPG|thumb|Germinating seeds of the temperate orchid ''[[Anacamptis coriophora]]'']]
All orchids are [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herbaceous plant|herb]]s that lack any permanent [[Lignin|woody]] structure. They can grow according to two patterns:
* '''[[Monopodial]]''': The stem grows from a single bud, leaves are added from the apex each year, and the stem grows longer accordingly. The stem of orchids with a monopodial growth can reach several metres in length, as in ''[[Vanda]]'' and ''[[Vanilla (genus)|Vanilla]]''.
* '''[[Sympodial]]''': Sympodial orchids have a front (the newest growth) and a back (the oldest growth).<ref>Nash, N., and Frownie, S. (2008). ''Complete guide to orchids''. (Meredith Publishing Group) p. 12.</ref> The plant produces a series of adjacent shoots, which grow to a certain size, bloom and then stop growing and are replaced. Sympodial orchids grow horizontally, rather than vertically, following the surface of their support. The growth continues by development of new leads, with their own leaves and roots, sprouting from or next to those of the previous year, as in ''[[Cattleya]]''. While a new lead is developing, the [[rhizome]] may start its growth again from a so-called 'eye', an undeveloped bud, thereby branching. Sympodial orchids may have visible [[pseudobulb]]s joined by a ''[[rhizome]]'', which creeps along the top or just beneath the soil.

[[File:Orchis lactea rhizotubers.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Neotinea lactea]]'',
collected in [[Sardinia]]; the small size, compared to a one-Euro coin, and the two [[Globose (botany)|globose]] tuberoids typical of the ''[[Neotinea]]'' genus are highlighted]]

Terrestrial orchids may be [[rhizome|rhizomatous]] or form [[corm]]s or [[tuber]]s. The root caps of terrestrial orchids are smooth and white.

Some sympodial terrestrial orchids, such as ''[[Orchis]]'' and ''[[Ophrys]]'', have two subterranean [[tuberous root]]s. One is used as a food reserve for wintry periods, and provides for the development of the other one, from which visible growth develops.

In warm and constantly humid climates, many terrestrial orchids do not need pseudobulbs.

[[Epiphyte|Epiphytic]] orchids, those that grow upon a support, have modified [[aerial root]]s that can sometimes be a few meters long. In the older parts of the roots, a modified spongy [[epidermis (botany)|epidermis]], called a [[velamen]], has the function of absorbing humidity. It is made of dead cells and can have a silvery-grey, white or brown appearance. In some orchids, the velamen includes spongy and fibrous bodies near the passage cells, called tilosomes.

The cells of the root epidermis grow at a right angle to the axis of the root to allow them to get a firm grasp on their support. Nutrients for epiphytic orchids mainly come from mineral dust, organic detritus, animal droppings and other substances collecting among on their supporting surfaces.

[[File:Pseudobulbe.jpg|thumb|Pseudobulb of ''[[Prosthechea fragrans]]'']]
The base of the stem of sympodial epiphytes, or in some species essentially the entire stem, may be thickened to form a [[pseudobulb]] that contains nutrients and water for drier periods.

The pseudobulb typically has a smooth surface with lengthwise grooves, and can have different shapes, often conical or oblong. Its size is very variable; in some small species of ''[[Bulbophyllum]]'', it is no longer than two millimeters, while in the largest orchid in the world, ''[[Grammatophyllum speciosum]]'' (giant orchid), it can reach three meters. Some ''[[Dendrobium]]'' species have long, canelike pseudobulbs with short, rounded leaves over the whole length; some other orchids have hidden or extremely small pseudobulbs, completely included inside the leaves.

With ageing the pseudobulb sheds its leaves and becomes dormant. At this stage it is often called a backbulb. Backbulbs still hold nutrition for the plant, but then a pseudobulb usually takes over, exploiting the last reserves accumulated in the backbulb, which eventually dies off, too. A pseudobulb typically lives for about five years. Orchids without noticeable pseudobulbs are also said to have growths, an individual component of a sympodial plant.

=== Leaves ===

Like most [[monocot]]s, orchids generally have simple [[leaf|leaves]] with [[Leaf#Vein|parallel veins]], although some [[Vanilloideae]] have reticulate [[leaf|venation]]. Leaves may be ovate, lanceolate, or orbiculate, and very variable in size on the individual plant. Their characteristics are often diagnostic. They are normally [[phyllotaxis|alternate]] on the stem, often folded lengthwise along the centre ("plicate"), and have no [[stipule]]s. Orchid leaves often have [[silica|siliceous]] bodies called stegmata in the [[vascular bundle]] sheaths (not present in the [[Orchidoideae]]) and are fibrous.

The structure of the leaves corresponds to the specific habitat of the plant. Species that typically bask in sunlight, or grow on sites which can be occasionally very dry, have thick, leathery leaves and the [[Leaf anatomy|laminae]] are covered by a waxy [[Plant cuticle|cuticle]] to retain their necessary water supply. Shade-loving species, on the other hand, have long, thin leaves.

The leaves of most orchids are perennial, that is, they live for several years, while others, especially those with plicate leaves as in ''[[Catasetum]]'', shed them annually and develop new leaves together with new pseudobulbs.

The leaves of some orchids are considered ornamental. The leaves of ''[[Macodes sanderiana]]'', a semiterrestrial or rock-hugging ("[[lithophyte]]") orchid, show a sparkling silver and gold veining on a light green background. The cordate leaves of ''[[Psychopsiella|Psychopsiella limminghei]]'' are light brownish-green with maroon-puce markings, created by flower pigments. The attractive mottle of the leaves of [[lady's slipper]]s from tropical and subtropical Asia (''[[Paphiopedilum]]''), is caused by uneven distribution of chlorophyll. Also, ''[[Phalaenopsis schilleriana]]'' is a pastel pink orchid with leaves spotted dark green and light green. The jewel orchid (''[[Ludisia|Ludisia discolor]]'') is grown more for its colorful leaves than its white flowers.

Some orchids, such as ''[[Dendrophylax lindenii]]'' (ghost orchid), ''[[Aphyllorchis]]'' and ''[[Taeniophyllum]]'' depend on their green roots for [[photosynthesis]] and lack normally developed leaves, as do all of the [[heterotrophy|heterotrophic]] species.

Orchids of the genus ''[[Corallorhiza]]'' (coralroot orchids) lack leaves altogether and instead have symbiotic or parasitic associations with fungal mycelium, though which they absorb sugars.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jenny King |title=The coralroot orchid |url=http://www.exploresmos.org/nature/orchids-northern-washington-state/ |work=Orchids in Northern Washington State |publisher=Silvercrown Mountain Outdoor School |access-date=10 June 2011 |date=2011-06-10 |archive-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021054855/http://www.exploresmos.org/nature/orchids-northern-washington-state/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Flowers ===
Orchid flowers have three [[sepal]]s, three petals and a three-chambered [[Ovary (botany)|ovary]]. The three sepals and two of the petals are often similar to each other but one petal is usually highly modified, forming a "lip" or [[Labellum (botany)|labellum]]. In most orchid genera, as the flower develops, it undergoes a twisting through 180°, called [[resupination]], so that the labellum lies below the [[Column (botany)|column]]. The labellum functions to attract insects, and in resupinate flowers, also acts as a landing stage, or sometimes a trap.<ref name="Hoffman">{{cite book |last1=Hoffman |first1=Noel |last2=Brown |first2=Andrew |title=Orchids of South-West Australia. |date=August 2011 |publisher=Noel Hoffman |location=Gooseberry Hill |isbn=9780646562322 |page=13 |edition=3rd}}</ref><ref name="Brown">{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Andrew |last2=Dixon |first2=Kingsley |last3=French |first3=Christopher |last4=Brockman |first4=Gary |title=Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia |date=2013 |publisher=Simon Nevill Publications |location=Floreat, W.A. |isbn=9780980348149 |pages=16–17}}</ref><ref name="nzpcn">{{cite web |title=Structure of orchid flowers |url=https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/vascular/flowering-plants/monocots/orchids/structure/ |publisher=New Zealand Plant Conservation Network |access-date=15 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="boo">{{cite web |last1=Zimmermann |first1=Pedro |title=Anatomy of an Orchid |url=https://sites.millersville.edu/jasheeha/webDesign/websites/OOroot/anatomy.html |publisher=Brasilian Orchid Organisation |access-date=15 April 2022}}</ref>
[[File:Caladenia alpina (labelled).jpg|thumb|Labelled image of ''[[Caladenia alpina]]'']][[File:Diuris (labelled).jpg|thumb|Labelled image of ''[[Diuris carinata]]'']]

