Orchid Leaves

Leaves in orchids conform to the usual monocotyledonous pattern . In terrestrial forms, it is either long and plicate , or short , elliptic oblong or linear ovate , but always with sheathing bases . In rare cases like Habenaria crassifolia , Nervilia etc. leaves may be orbicular . The jewel orchids Anoectochilus , Haemaria etc., have velvety leaves with silver or golden veins providing beautiful ornamentations .

In epiphytic species ,leaves like are thick and coriaceous , intended to prevent high water loss. In many of the evergreen species , they serve the purpose of storage organs as in terete-leaved Vandas, Diplocentrum , Saccolabium filiforme , Aerides cylindircum etc. In Cymbidium , leaves are long , linear and ensiform , often reaching a length of half a metre . In Oberonia and Podochilus , leaves are laterally compressed and succulent . In Chiloschista and Taeniophyllum , they are much reduced in size and are deciduous . Here the stem is also greatly reduced from which thick succulent green roots spread like the tentacles of an octopus in all directions . These roots take up the function of the leaves , synthesizing starch by photosynthesis .