Secrets of the orchid
The orchid is the most famous plant family, from the Phalaenopsis to the Dendrobium, everyone is familiar them. And although this plant is so well-known, it also carries many secrets. Let's take a closer look at the orchid with these 'did you know' facts. How many of these did you already know?
Did you know...
• Vanilla comes from an orchid? This variety, the Vanilla Planifolia, produces fruits similar to green beans. When dried, they can be used as vanilla pods.
• The seeds of some orchids are as small as dust? Because the seeds are so tiny, these plants produce millions of small seeds per seed pod that are dispersed by the wind.
• The orchid is the largest family of flowering plants? Currently, more than 26,000 species are currently known, but this number is still growing every day.
• These flowering plants grow all over the world? From tropical rainforests to arid plains and even in the rainy Netherlands. The only continent where orchids do not grow is Antarctica.
• The orchid existed before the continents split? That is why these plants can be found all over the world. Thanks to fossils, the age of the orchid is estimated at 120 million years!
• The smallest orchid is the size of a dime? In contrast, the largest variety weighs as much as two tonnes and has flower stems that are up to two metres long.