The reproductive parts of an orchid flower are unique in that the [[stamen]]s and [[Style (botany)|style]] are joined to form a single structure, the [[column (botany)|column]].<ref name="nzpcn" /><ref name="boo" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/orchid.htm |title=Flowering Plant Families |last=Carr |first=Gerald |date=30 October 2005 |website=Vascular Plant Family |publisher=University of Hawaii Botany Department |access-date=3 August 2022}}</ref> Instead of being released singly, thousands of [[pollen]] grains are contained in one or two bundles called [[Pollinium|pollinia]] that are attached to a sticky disc near the top of the column. Just below the pollinia is a second, larger sticky plate called the [[Stigma (botany)|stigma]].<ref name="Hoffman" /><ref name="Brown" /><ref name="nzpcn" /><ref name="boo" />

==Reproduction==
=== Pollination ===
{{Main|Pollination of orchids}}
The complex mechanisms that orchids have evolved to achieve [[Allogamy|cross-pollination]] were investigated by [[Charles Darwin]] and described in ''[[Fertilisation of Orchids]]'' (1862). Orchids have developed highly specialized [[pollination]] systems, thus the chances of being pollinated are often scarce, so orchid flowers usually remain receptive for very long periods, rendering unpollinated flowers long-lasting in cultivation. Most orchids deliver pollen in a single mass. Each time pollination succeeds, thousands of ovules can be fertilized.

Pollinators are often visually attracted by the shape and colours of the labellum. However, some ''[[Bulbophyllum]]'' species attract male fruit flies (''[[Bactrocera]]'' and ''[[Zeugodacus]]'' spp.) solely via a floral chemical which simultaneously acts as a floral reward (e.g. [[methyl eugenol]], raspberry [[ketone]], or [[zingerone]]) to perform pollination.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Tan K.H. |author2=Nishida R. | year = 2000 | title = Mutual reproductive benefits between a wild orchid, ''Bulbophyllum patens'', and ''Bactrocera'' fruit flies via a floral synomone | doi = 10.1023/A:1005477926244 | journal = Journal of Chemical Ecology | volume = 26 | issue = 2| pages = 533–546 |s2cid=24971928 }}, '''28''':1161-1172 and '''31'''(3): 509-519.</ref> The flowers may produce attractive odours. Although absent in most species, [[nectar]] may be produced in a [[spur (biology)|spur]] of the labellum ('''8''' in the illustration above), or on the point of the sepals, or in the septa of the ovary, the most typical position amongst the [[Asparagales]].

[[File:Phalaenopsis pollinia on toothpick.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Phalaenopsis]]'' pollinia (orange) attached to a toothpick with its sticky [[viscidium]]]]

In orchids that produce pollinia, pollination happens as some variant of the following sequence: when the pollinator enters into the flower, it touches a viscidium, which promptly sticks to its body, generally on the head or abdomen. While leaving the flower, it pulls the pollinium out of the anther, as it is connected to the viscidium by the caudicle or stipe. The caudicle then bends and the pollinium is moved forwards and downwards. When the pollinator enters another flower of the same species, the pollinium has taken such position that it will stick to the stigma of the second flower, just below the rostellum, pollinating it. In horticulture, [[Hand-pollination|artificial orchid pollination]] is achieved by removing the pollinia with a small instrument such as a toothpick from the pollen parent and transferring them to the seed parent.

[[File:Ophrys apifera flower2.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Ophrys apifera]]'' is about to self-pollinate]]

Some orchids mainly or totally rely on [[self-pollination]], especially in colder regions where pollinators are particularly rare. The caudicles may dry up if the flower has not been visited by any pollinator, and the pollinia then fall directly on the stigma. Otherwise, the anther may rotate and then enter the stigma cavity of the flower (as in ''[[Holcoglossum amesianum]]'').

The slipper orchid ''[[Paphiopedilum parishii]]'' reproduces by [[Self-pollination|self-fertilization]]. This occurs when the anther changes from a solid to a liquid state and directly contacts the stigma surface without the aid of any pollinating agent or floral assembly.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Chen LJ, Liu KW, Xiao XJ, Tsai WC, Hsiao YY, Huang J, Liu ZJ |title=The anther steps onto the stigma for self-fertilization in a slipper orchid |journal=PLOS ONE|volume=7 |issue=5 |pages=e37478 |year=2012 |pmid=22649529 |pmc=3359306 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0037478 |bibcode=2012PLoSO...737478C |doi-access=free }}</ref>

The labellum of the [[Cypripedioideae]] is [[Poke bonnet|poke bonnet-shaped]], and has the function of trapping visiting insects. The only exit leads to the anthers that deposit pollen on the visitor.

In some extremely specialized orchids, such as the Eurasian genus ''[[Ophrys]]'', the labellum is adapted to have a colour, shape, and odour which attracts male insects via [[mimicry]] of a receptive female. Pollination happens as the insect attempts to mate with flowers.

Many neotropical orchids are pollinated by male [[euglossini|orchid bees]], which visit the flowers to gather volatile chemicals they require to synthesize [[pheromone|pheromonal]] attractants. Males of such species as ''[[Euglossa imperialis]]'' or ''[[Eulaema meriana]]'' have been observed to leave their territories periodically to forage for aromatic compounds, such as cineole, to synthesize pheromone for attracting and mating with females.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Kimsey Lynn Siri | year = 1980 | title = The behaviour of male orchid bees (Apidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta) and the question of leks | doi = 10.1016/s0003-3472(80)80088-1| journal = Animal Behaviour | volume = 28 | issue = 4| pages = 996–1004 | s2cid = 53161684 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title = Species-specific attraction to pheromonal analogues in orchid bees|journal = Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology|date = 2006-07-19|issn = 0340-5443|pages = 833–843|volume = 60|issue = 6|doi = 10.1007/s00265-006-0227-8|first1 = Yvonne|last1 = Zimmermann|first2 = David W.|last2 = Roubik|first3 = Thomas|last3 = Eltz| bibcode=2006BEcoS..60..833Z |s2cid = 20819411}}</ref> Each type of orchid places the pollinia on a different body part of a different species of bee, so as to enforce proper cross-pollination.

A rare [[wikt:achlorophyllous|achlorophyllous]] [[Saprophyte|saprophytic]] orchid growing entirely underground in Australia, ''[[Rhizanthella slateri]]'', is never exposed to light, and depends on [[ant]]s and other terrestrial insects to pollinate it.

''[[Catasetum]]'', a genus discussed briefly by [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]], actually launches its viscid pollinia with explosive force when an insect touches a [[seta]], knocking the pollinator off the flower.

After pollination, the sepals and petals fade and wilt, but they usually remain attached to the ovary.

