The Beautiful Shapes of the Orchid Flower Of all the many plant families that exist on earth, the orchid family may be the largest, with over 25,000 different types of orchids named in it. They are not only diverse, but also possess a beauty rarely matched in the world of flora.
They are also used in art, design, medicine and cooking, and they are always stunning to behold. These photos capture only a tiny number of the varieties this family offers, but each is beautiful in its own right. *Monkey Face Orchid* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/a03b9e17-d7b6-4d93-902a-955596f9825a.jpg> Source <http://www.documentingreality.com/forum/attachments/f241/434836d1362928079-monkey-orchids-monkey-2.jpg> Some orchids can be eaten and in fact, vanilla is in the orchid family, so it's a safe bet that you've eaten orchids before. *Ghost Orchid* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/110deba7-72f8-4bea-afcc-15b21b33e473.jpg> Source <http://theoberports.com/maria-aarons-rare-ghost-orchid/> Orchids thrive in a number of environments, depending on the type. Some breeds grow on rocks, some only underground, some in the soil, but most - grow on other plants and on trees. *Flying Duck Orchid* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/e67c71d8-9cc4-4acb-a3dc-4bf56b03cc62.jpg> <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/e67c71d8-9cc4-4acb-a3dc-4bf56b03cc62.jpg> Like <http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18288&memberid=932761#like> Source <http://hdwallpaperslist.com/flying-duck-orchid-pictures/> "If I see an orchid that's fantastically expensive, I'll buy it. It's worth it, for no other reason than it gives me pleasure." *Lee Radziwill* *Tropical Lady’s Slipper Orchid* - Advertisement - [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/f6b5b97f-5b3b-4457-add9-b7b5bfd99a62.jpg> Source <http://ria555.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/phragmipedium-orchid-anggrek-kantong-semar/> *Bartholina ethelae* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/276c4295-a195-470c-982b-152218c066dd.jpg> Source <http://orquideasamil.blogspot.com/2011/11/bartholina-um-genero-sensacional.html> Orchids can be found pretty much anywhere around the world except for Antarctica. They can even be found growing in the arctic circle. How amazing! *The Naked Man Orchid* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/af75f9cd-d756-4677-a1a9-9ddcff1fbc2b.jpg> Source <http://www.panoramio.com/photo/90040968> *Butterfly Orchid* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/b78df9a1-c470-422d-bf9f-74a55d043760.jpg> <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/b78df9a1-c470-422d-bf9f-74a55d043760.jpg> Like <http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18288&memberid=932761#like> Source <http://www.flickr.com/photos/cbcastro/3369052319/> *Masdevallia Caudivolvula* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/7f179d44-dd28-4283-9aeb-ddd340d8f40e.jpg> Source <https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/3331950539/in/photostream/> Orchids may be one of the largest families of plants, but their seeds are some of the smallest, most no bigger than a speck of dust. *Dracula vampira* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/44f41887-fb9b-4b9f-ac9e-d5f183df2b92.jpg> Source <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dracula_vampira_3.jpg> *Burana Angel* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/45d1013a-0b85-4435-91a4-b4250b2dd7f9.jpg> Source <http://orchids.wikia.com/wiki/File:Pot.Burana_Angel_Hysing.jpg> Researchers have found evidence that orchids are as old as some dinosaurs, appearing over 120 million years ago. Now that's a rich family history. *Rothschild’s Slipper Orchid* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/e1a0ca39-8aac-419f-a476-cc0ce0fc21d3.jpg> <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/e1a0ca39-8aac-419f-a476-cc0ce0fc21d3.jpg> Like <http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18288&memberid=932761#like> Source <http://www.slippertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31882&page=2> While most orchids are common and cheap, the Rothschild's Slipper orchid (shown above) can only be grown in Malaysia and usually goes for about $5,000 a stem. *White Egret Orchid* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/5f1fec7e-fc4c-4c6e-ba5a-04d047b549a7.jpg> Source <http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t11665-our-japanese-white-egret-orchid-in-flower> *Dendrobium Tobaense* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/13c5e505-8edc-49a9-9074-c9cb69f1814e.jpg> <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/13c5e505-8edc-49a9-9074-c9cb69f1814e.jpg> Like <http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18288&memberid=932761#like> Source <http://aros.asso.fr/web/home.php?theme=1&page=6> *Carousel Spider