The Allure of Orchids A BOTANICAL WONDERLAND The Orchidaceae family is the largest in the plant kingdom, with estimates of nearly 30,000 species and counting, and that’s without including the more than 100,000 artificial hybrids. From the brilliant and tropical Cattleya orchids to the delicate and alpine Calypso orchids, these plants are as diverse as they as fascinating.
The Most Expensive Orchid in the World
The Rothschild's slipper orchid, also known as the Gold of Kinabalu, is a botanical jewel native only to the low slopes of Mount Kinabalu in North Borneo at an altitude of 500-1200 meters. The Largest Orchid in the World The tiger orchid is the largest orchid species in the world, with their flower stalks growing up to six feet long! The Smallest Orchid in the World Found in Brazil, the Campylocentrum insulare measures only .5 millimeters across and was originally believed to be a fungus until it was studied under a microscope.
Orchidelirium refers to a time in the Victorian era when the upper class was obsessed with collecting and discovering rare orchids. A single orchid pod holds millions of seeds, with only a small fraction becoming mature plants. Some orchids can bloom for months, while others only bloom for a few short hours. It takes orchids at least 5-7 years before they have their first flower. Orchid blossoms appear in almost every imaginable color except for true black.
30 Essential Living
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