Orchids are sensuous, delicate flowers which provide a beauty so stunning they rarely seem real. The subject of paintings and photographs, the providers of vanilla, these plants do nothing but bring beauty into the world. Broad oval shaped petals are common on many varieties, though some also have spiky petals. These petals splay out symmetrically, with one much smaller petal, looking like a lower lip, poking down from the center. The scent of many orchids is a heady, spicy one; its luscious tones are used in many perfumes. Part of the allure of this plant lies in its origins. The thought of orchids growing high among trees in the rainforest, or in other tropical climates makes them seem very exotic and desirable. Collecting and growing specimens of orchids used to be a hobby of the very wealthy, but now orchids are enjoyed by all.
Because they are so desirable, new species are constantly being produced at a rate of about 800 new species per year! All total there are over 24,000 accepted species and over 800 genera within the Orchidaceous family, making this the largest flowering plant family in existence. Orchidaceous is a diverse family as well, growing in different ways all over the world. Although they are not prolific in the Polar Regions, four species have actually been found north of the Arctic Circle. These plants grow on the ground in some regions, but grow on trees and rocks as well. They are non-parasitic, only using these trees as bases. Some vines are very long (over 30 feet) and produce huge leaves and blooms the size of salad plates. Others are much smaller with tiny, lovely blooms. Above all, the orchid is an ingenious pollinator. Some plants produce odors that smell like female honey bees in order to make themselves attractive to the male bees. Other species actually smell horribly, like rotting flesh, to attract flies and other insects to do the job. They come in every color imaginable; reds, purples, pinks, whites, yellows, magentas and oranges only hint at the variety available.
Orchids are grown all over the world for ornamentation in gardens and arrangements. They are a favorite for modern arrangements as well as a traditional choice for corsages. Orchids have also become a multi-million dollar industry due to their production of vanilla. Only two of the 24,000 plus species of orchids actually produce the seed pods commonly called 'vanilla beans'. These vanilla (the term is derived from the Spanish word meaning 'little sheath') beans were discovered by Spaniards in Mexico and brought back to Europe. In Mexico their pollination occurs naturally by native bees. Vanilla bean producing orchids are also grown in Madagascar, Indonesia, Tonga, Tahiti, and Mauritius, but here their pollination must be done manually. Vanilla beans are a difficult commodity to produce because of this need for hand pollination, and because of the curing process, which takes many months. This procedure involves multiple drying times in the sun, and then multiple drying times with the beans packed away in the evenings. This process, and the unmistakably different look of orchids, makes these flowers continue to be seen as valuable and precious.