In 2011, <!-- a member of the genus ''[[Bulbophyllum]]'', --> ''[[Bulbophyllum nocturnum]]'' was discovered to flower nocturnally.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/worlds-first-night-flowering-orchid-discovered-in-papua-new-guinea.htm/ |title=World's first night-flowering orchid discovered |author=Tom Lawrie |publisher=[[Australian Geographic]] |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=26 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130073555/http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/worlds-first-night-flowering-orchid-discovered-in-papua-new-guinea.htm |archive-date=30 November 2011 }}</ref>

=== Asexual reproduction  ===
Some species, such as in the genera ''Phalaenopsis'', ''Dendrobium'', and ''Vanda'', produce offshoots or plantlets formed from one of the [[node (botany)|nodes]] along the [[Plant stem|stem]], through the accumulation of growth hormones at that point. These shoots are known as [[keiki]].<ref>Matthew Blanchard, Roberto Lopez, Erik Runkle, PhD, and Yin-Tung Wang, PhD [https://sharepoint.agriculture.purdue.edu/agriculture/flowers/Shared%20Documents/3%20-%20Growing%20the%20Best%20Phalaenopsis%20Part%204.pdf "Growing the Best ''Phalaenopsis''"], ''WWW.AOS.ORG'' ORCHIDS APRIL 2007 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627082834/https://sharepoint.agriculture.purdue.edu/agriculture/flowers/Shared%20Documents/3%20-%20Growing%20the%20Best%20Phalaenopsis%20Part%204.pdf |date=June 27, 2010 }}</ref>

''[[Epipogium aphyllum]]'' exhibits a dual reproductive strategy, engaging in both sexual and asexual seed production. The likelihood of [[apomixis]] playing a substantial role in successful reproduction appears minimal. Within certain petite orchid species groups, there is a noteworthy preparation of female gametes for fertilization preceding the act of pollination. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Krawczyk |first1=Emilia |last2=Rojek |first2=Joanna |last3=Kowalkowska |first3=Agnieszka K. |last4=Kapusta |first4=Małgorzata |last5=Znaniecka |first5=Joanna |last6=Minasiewicz |first6=Julita |date=2016 |title=Evidence for mixed sexual and asexual reproduction in the rare European mycoheterotrophic orchid Epipogium aphyllum , Orchidaceae (ghost orchid) |journal=Annals of Botany |language=en |volume=118 |issue=1 |pages=159–172 |doi=10.1093/aob/mcw084 |issn=0305-7364 |pmc=4934402 |pmid=27288512}}</ref>

=== Fruits and seeds ===
[[File:Kapselquerschnitte Orchideen.png|thumb|Cross-sections of orchid capsules showing the longitudinal slits]]
The ovary typically develops into a [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]] that is [[dehiscent]] by three or six longitudinal slits, while remaining closed at both ends.

The [[seed]]s are generally almost microscopic and very numerous, in some species over a million per capsule. After ripening, they blow off like dust particles or spores. Most orchid species lack [[endosperm]] in their seed and must enter symbiotic relationships with various [[Orchid mycorrhiza|mycorrhizal]] [[basidiomycete]]ous [[fungi]] that provide them the necessary nutrients to germinate, so almost all orchid species are [[mycoheterotrophic]] during germination and reliant upon fungi to complete their lifecycles. Only a handful of orchid species have seed that can germinate without [[Orchid mycorrhiza|mycorrhiza]], namely the species within the genus [[Disa (plant)|''Disa'']] with [[Seed dispersal#Water|hydrochorous]] seeds.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=David Ian |title=Conservation of select South African Disa Berg. Species (Orchidaceae) through in vitro seed germination |date=2003 |publisher=University of Natal}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kurzweil |first1=H. |title=Seed morphology in Southern African Orchidoideae (Orchidaceae) |journal=Plant Systematics and Evolution |date=September 1993 |volume=185 |issue=3–4 |pages=229–247 |doi=10.1007/BF00937660|bibcode=1993PSyEv.185..229K |s2cid=41321812 }}</ref>

[[File:Disa seedling on a thumbtack.jpg|thumb|''[[Disa uniflora]]'' seedling on a sphagnum leaf, on a thumbtack]]

As the chance for a seed to meet a suitable fungus is very small, only a minute fraction of all the seeds released grow into adult plants. In cultivation, germination typically takes weeks.

[[Horticultural]] techniques have been devised for germinating orchid seeds on an artificial nutrient medium, eliminating the requirement of the [[fungus]] for germination and greatly aiding the propagation of ornamental orchids. The usual medium for the sowing of orchids in artificial conditions is [[agar]] gel combined with a [[carbohydrate]] energy source. The carbohydrate source can be combinations of discrete sugars or can be derived from other sources such as [[banana]], [[pineapple]], [[peach]], or even [[tomato]] puree or [[coconut water]]. After the preparation of the agar medium, it is poured into [[test tubes]] or jars which are then autoclaved (or cooked in a pressure cooker) to sterilize the medium. After cooking, the medium begins to gel as it cools.

== Taxonomy ==
{{Main|Taxonomy of the Orchid family}}

The [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomy]] of this family is in constant flux, as new studies continue to clarify the relationships between species and groups of species, allowing more [[taxa]] at several [[Taxonomic rank|ranks]] to be recognized. The Orchidaceae is currently placed in the [[Order (biology)|order]] [[Asparagales]] by the [[APG III system]] of 2009.<ref name=APGIII2009 />

Five [[subfamilies]] are recognised. The [[cladogram]] below was made according to the [[APG system]] of 1998. It represents the view that most botanists had held up to that time. It was supported by [[Plant morphology|morphological]] [[Research|studies]], but never received strong support in [[molecular phylogenetic]] studies.

{{clade|style=font-size:80%;line-height:75%
|1={{clade|1='''[[Apostasioideae]]''': 2 genera and 16 species, south-eastern [[Asia]]
|2={{clade|1='''[[Cypripedioideae]]''': 5 genera and 130 species, from the temperate regions of the world, as well as tropical [[Americas|America]] and tropical Asia|label2=&nbsp;Monandrae&nbsp;
|2={{clade|1='''[[Vanilloideae]]''': 15 genera and 180 species, humid tropical and subtropical regions, eastern [[North America]]
|2={{clade|1='''[[Epidendroideae]]''': more than 500 genera and more or less 20,000 species, cosmopolitan
|2='''[[Orchidoideae]]''': 208 genera and 3,630 species, cosmopolitan
}}}}}}}}}}

In 2015, a [[phylogenetic]] study<ref>{{Cite journal |author1=Guillaume Chomicki |author2=Luc P.R. Bidel |author3=Feng Ming |author4=Mario Coiro |author5=Xuan Zhang |author6=Yaofeng Wang |author7=Yves Baissac |author8=Christian Jay-Allemand |author9=Susanne S. Renner |name-list-style=amp | date = 2015 | title = The velamen protects photosynthetic orchid roots against UV-B damage, and a large dated phylogeny implies multiple gains and losses of this function during the Cenozoic | journal = New Phytologist | volume = 205 | issue = 3 | pages = 1330–1341 | doi=10.1111/nph.13106|pmid=25345817 |doi-access=free }}</ref> showed strong [[Resampling (statistics)|statistical support]] for the following [[topology]] of the orchid [[Phylogenetic tree|tree]], using 9 [[Base pair|kb]] of [[plastid]] and [[Cell nucleus|nuclear]] [[DNA]] from 7 [[gene]]s, a topology that was confirmed by a [[phylogenomic]] study in the same year.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Givnish | first1 = Thomas J. | last2 = Spalink | first2 = Daniel | last3 = Ames | first3 = Mercedes | last4 = Lyon | first4 = Stephanie P. | last5 = Hunter | first5 = Steven J. | last6 = Zuluaga | first6 = Alejandro | last7 = Iles | first7 = William J.D. | last8 = Clements | first8 = Mark A. | last9 = Arroyo | first9 = Mary T.K. | last10 = Leebens-Mack | first10 = James | last11 = Endara | first11 = Lorena | last12 = Kriebel | first12 = Ricardo | last13 = Neubig | first13 = Kurt M. | last14 = Whitten | first14 = W. Mark | last15 = Williams | first15 = Norris H. | last16 = Cameron | first16 = Kenneth M. | year = 2015 | title = Orchid phylogenomics and multiple drivers of their extraordinary diversification | journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences | volume =  282| issue = 1814| page =  20151553| doi = 10.1098/rspb.2015.1553 | pmid = 26311671 | pmc = 4571710 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

