I feel it s time to speak out in defense of orchid enthusiasts everywhere. In case you think I might be a fanatic about orchids, let me reassure you. But I digress. All have their points of interest. Many are beautiful, and some are extremely rare.
Orchids show great structural variety, especially in their modified petals or lips.
They use intriguing mechanisms to attract insects and display endless ingenuity in ensuring these creatures do the job of pollinating them. He s been used, and he s out of there without a taste of nectar before he knows what hit him. An orchid s subtle or sometimes heady scent is geared to a very specific insect. This, combined with its long spur, might lead you to believe that its natural pollinator is a night-flying moth but with orchids, appearances can be deceptive. Orchids constitute one of the largest plant families, with approximately 20,000 species worldwide.