Common Orchid Groups  Phalaenopsis – most in cultivation/homes  Cattleya, incl. Cattleya Alliance (relatives)  “Corsage orchids”  Laelia, Brassia, Oncidium, Brassavola and more  Cymbidium orchids  Cut flowers, also “corsage orchids”  Dendrobium – 2nd largest group of orchids  common house plant  with ‘mentum’ (nectar pocket)  Bulbophyllum – largest group of orchids  Lady’s Slippers - shoe-shaped ROGH Docent Program http://everything-orchids.com/types-of-orchids Module 2: Orchid Groups Common Orchid Groups

ROGH Docent Program Photo credits: C. Bracker, lower right.; center: D. Reichard; All others: C. LeBlanc Module 2: Orchid Groups Phalaenopsis – Moth Orchid • Only about 60 orchid species • Native to southeast Asia to the Philippines & northern Australia. • Named for similarity to large moths in flight. • Most popular in the orchid trade, with 1000s of easily grown artificial hybrids

ROGH Docent Program Module 2: Orchid Groups Photo credits: top, & right: C. LeBlanc; left: D. Reichard Cattleyas – Corsage Orchid  Some of the most showy orchids  #3 largest group of orchids  1,200+ species in related genera  Cattleyas & relatives (Alliance: Brassia, Encyclia, Epidendrum)  Only about 30 Cattleya species  From Mexico, Central & South America  Cattleya Alliance species used to create many spectacular orchid hybrids ROGH Docent Program Module 2: Orchid Groups Photo credits: upper : C. LeBlanc; lower: B. Daughtery Cymbidium • Big, showy and long-lasting flowers.

• Pink, yellow, green, red, brown, peach or combination colored flowers

• Last 4 – 8 weeks as cut flowers, if you change water daily and cut back the bottom of the spike

• Often grown outdoors until late Photo credits: top & left, D. October. Many artificial hybrids Reichard; Right: C. LeBlanc ROGH Docent Program Module 2: Orchid Groups Dendrobiums  #2 largest Genus - 1,200+ species  From SE Asia and Australia  Dendron (Greek for ‘tree’), bios (‘life’)  Mentum (projection)  Wide variety of habitats  Dormancy in dry season  Flowers open 1 day - many weeks  Some Asian species used in traditional medicines

ROGH DocentHeavily Program used in hybrid breeding and cut flower trade Photo credit: top right: C. Bracker Module 2: Orchid Groups Bulbophyllums  #1 largest Genus - over 2,800 species  From Papua New Guinea, S. Asia, Madagascar, Africa, S. America  Bulbo (‘bulb-like’) and phyllum (‘leaf’) refers to pseudobulb  Wide variety of habitats  Many fly-pollinated species (fetid) ROGH Docent Program Module 2: Orchid Groups Photo credits: lower right: D. Reichard; all others: C. LeBlanc Lady’s Slippers  Slipper-shaped pouches (modified lip)  Found in Asia, Central America and North America  Pouch - temporary insect trap  Often in fragile habitats (rocky slopes, wetlands)  Paphiopedilum (Asia), Phragmipedium (C. Amer.), & Cypripedium (N. Amer.)

ROGH Docent Program ` Module 2: Orchid Groups Photo credits: top: C. LeBlanc; left: D. Reichard; left: S. Verhoorn More Genera  Brassavola - Cattleya Alliance  Brassia - Cattleya Alliance, Spider orchid  Encyclia - Cattleya Alliance Miltonia  Epidendrum - Cattleya Alliance  Masdevallia – Pleurothallis-relative, cool grower Vanda  Maxillaria - ex: coconut orchid  Miltonia – Pansy Orchid  Odontoglossum - showy flowers, cool Oncidium  Oncidium – Dancing Dolls; Cattleya Alliance  Vanilla - edible pods ROGH Docent Program Module 2: Orchid Groups  Zygopetalum - Brazilian, cool growers, fragrant http://everything-orchids.com/types-of-orchids Other Genera  Angraecum - with nectar spurs  Dendrochilum – Australia, long chains of flowers  Pleurothallis & relatives  “lung leaf”  Flowers from middle of leaf Angraecum Pleurothallis  Most from cloud forest regions  Vanda Vanda  Native to far East  Flowers large, long lasting  Leaves thick and from one central stem; thick aerial roots Dendrochilum ROGH Docent Program Module 2: Orchid Groups Photo credit: C. Bracker