{{clade|style=font-size:80%;line-height:75%
|1={{clade|1='''[[Apostasioideae]]'''
|2={{clade|1='''[[Vanilloideae]]'''
|2={{clade|1='''[[Cypripedioideae]]'''
|2={{clade|1='''[[Epidendroideae]]'''
|2='''[[Orchidoideae]]'''
}}}}}}}}}}

=== Evolution ===

A study in the scientific journal ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' has hypothesised that the origin of the orchids goes back much longer than originally expected.<ref name="Origin of the orchids">{{cite journal |author1=Santiago R. Ramírez |author2=Barbara Gravendeel |author3=Rodrigo B. Singer |author4=Charles R. Marshall |author5=Naomi E. Pierce | title=Dating the origin of the Orchidaceae from a fossil orchid with its pollinator| journal=Nature | date=30 August 2007| volume=448| pages=1042–5| doi=10.1038/nature06039 | pmid=17728756 | issue=7157|bibcode=2007Natur.448.1042R |s2cid=4402181 }}</ref> An extinct species of stingless bee, ''Proplebeia dominicana'', was found trapped in [[Miocene]] [[amber]] from about 15–20&nbsp;million years ago. The bee was carrying [[pollen]] of a previously unknown orchid taxon, ''[[Meliorchis caribea]]'', on its wings. This find is the first evidence of fossilised orchids to date<ref name="Origin of the orchids" /> and shows insects were active [[pollinator]]s of orchids then. This extinct orchid, ''M. caribea'', has been placed within the extant tribe [[Cranichideae]], subtribe [[Goodyerinae]] (subfamily [[Orchidoideae]]). An even older orchid species, ''[[Succinanthera baltica]]'', was described from the [[Eocene]] [[Baltic amber]] by [[George Poinar Jr.|Poinar]] & Rasmussen (2017).<ref>{{Cite journal|author1=George Poinar, Jr. |author2=Finn N. Rasmussen |year=2017 |title=Orchids from the past, with a new species in Baltic amber |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=183 |issue=3 |pages=327–333 |doi=10.1093/botlinnean/bow018 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Genetic sequencing indicates orchids may have arisen earlier, 76 to 84&nbsp;million years ago during the [[Late Cretaceous]].<ref>[http://ir.lib.ncku.edu.tw/bitstream/987654321/108263/2/An%20overview%20of%20the%20Phalaenopsis%20orchid%20genome%20by%20BAC%20end%20sequence%20analysis.pdf "An overview of the ''Phalaenopsis'' orchid genome by BAC sequence analysis" (pdf format)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320133049/http://ir.lib.ncku.edu.tw/bitstream/987654321/108263/2/An%20overview%20of%20the%20Phalaenopsis%20orchid%20genome%20by%20BAC%20end%20sequence%20analysis.pdf |date=20 March 2014 }}.</ref> According to [[Mark W. Chase]] ''et al.'' (2001), the overall biogeography and phylogenetic patterns of Orchidaceae show they are even older and may go back roughly 100&nbsp;million years.<ref>{{cite book |author=Mark W. Chase |year=2001 |chapter=The origin and biogeography of Orchidaceae |editor=A. M. Pridgeon |editor2=P. J. Cribb |editor3=M. W. Chase |editor4=F. Rasmussen |series=Genera Orchidacearum |volume=2 |title=Orchidoideae (Part 1) |pages=1–5 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-850710-9|author-link=Mark W. Chase }}</ref>

Using the [[molecular clock]] method, it was possible to determine the age of the major branches of the orchid family. This also confirmed that the subfamily [[Vanilloideae]] is a branch at the basal dichotomy of the [[monandrous]] orchids, and must have evolved very early in the evolution of the family. Since this subfamily occurs worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, from tropical America to tropical Asia, New Guinea and West Africa, and the continents began to split about 100&nbsp;million years ago, significant biotic exchange must have occurred after this split (since the age of ''Vanilla'' is estimated at 60 to 70&nbsp;million years). Recent biogeographic studies conducted on densely sampled phylogenies indicated that the [[most recent common ancestor]] of all extant orchids probably originated somewhere 83 million years ago in the supercontinent [[Laurasia]].<ref name="Perez-Escobar-2024">{{Cite journal |last1=Pérez-Escobar |first1=Oscar A. |last2=Bogarín |first2=Diego |last3=Przelomska |first3=Natalia A. S. |last4=Ackerman |first4=James D. |last5=Balbuena |first5=Juan A. |last6=Bellot |first6=Sidonie |last7=Bühlmann |first7=Roland P. |last8=Cabrera |first8=Betsaida |last9=Cano |first9=Jose Aguilar |last10=Charitonidou |first10=Martha |last11=Chomicki |first11=Guillaume |last12=Clements |first12=Mark A. |last13=Cribb |first13=Phillip |last14=Fernández |first14=Melania |last15=Flanagan |first15=Nicola S. |date=April 2024 |title=The origin and speciation of orchids |url=https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.19580 |journal=New Phytologist |language=en |volume=242 |issue=2 |pages=700–716 |doi=10.1111/nph.19580 |pmid=38382573 |issn=0028-646X|hdl=10550/97112 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Despite their long evolutionary history on Earth, the extant orchid diversity is also inferred to have originated during the last 5 million years,<ref name="Perez-Escobar-2024" /> with the American and Asian tropics as the geopgraphic areas exhibiting the highest speciation rates (i.e., number of speciation events per million years) on Earth.

Genome duplication occurred prior to the divergence of this taxon.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1038/nature23897|pmid=28902843|title=The Apostasia genome and the evolution of orchids|journal=Nature|volume=549|issue=7672|pages=379–383|year=2017|last1=Zhang|first1=Guo-Qiang|last2=Liu|first2=Ke-Wei|last3=Li|first3=Zhen|last4=Lohaus|first4=Rolf|last5=Hsiao|first5=Yu-Yun|last6=Niu|first6=Shan-Ce|last7=Wang|first7=Jie-Yu|last8=Lin|first8=Yao-Cheng|last9=Xu|first9=Qing|last10=Chen|first10=Li-Jun|last11=Yoshida|first11=Kouki|last12=Fujiwara|first12=Sumire|last13=Wang|first13=Zhi-Wen|last14=Zhang|first14=Yong-Qiang|last15=Mitsuda|first15=Nobutaka|last16=Wang|first16=Meina|last17=Liu|first17=Guo-Hui|last18=Pecoraro|first18=Lorenzo|last19=Huang|first19=Hui-Xia|last20=Xiao|first20=Xin-Ju|last21=Lin|first21=Min|last22=Wu|first22=Xin-Yi|last23=Wu|first23=Wan-Lin|last24=Chen|first24=You-Yi|last25=Chang|first25=Song-Bin|last26=Sakamoto|first26=Shingo|last27=Ohme-Takagi|first27=Masaru|last28=Yagi|first28=Masafumi|last29=Zeng|first29=Si-Jin|last30=Shen|first30=Ching-Yu|pmc=7416622|bibcode=2017Natur.549..379Z|display-authors=29|url=https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8533332/file/8533333.pdf}}</ref>

