Popular Orchids
The Orchid family is the largest family of flowering plants. There are over 25.000 species and more than 10.000 hybrids and cultivars. About 800 new orchid species are added each year.
Orchids are generally characterized by the flowers which have five distinct petals and a protruding lip. Many popular orchids are "epiphytic" - growing attached to trees or rocks, deriving their water and nutrients from the air and surrounding environment.
Orchids occur almost everywhere except deserts and glaciers. The great majority are found in the tropics, mostly Asia, South America and Central America. They also exist above the Artic Circle, in southern Patagonia and even on Macquarie Island, close to Antarctica. Some of the more popular epiphytic orchids grown by enthusiasts include: