NOAA An Hawaiian orchid

There are two types of orchids: terrestrial orchids and epiphytes. Terrestrial orchids, grow on the ground, while epiphytes establish themselves on trees. At one stage it was thought that these epiphyte orchids were parasitic. However, we now know that not to be the case. Some orchids may be attached to trees, but their roots are still free standing and draw nourishment from the air, rainwater and loose decaying vegetable matter rather then the tree itself. Most popular orchids grown today are hybrid species, creating by plant breeders in their hundreds of thousands. These "new" species may be the result of crossing two related species, or from three to four different genera.

Here are some orchid pictures courtesy of Flowerpictures.net for your delectation!

'The Orchid Thief' goes beyond all the technical stuff though. Because it is fundamentally a story about how it is possible to become slavishly obsessed with orchids. In the book Susan Orlean follows John Laroche, a man

Cattleya

Brother Fancy Free

Ladies Slipper Orchid

arrested for stealing rare orchids from a wild swamp and nature reserve in Southern Florida. And in the process she tells the story of orchids down the years, and investigates the sub-culture of intrigue, passion and obsession that surrounds these flowers. It is a real page-turner and a cracking good read regardless of how green-fingered you are!

Copyright - Stuart Brown