=== Genera ===
{{Main|List of Orchidaceae genera}}
There are around 800 genera of orchids. The following are amongst the most notable genera of the orchid family:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orchidaceae - an overview {{!}} ScienceDirect Topics |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/orchidaceae |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=www.sciencedirect.com}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=9em}}
* ''[[Aa (plant)|Aa]]''
* ''[[Abdominea]]''
* ''[[Acampe]]''
* ''[[Acanthophippium]]''
* ''[[Aceratorchis]]''
* ''[[Acianthus]]''
* ''[[Acineta]]''
* ''[[Acrorchis]]''
* ''[[Ada (plant)|Ada]]''
* ''[[Aerangis]]''
* ''[[Aeranthes]]''
* ''[[Aerides]]''
* ''[[Aganisia]]''
* ''[[Agrostophyllum]]''
* ''[[Anacamptis]]''
* ''[[Ancistrochilus]]''
* ''[[Angraecum]]''
* ''[[Anguloa]]''
* ''[[Ansellia]]''
* ''[[Aorchis]]''
* ''[[Aplectrum]]''
* ''[[Arachnis (plant)|Arachnis]]''
* ''[[Arethusa (plant)|Arethusa]]''
* ''[[Armodorum]]''
* ''[[Ascoglossum]]''
* ''[[Australorchis]]''
* ''[[Auxopus]]''
* ''[[Barkeria]]''
* ''[[Bartholina]]''
* ''[[Beloglottis]]''
* ''[[Biermannia]]''
* ''[[Bletilla]]''
* ''[[Brassavola]]''
* ''[[Brassia]]''
* ''[[Bulbophyllum]]''
* ''[[Calanthe]]''
* ''[[Calypso (plant)|Calypso]]''
* ''[[Catasetum]]''
* ''[[Cattleya]]''
* ''[[Chiloschista]]''
* ''[[Cirrhopetalum]]''
* ''[[Cleisostoma]]''
* ''[[Clowesia]]''
* ''[[Coelogyne]]''
* ''[[Coryanthes]]''
* ''[[Cycnoches]]''
* ''[[Cymbidium]]''
* ''[[Cyrtopodium]]''
* ''[[Cypripedium]]''
* ''[[Dactylorhiza]]''
* ''[[Dendrobium]]''
* ''[[Disa (plant)|Disa]]''
* ''[[Dracula (plant)|Dracula]]''
* ''[[Encyclia]]''
* ''[[Epidendrum]]''
* ''[[Epipactis]]''
* ''[[Eria]]''
* ''[[Eulophia]]''
* ''[[Gastrochilus]]''
* ''[[Gongora]]''
* ''[[Goodyera]]''
* ''[[Grammatophyllum]]''
* ''[[Gymnadenia]]''
* ''[[Habenaria]]''
* ''[[Herschelia]]''
* ''[[Ionopsis]]''
* ''[[Laelia]]''
* ''[[Lepanthes]]''
* ''[[Liparis (plant)|Liparis]]''
* ''[[Ludisia]]''
* ''[[Lycaste]]''
* ''[[Masdevallia]]''
* ''[[Maxillaria]]''
* ''[[Meliorchis]]''
* ''[[Mexipedium]]''
* ''[[Miltonia]]''
* ''[[Mormodes]]''
* ''[[Odontoglossum]]''
* ''[[Oeceoclades]]''
* ''[[Oncidium]]''
* ''[[Ophrys]]''
* ''[[Orchis]]''
* ''[[Paphiopedilum]]''
* ''[[Papilionanthe]]''
* ''[[Paraphalaenopsis]]''
* ''[[Peristeria (plant)|Peristeria]]''
* ''[[Phaius]]''
* ''[[Phalaenopsis]]''
* ''[[Pholidota (plant)|Pholidota]]''
* ''[[Phragmipedium]]''
* ''[[Platanthera]]''
* ''[[Platystele]]''
* ''[[Pleione (plant)|Pleione]]''
* ''[[Pleurothallis]]''
* ''[[Pomatocalpa]]''
* ''[[Promenaea]]''
* ''[[Pterostylis]]''
* ''[[Renanthera]]''
* ''[[Restrepia]]''
* ''[[Restrepiella]]''
* ''[[Rhynchostylis]]''
* ''[[Roezliella]]''
* ''[[Saccolabium]]''
* ''[[Sarcochilus]]''
* ''[[Satyrium (plant)|Satyrium]]''
* ''[[Seidenfadenia]]''
* ''[[Selenipedium]]''
* ''[[Serapias]]''
* ''[[Sobralia]]''
* ''[[Spiranthes]]''
* ''[[Stanhopea]]''
* ''[[Stelis]]''
* ''[[Thrixspermum]]''
* ''[[Tolumnia (plant)|Tolumnia]]''
* ''[[Trias (plant)|Trias]]''
* ''[[Trichocentrum]]''
* ''[[Trichoglottis]]''
* ''[[Vanda]]''
* ''[[Vanilla (genus)|Vanilla]]''
* ''[[Yoania]]''
* ''[[Zeuxine]]''
* ''[[Zygopetalum]]''
{{div col end}}

=== Etymology ===

The [[type (biology)|type]] [[genus (biology)|genus]] (i.e. the genus after which the family is named) is ''[[Orchis]]''. The genus name comes from the [[Ancient Greek]] {{lang|grc|[[:wikt:ὄρχις|ὄρχις]]}} (''{{lang|grc|órkhis}}''), literally meaning "[[testicle]]", because of the shape of the twin tubers in some species of ''Orchis''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Joan Corominas |year=1980 |title=Breve Diccionario Etimológico de la Lengua Castellana |publisher=Ed. Gredos |isbn=978-84-249-1332-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/brevediccionario00colo/page/328 328] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/brevediccionario00colo/page/328 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hyam |first1=R. |last2=Pankhurst |first2=R.J. |year=1995 |title=Plants and their names : a concise dictionary |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-866189-4 |name-list-style=amp }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=o)/rxis |title=ὄρχις |last1=Liddell |first1=Henry George|last2=Scott|first2=Robert |work=A Greek-English Lexicon |publisher=Perseus Digital Library |date= 1940 }}</ref> The term "orchid" was introduced in 1845 by [[John Lindley]] in ''School Botany'',<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=orchid Online Etymology Dictionary, "orchid"].</ref> as a shortened form of ''Orchidaceae''.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Grigson |first1=G. |year=1973 |title=A Dictionary of English Plant Names |location=London |publisher=Allen Lane |isbn=978-0-7139-0442-0 }}</ref>

In [[Middle English]], the name ''bollockwort'' was used for some orchids, based on "[[wikt:bollock|bollock]]" meaning testicle and "[[wikt:wort#Etymology 1|wort]]" meaning plant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/21112|title=bollock, n. and adj.|website=[[Oxford English Dictionary]]|access-date=2018-01-19|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Hybrids ===
Orchid species hybridize readily in cultivation, leading to a large number of hybrids with complex naming.  Hybridization is possible across genera, and therefore many cultivated orchids are placed into [[Hybrid name|nothogenera]].  For instance, the nothogenus [[× Brassocattleya|× ''Brassocattleya'']] is used for all hybrids of species from the genera ''[[Brassavola]]'' and ''[[Cattleya]]''.  Nothogenera based on at least three genera may have names based on a person's name with the suffix ''[[wikt:-ara|-ara]]'', for instance [[× Colmanara|× ''Colmanara'']] = ''[[Miltonia]]'' × ''[[Odontoglossum]]'' × ''[[Oncidium]]''.  (The suffix is obligatory starting at four genera.<ref>[[International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants]] 9th edition (2016), Article H.6 and H.7.</ref>)

