Morphology of the Orchids

In various aspects of the vegetative as well as the floral characters, orchids are, to say the least ,extraordinary . The peculiarities in vegetative habits are modifications in response to the epiphytic mode of life adopted by the majority of today’s orchid species , while the peculiarities noticed in the floral construction are helpful in promoting insect pollination. Presence of as pseudobulb for storage of water and nutrients ,velamen roots which are specially adapted for absorbing moisture from the atmosphere, mycorrhizal fungi residing inside the roots , an attractive labellum which is a modified petal , the unique structure called the gynostegium situated in the centre of the flower, pollinia which are consolidated masses of pollen grains , minute, dustlike seeds which are entirely devoid of endosperm tissue-all these are characters which go to make the specially interesting group of plants that they are .

Growing Habits

Orchids have widely varying habits to accommodate to the type of environment in which they exist . They may be terrestrial , epiphytic of saprophytic .