Orchid is a popular houseplant with bright and large flowers, a frequent inhabitant of window sills in apartments for home gardening enthusiasts. However, few people know how orchids grow in the wild.
Instructions
Step 1
It is widely believed that orchids grow exclusively in tropical forests, but this is not the case. The orchid is a fairly hardy plant, it is able to live in various climatic zones with the exception of areas that are too dry and cold. However, the greatest variety of species of these outlandish flowers can actually be observed in tropical and monsoon forests, where ideal conditions are provided for them - high humidity, constant air circulation and protection from direct sunlight. Orchids are found on all continents except Antarctica. Representatives of 49 orchid genera can be found in Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union.
Step 2
Many orchid species are epiphytes that inhabit tree trunks. However, you should not confuse them with parasites - orchids do not use the nutrients of trees, they only serve them as a support, and rotted leaves and remains of insects are enough for the flowers to obtain energy. Also, these beautiful, but by no means pampered plants are able to settle in crevices of rocks, cracks in rocks and just on the ground. Some orchid species are able to withstand quite harsh conditions.
Step 3
In the course of evolution, orchids have developed many adaptations that make life easier for them in the wild. Thick, fleshy leaves allow flowers to retain much-needed moisture during dry periods and survive it safely. The numerous roots of epiphytic orchids help them to hold on to the support and at the same time intensively absorb water due to the modernization of the integumentary tissue. And wonderful flowers attract not only people, but also bees. Some orchid species have gone further and developed pollinating links with mosquitoes, flies, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and even bats, depending on the region of growth and the representatives of the animal world that inhabit it.