Cultivated hybrids in the orchid family are also special in that they are named by using [[Grex (horticulture)|grex]] nomenclature, rather than nothospecies.  For instance, hybrids between ''[[Brassavola nodosa]]'' and ''[[Brassavola acaulis]]'' are placed in the grex ''Brassavola'' Guiseppi.<ref>[https://bluenanta.com/common/information/100023580/?family=Orchidaceae&role=pri Brassavola Guiseppi Casa Luna 1968] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524163603/https://bluenanta.com/common/information/100023580/?family=Orchidaceae&role=pri |date=24 May 2023 }}, BlueNanta.</ref> The name of the grex ("Guiseppi" in this example) is written in a non-italic font without quotes.<ref>[[International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants]] 9th edition, 2016.</ref>

=== Abbreviations ===
As a unique feature of the orchid family, a system of abbreviations exists that applies to names of genera and nothogenera.  The system is maintained by the [[Royal Horticultural Society]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/plant-registration-forms/orchid-name-abbreviations-list.pdf| title = Alphabetical List of Standard Abbreviations for Natural and Hybrid Generic Names}}</ref>  These abbreviations consist of at least one character, but may be longer.  As opposed to the usual one-letter abbreviations used for names of genera, orchid abbreviations uniquely determine the (notho)genus.  They are widely used in cultivation.  Examples are ''Phal'' for ''[[Phalaenopsis]]'', ''V'' for ''[[Vanda]]'' and ''Cleis'' for ''[[Cleisostoma]]''.

== Distribution ==
Orchidaceae are [[cosmopolitan distribution|cosmopolitan]], occurring in almost every [[habitat (ecology)|habitat]] apart from [[glacier]]s. The world's richest diversity of orchid genera and species is found in the [[tropics]], but they are also found above the [[Arctic Circle]], in southern [[Patagonia]], and two species of ''[[Nematoceras]]'' on [[Macquarie Island]] at [[54th parallel south|54° south]].

The following list gives a rough overview of their distribution:{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}
* Oceania: 50 to 70 genera
* North America: 20 to 26 genera
* tropical America: 212 to 250 genera
* tropical Asia: 260 to 300 genera
* tropical Africa: 230 to 270 genera
* Europe and temperate Asia: 40 to 60 genera

== Ecology ==

A majority of orchids are [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[epiphyte]]s, which grow anchored to [[tree]]s or [[shrub]]s in the [[tropics]] and subtropics. Species such as ''[[Angraecum]] sororium'' are [[lithophyte]]s,<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Melissa Whitman |author2=Michael Medler |author3=Jean Jacques Randriamanindry |author4=Elisabeth Rabakonandrianina |year=2011 |title=Conservation of Madagascar's granite outcrop orchids: influence of fire and moisture |journal=[[Lankesteriana]] |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=55–67 |url=http://lankesteriana.org/lankesteriana/LANKESTERIANA%2011%281%29/9_Whitman%20et%20al.%202011.pdf |doi=10.15517/lank.v11i1.18315|doi-access=free }}</ref> growing on rocks or very rocky soil. Other orchids (including the majority of [[temperate]] Orchidaceae) are terrestrial and can be found in habitat areas such as grasslands or forest.

Some orchids, such as ''[[Neottia]]'' and ''[[Corallorhiza]]'', lack [[chlorophyll]], so are unable to photosynthesise. Instead, these species obtain energy and nutrients by [[parasitism|parasitising]] soil fungi through the formation of [[orchid mycorrhiza]]e. The fungi involved include those that form [[Ectomycorrhizal|ectomycorrhizas]] with trees and other woody plants, parasites such as ''[[Armillaria]]'', and [[saprotroph]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Jonathan R. Leake |year=2005 |title=Plants parasitic on fungi: unearthing the fungi in myco-heterotrophs and debunking the 'saprophytic' plant myth |journal=[[Mycologist (journal)|Mycologist]] |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=113–122 |doi=10.1017/S0269915X05003046}}</ref> These orchids are known as [[myco-heterotroph]]s, but were formerly (incorrectly) described as saprophytes as it was believed they gained their nutrition by breaking down organic matter. While only a few species are achlorophyllous [[Parasitic plant|holoparasites]], all orchids are myco-heterotrophic during germination and seedling growth, and even photosynthetic adult plants may continue to obtain carbon from their [[mycorrhiza]]l fungi.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sathiyadash|first1=Kullaiyan|last2=Muthukumar|first2=Thangavelu|last3=Uma|first3=Eswaranpillai|last4=Pandey|first4=Radha Raman|date=2012-09-01|title=Mycorrhizal association and morphology in orchids |journal=Journal of Plant Interactions|volume=7|issue=3|pages=238–247|doi=10.1080/17429145.2012.699105|issn=1742-9145|doi-access=free|bibcode=2012JPlaI...7..238S }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gebauer |first1=Gerhard |last2=Meyer |first2=M. |title=15 N and 13 C natural abundance of autotrophic and myco-heterotrophic orchids provides insight into nitrogen and carbon gain from fungal association |journal=New Phytologist |date=October 2003 |volume=160 |issue=1 |pages=209–223 |doi=10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00872.x|pmid=33873535 |s2cid=86046305 }}</ref> The symbiosis is typically maintained throughout the lifetime of the orchid because they depend on the fungus for nutrients, sugars and minerals.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pecoraro|first1=L.|last2=Girlanda|first2=M.|last3=Kull|first3=T.|last4=Perini|first4=C.|last5=Perotto|first5=S.|date=2012-12-01|title=Molecular identification of root fungal associates in Orchis pauciflora Tenore |journal=Plant Biosystems|volume=146|issue=4|pages=985–991|doi=10.1080/11263504.2011.634447|bibcode=2012PBios.146..985P |s2cid=59939679|issn=1126-3504|hdl=2318/93116|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

== Uses ==
[[File:2007-12-17AdventFlowerShop02.jpg|thumb|upright|As decoration in a flowerpot]]
[[File:Blc. Paradise Jewel 'Flame' Orchid bloom.JPG|thumb|upright|A [[× Brassolaeliocattleya|× ''Brassolaeliocattleya'']] ("BLC") Paradise Jewel 'Flame' hybrid orchid. Blooms of the ''[[Cattleya]]'' alliance are often used in ladies' [[corsage]]s.]]

=== Perfumery ===
The [[scent]] of orchids is frequently analysed by [[perfumer]]s (using [[headspace technology]] and [[gas-liquid chromatography]]/[[mass spectrometry]]) to identify potential fragrance chemicals.<ref>{{cite journal|pmid=26886766|pmc=4757410|year=2016|last1=Gross|first1=K. |title=Why Do Floral Perfumes Become Different? Region-Specific Selection on Floral Scent in a Terrestrial Orchid|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=11 |issue=2|pages=e0147975 |last2=Sun|first2=M |last3=Schiestl |first3=F. P. |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0147975|bibcode=2016PLoSO..1147975G|doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Horticulture ===
The other important use of orchids is their cultivation for the enjoyment of the flowers. Most cultivated orchids are [[tropics|tropical]] or [[subtropics|subtropical]], but quite a few that grow in colder climates can be found on the market. Temperate species available at nurseries include ''[[Ophrys apifera]]'' (bee orchid), ''[[Gymnadenia conopsea]]'' (fragrant orchid), ''[[Anacamptis pyramidalis]]'' (pyramidal orchid) and ''[[Dactylorhiza fuchsii]]'' (common spotted orchid).

