Outstanding Orchids

Most people know orchids as a popular house plant, recognizable for their bright colors and unique shapes. What many don't realize, however, is that there are currently between 20,000 and 30,000 known types of orchids across the world, each having their own unique look, color, and life cycle. As the second most diverse plant family on the planet behind asters (or daisies), they can be found in all different climates and terrains. They're even able to grow in the Arctic!

Despite finding strength in numbers, most orchids are unable to pollinate or germinate themselves. Instead, they rely on insects, birds, and fungi for key reproductive processes. Because of this, many orchid species have evolved to attract pollinators and to coexist with fungi, ensuring they reproduce.

Clever Disguises

Some orchids use clever disguises to attract hoverflies or ants. The Epipactis consimilis, for example, mimics the look of aphids on its surface to attract hoverflies in the hope they'll lay eggs on the flower. This process will pollinate the flower while the hoverfly drinks nectar from the orchid in return. The hoverfly also has the opportunity to eat any actual aphids on the orchid, providing free pest control for the flower, a win-win!

Irresistible Perfumes

Other types of orchids produce perfumes or aromatic droplets to attract pollinators. Male bees come searching for the orchid's scent in hopes of the scent rubbing off on them. These fragrance droplets help bees attract their own mates. As the bees coat themselves in the aroma, pollen from their legs rubs off onto the flower. The scent produced by the orchids is also known to have an intoxicating effect on the bees, making it so they clumsily bump against the flower multiple times. This helps to increase the chance of pollination.

A Symbiotic Relationship with Fungi

Orchids also rely on fungi to help them conserve water, fertilize roots, and germinate seeds. This is done through a symbiotic relationship with a fungus called mycorrhizae fungi which grows partially within the orchid's roots. They help the plant to absorb water, carbon, and other minerals from the soil in exchange for sugars gained from photosynthesis. When the orchid is ready to germinate its seeds, it begins to feed on the fungi for nutrients. In this stage, the relationship becomes almost parasitic as the orchid takes much more from the fungus than the fungus does from it. While it may sound a little creepy, mycorrhizae fungi is not completely eradicated or "eaten" every time. It still receives sugars from the orchid and is never consumed enough to warrant retreat.

See Them at Butterfly Pavilion

Butterfly Pavilion has installed a temporary orchid display in our butterfly conservatory to celebrate these fascinating flowers. Here you can see six different types of orchids, each unique in their size, shape, color, and scent. Visitors can observe them in bloom and see them pollinated in real time by our vast array of butterflies. Experience these incredibly beautiful and diverse flowers before it's too late!