Orchid* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/ba8792dd-8c4f-4760-abd5-28c1683361f1.jpg> Source <http://www.chidgilovitz.com/spring-wildflowers-part-1/> *Brassavola digbyana* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/539b1307-0543-46e5-adf9-85329e20e34a.jpg> Source <http://www.infojardin.com/foro/showthread.php?t=182786&page=33> Among the many, many breeds of orchids, there is one that only blooms at night, with the flower dying by morning. Such a short, beautiful bloom. Perhaps representing short lived love? *Bulbophyllum Medusae* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/c9e5fba0-3ebe-444b-a42d-d2752b3fb493.jpg> Source <https://www.flickr.com/photos/hiram67/8031327538/in/photostream/> *Bulbophyllum Falcatum* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/647c9e54-2bad-4183-9cdc-ad1df6fc3203.jpg> <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/647c9e54-2bad-4183-9cdc-ad1df6fc3203.jpg> Like <http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18288&memberid=932761#like> [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/6d19af4c-ab1b-4bb8-9bd0-ac812d8127d0.jpg> Source <http://www.mvorchideje.cz/WEB_STRANKY/Bulbophyllum_falcatum.html> The ancient Aztecs would use orchids as glue by smashing them into a powder and mixing them with water. *Veitch's Masdevallia* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/768cc768-2d36-4d4f-b64c-b4aa73513664.jpg> <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/768cc768-2d36-4d4f-b64c-b4aa73513664.jpg> Like <http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18288&memberid=932761#like> Source <http://darwinsorchids.blogspot.com/2011/09/masdevallia-veitchiana.html> *Another variety of slipper orchid * [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/6d0ade91-aa78-41a8-89e4-d57f93b3802f.jpg> Source <http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinay/3370782244/> *Bulbophyllum Plumatum * [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/105fbd25-1a94-4671-81f9-96dd924d00b2.jpg> <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/105fbd25-1a94-4671-81f9-96dd924d00b2.jpg> Like <http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18288&memberid=932761#like> Source <http://www.infojardin.com/foro/showthread.php?t=110983&page=10> If you want to grow orchids yourselves, a word of warning - you'll need immense patience, as it can take up to 8 years for the flowers to grow. *Another Butterfly Orchid* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/bc3aa203-4608-4270-85a4-eb1d829eddd7.jpg> Source <http://darwinsorchids.blogspot.com/2011/10/psychopsis-sanderae.html> *Lepanthes Calodictyon * [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/9de8e6ea-9841-4999-bd77-f5be21eaa973.jpg> <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/9de8e6ea-9841-4999-bd77-f5be21eaa973.jpg> Like <http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18288&memberid=932761#like> Source <http://www.mvorchideje.cz/WEB_STRANKY/Bulbophyllum_falcatum.html> Orchids developed smart. Some of them actually resemble the females of certain bug species in order to entice males to visit and help with pollination. Some wasps fall so hard for this trick they actually 'have sex' with the orchid. *Bee Orchid * [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/e795fb93-2d57-4ae7-8888-9d709e4672b3.jpg> Source <http://thmcf.wordpress.com/tag/heteroptera-recording-scheme/> *Restrepia Guttulata* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/de46824f-acb5-4e57-ad1e-ff1c5a567266.jpg> <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/de46824f-acb5-4e57-ad1e-ff1c5a567266.jpg> Like <http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18288&memberid=932761#like> Source <https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlosvelezdevilla/4327579534> The orchid seeds don't have enough energy to grow by themselves, so they make use of fungus to gain the energy they need to grow and flourish. *Lepanthes gratiosa* [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/c50805d4-c720-4304-a7a5-cc38e8ab8c5a.jpg> <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/c50805d4-c720-4304-a7a5-cc38e8ab8c5a.jpg> Like <http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18288&memberid=932761#like> Source <http://www.flickr.com/photos/pontus_aratoun/6267950778/> Some orchids can live to be 100 years old! [image: beautiful orchids] <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/159ac5aa-82be-4dc5-8006-ece1a6ba7c26.jpg> <http://en.bcdn.biz/Images/2014/8/26/159ac5aa-82be-4dc5-8006-ece1a6ba7c26.jpg> Like <http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18288&memberid=932761#like> Source <http://www.flickr.com/photos/pontus_aratoun/6267951990/in/photostream/> In short, orchids are one of the most amazing plant families, so diverse, beautiful and interesting. From 2mm wide flowerets up to 30 inches long - this is one of my favorite flowers. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