Orchids of all types have also often been sought by collectors of both species and hybrids. Many hundreds of societies and clubs worldwide have been established. These can be small, local clubs, or larger, national organisations such as the [[American Orchid Society]]. Both serve to encourage cultivation and collection of orchids, but some go further by concentrating on conservation or research.

The term "botanical orchid" loosely denotes those small-flowered, tropical orchids belonging to several genera that do not fit into the "florist" orchid category. A few of these genera contain enormous numbers of species. Some, such as ''[[Pleurothallis]]'' and ''[[Bulbophyllum]]'', contain approximately 1700 and 2000 species, respectively, and are often extremely vegetatively diverse. The primary use of the term is among orchid hobbyists wishing to describe unusual species they grow, though it is also used to distinguish naturally occurring orchid species from horticulturally created [[hybrid (biology)|hybrids]].

New orchids are registered with the International Orchid Register, maintained by the [[Royal Horticultural Society]].{{sfn|RHS|2016}} Several thousand new [[Grex (horticulture)|grex]]es are registered each year.<ref name="sanders">{{cite book |title=Sander's List of Orchid Hybrids: 3 Year Addendum 2017-2019 |date=March 2021 |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |isbn=9781911666134}}</ref>

=== Food ===
{{further|Vanilla}}

[[File:Vanilla fragrans 4.jpg|thumb|right|Vanilla fruit drying]]

The dried seed pods of one orchid genus, ''[[Vanilla (genus)|Vanilla]]'' (especially ''[[Vanilla planifolia]]''), are commercially important as a flavouring in [[baking]], for [[perfume]] manufacture and [[aromatherapy]].

The underground tubers of terrestrial orchids [mainly ''[[Orchis mascula]]'' (early purple orchid)] are ground to a powder and used for cooking, such as in the hot beverage ''[[salep]]'' or in the [[Turkish cuisine|Turkish]] mastic ice cream ''[[dondurma]]''. The name ''salep'' has been claimed to come from the [[Arabic]] expression ''{{transl|ar|ḥasyu al-tha‘lab}}'', "fox testicles", but it appears more likely the name comes directly from the Arabic name ''{{transl|ar|saḥlab}}''. The similarity in appearance to testes naturally accounts for ''salep'' being considered an aphrodisiac.

The dried leaves of ''[[Jumellea fragrans]]'' are used to flavour rum on [[Reunion Island]].

Some saprophytic orchid species of the group ''[[Gastrodia]]'' produce potato-like tubers and were consumed as food by native peoples in [[Australia]] and can be successfully cultivated, notably ''[[Gastrodia sesamoides]]''. Wild stands of these plants can still be found in the same areas as early Aboriginal settlements, such as [[Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park]] in [[Australia]]. [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal peoples]] located the plants in habitat by observing where [[bandicoot]]s had scratched in search of the tubers after detecting the plants underground by scent.{{NoteTag|Early western district (Vic.) settler gives account of local Aboriginal people gathering potato orchid tubers, digging where bandicoots had scratched.<ref>{{cite book |last1 = Zola |first1 = Nellie |last2 = Gott |first2 = Beth |title = Koorie Plants, Koorie People: Traditional Aboriginal Food, Fibre and Healing Plants of Victoria |year = 1992 |publisher = Koorie Heritage Trust Incorporated |isbn=978-1-875606-10-8 |page=38 }}</ref>}}

== Cultural symbolism ==
Orchids have many associations with symbolic values. For example, the orchid is the City Flower of [[Shaoxing]], China. ''[[Cattleya mossiae]]'' is the national Venezuelan flower, while ''[[Cattleya trianae]]'' is the national flower of [[Colombia]]. [[Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim|''Vanda'' Miss Joaquim]] is the national flower of [[Singapore]], ''[[Guarianthe skinneri]]'' is the national flower of [[Costa Rica]] and ''[[Rhyncholaelia digbyana]]'' is the national flower of [[Honduras]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/simbolos/simb001.html |title = Simbolos Patrios |access-date = 2008-06-22 |language = es }}</ref> ''[[Prosthechea cochleata]]'' is the national flower of [[Belize]], where it is known as the ''black orchid''.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz/ab_symbols.html|title=National Symbols |publisher=Government of Belize |access-date=2008-04-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071012043935/http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz/ab_symbols.html |archive-date=12 October 2007 }}</ref> ''[[Lycaste skinneri]]'' has a white variety (alba) that is the national flower of [[Guatemala]], commonly known as ''Monja Blanca'' (White Nun). [[Panama]]'s national flower is the ''Holy Ghost orchid'' (''[[Peristeria elata]]''), or 'the flor del Espiritu Santo'. [[Rhynchostylis retusa|''Rhynchostylis'' ''retusa'']] is the state flower of the Indian state of [[Assam]] where it is known as ''Kopou Phul.''<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.assamyellowpage.com/ayp/list-assam-state-symbols-state-animal-state-flower-state-tree |title = List of Assam State Symbols {{!}} State Animal{{!}} State Flower {{!}} State Tree |date=2012-03-01 |website=assamyellowpage.com |language=en |access-date=2019-05-14 }}</ref>

Orchids native to the Mediterranean are depicted on the ''[[Ara Pacis]]'' in Rome, until now the only known instance of orchids in ancient art, and the earliest in European art.{{NoteTag|The symbolic (or even religious) meaning of the ''Ara Pacis'' orchids is not yet known.<ref>{{cite journal |first = Jarrett A. |last = Lobelli |year=2012 |title = The Emperor's orchids |journal=[[Archaeology (magazine)|Archaeology]] |volume=66 |issue=1 |page=16 |url = http://www.archaeology.org/1301/trenches/roman_ara_pacis_altar_flowers.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121217013248/http://www.archaeology.org/1301/trenches/roman_ara_pacis_altar_flowers.html |archive-date = 17 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}} A French writer and agronomist, [[Louis Liger]], invented a classical myth in his book ''Le Jardinier Fleuriste et Historiographe'' published in 1704, attributing it to the ancient Greeks and Romans, in which [[Orchis (mythology)|Orchis]] the son of a nymph and a satyr rapes a priestess of [[Dionysus|Bacchus]] during one of his festivals the Bacchanalia and is then killed and transformed into an orchid flower as punishment by the gods, paralleling the various myths of youths dying and becoming flowers, like [[Adonis]] and [[Narcissus (mythology)|Narcissus]]; this myth however does not appear any earlier than Liger, and is not part of traditional Greek and Roman mythologies.<ref>{{cite book | title = Orchid: A Cultural History | first = Jim | last = Endersby | publisher = [[University of Chicago Press]] | date = November 7, 2016 | location = Chicago, London | isbn = 978-0-226-37632-5 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bmgpDQAAQBAJ | pages = [https://books.google.com/books?id=bmgpDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA59 59]-[https://books.google.com/books?id=bmgpDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA60 60]}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="88px" caption="Some cultivars">
A and B Larsen orchids - Cattleya Mrs Mahler Mem Fred Tompkins 659-9.jpg|''Cattleya'' Mrs. Mahler 'Mem. Fred Tompkins'
File:A and B Larsen orchids - Cattleya Queen Sirikhit Diamond Crown DSCN4414.JPG|''Cattleya'' Queen [[Sirikit]] 'Diamond Crown'
A and B Larsen orchids - Cattleya Hawaiian Wedding Song Virgin 674-23.jpg|''Cattleya'' Hawaiian Wedding Song 'Virgin'
Blc Chia-lin.jpg|''Rhyncholaeliocattleya'' Chia Lin
<!-- File:Orchids in the Botanical Garden of Peradeniya 03.JPG -->
A and B Larsen orchids - Cattleya Hawaian Variable Prasan 336-2.jpg|''Cattleya'' Hawaiian Variable 'Prasan'
File:A and B Larsen orchids - Cattleya Barbara Belle DSCN8696.JPG|''Cattlianthe'' Barbara Belle
File:Cattleya Beaumesnil Parme 1001 Orchids.jpg|''Cattleya'' Beaumesnil 'Parme'
File:A and B Larsen orchids - Cattleya Chocolate Drop x Pao de Acucar 507-21.jpg|''Cattlianthe'' Chocolate Drop x ''Cattleya'' Pão de Açúcar
File:Cattleya Empress Frederick C mossiae.jpg|''[[Cattleya mossiae]]'' 'Empress Frederick'
File:Cattleya Hermine.jpg|'Hermine'
File:A and B Larsen orchids - Cattleya Little AngelDSCN3349.JPG|''Cattleya'' Little Angel
File:A and B Larsen orchids - Cattleya Marjorie Hausermann York 812-4.jpg|''Cattleya'' Marjorie Hausermann 'York'
File:A and B Larsen orchids - Cattleya Miva Breeze Alize 930-23.jpg|'Miva Breeze Alize'
File:Blc Nobiles carnival.jpg|''Rhyncholaeliocattleya'' 'Nobile's carnival'
File:Cattleya Pernell George Barnett "Yankee Clipper" (3072486817).jpg|''Cattleya'' Pernel George Barnett 'Yankee Clipper'
File:Cattleya Portia.jpg|''Cattlianthe'' Portia
</gallery>

==Conservation==
Almost all orchids are included in Appendix II of the [[CITES|Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species]] (CITES), meaning that international trade (including in their parts/derivatives) is regulated by the CITES permit system.<ref name=CITES_App>{{citation |title=The CITES Appendices |url=http://www.cites.org/eng/app/index.php |publisher=[[CITES]] |access-date=2012-04-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414034639/http://www.cites.org/eng/app/index.php |archive-date=2012-04-14 }}</ref> A smaller number of orchids such as ''Paphiopedilum'' sp. are listed in CITES Appendix I meaning that commercial international trade in wild-sourced specimens is prohibited and all other trade is strictly controlled.<ref name="CITES_App"/>

=== Assisted migration as conservation tool ===
In 2006 the [[Longtan Dam]] was constructed at the [[Hongshui River]], near the [[Yachang Orchid Nature Reserve]]. In response to threats of [[inundation]] of wild orchids at lower altitudes (350–400 m above sea level), 1000 endangered orchid plants of 16 genera and 29 species were translocated to higher elevation (approximately 1000 m above sea level). After relocation the 5 year survival of low and wide elevation species did not significantly differ and the mortality due to [[transplant shock]] was at only 10%. From this it was concluded that [[assisted migration]] might be a viable conservation tool for orchid species endangered by [[climate change]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Liu | first1 = Hong | last2 = Feng | first2 = Chang-Lin | last3 = Chen | first3 = Bao-Shan | last4 = Wang | first4 = Zhong-Sheng | last5 = Xie | first5 = Xiao-Qing | last6 = Deng | first6 = Zheng-Hai | last7 = Wei | first7 = Xin-Lian | last8 = Liu | first8 = Shi-Yong | last9 = Zhang | first9 = Zi-Bin | last10 = Luo | first10 = Yi-Bo | title = Overcoming extreme weather challenges: Successful but variable assisted colonization of wild orchids in southwestern China | journal = Biological Conservation | date = June 2012 | volume = 150 | issue = 1 | pages = 68–75 | issn = 0006-3207 | doi = 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.02.018 | pmid = | bibcode = 2012BCons.150...68L | url = https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320712001358}}</ref>

=== Toxicity ===
Plants in the genus ''[[Phalaenopsis]]'' are not toxic to pets, according to the [[American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phalaenopsis Orchid {{!}} ASPCA |url=https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/phalaenopsis-orchid |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=www.aspca.org |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=32em}}
* [[Adaptation (film)|''Adaptation'' (film)]], based on ''[[The Orchid Thief]]''
* [[Orchid Conservation Coalition]]
* [[Orchid Pavilion Gathering]]
* [[Orchidelirium]], the Victorian era of flower madness in which collecting and discovering orchids reached extraordinary levels
* [[Orchids of the Philippines]]
* [[Orchids of Western Australia]]
* [[Shangsi Festival]]
* [[Black rot on orchids]]
* [[List of taxa named after human genitals]]{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web|last1=RHS|author-link=Royal Horticultural Society|title=Search The International Orchid Register|url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/horticulturaldatabase/orchidregister/orchidregister.asp|publisher=[[Royal Horticultural Society]]|access-date=28 November 2017|date=2016}}
{{refend}}

== Documentaries ==
* 2017: ''Hidden Beauty – The Orchids of the Saale Valley'', directed by [[David Cebulla]]

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}

*{{inaturalist taxon|47217|Orchidaceae}}
*{{ThePlantList|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Orchidaceae/ |Orchidaceae}}
* [http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/orders/asparagalesweb.htm#Orchidaceae Orchidaceae] at the [http://www.mobot.org/mobot/research/apweb/ ''Angiosperm Phylogeny Website'']
* [http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2019/browse/classification/family/Orchidaceae/fossil/1/match/1 World checklist of Orchidaceae species from the Catalogue of Life], 29,572 species supplied by World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (R. Govaerts & al.)
* {{efloras|1|10638|Orchidaceae}}
* {{efloras|2|10638| Orchidaceae}}
* [http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=161 Orchidaceae] at the online [http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/index.php ''Flora of Zimbabwe'']
* [http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/22787 Orchidaceae] at the online [http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/ ''Flora of the Western Australian'']
* [http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/Taxon.aspx?id=_5200364d-6ee3-40d1-9031-4539ee3c4a22&fileName=Flora%202.xml Orchidaceae] at the online [http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/index.aspx ''Flora of New Zealand'']
* [http://www.epidendra.org/ The Global Orchid Information Network]
* [http://www.orchidconservationcoalition.org/ Orchid Conservation Coalition]
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Orchids |volume=20 |pages=170–172 |short=1}}
 
{{Angiosperm families}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q25308}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Orchids| ]]
[[Category:Extant Campanian first appearances]]

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Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation mode (view source) (extended confirmed protected)
Module:Clade (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Delink (view source) (protected)
Module:Disambiguation/templates (view source) (protected)
Module:EFloras (view source) (semi-protected)
Module:EFloras/data (view source) (semi-protected)
Module:EditAtWikidata (view source) (protected)
Module:Exponential search (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Footnotes (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Footnotes/anchor id list (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Footnotes/anchor id list/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Footnotes/whitelist (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Format link (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote list (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:IPAc-en (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:IPAc-en/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:IPAc-en/phonemes (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:IPAc-en/pronunciation (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Icon (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Icon/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:If empty (view source) (protected)
Module:InfoboxImage (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Italic title (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Labelled list hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/ISO 639 synonyms (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/data/iana languages (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/data/iana regions (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/data/iana scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/data/iana suppressed scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/data/iana variants (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:MultiReplace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/disambiguation (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/rfd (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/setindex (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/softredirect (view source) (protected)
Module:ResolveEntityId (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Module:Side box (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Side box/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:TableTools (view source) (protected)
Module:TaxonItalics (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Taxonbar (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Taxonbar/candidate (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Taxonbar/conf (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Taxonbar/exists (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Taxonbar/whitelist (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Template redirect regex (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Template wrapper (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unicode data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unicode data/scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:Webarchive (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Webarchive/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WikidataIB (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WikidataIB/nolinks (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WikidataIB/titleformats (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Wikitext Parsing (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

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