1. Orchid is the Source of Vanilla
The well-known flavoring, vanilla, is extracted from two orchid species, Vanilla planifolia and Vanilla tahitensis. They produce a fruit that contains vanilla beans. These beans are then dried, cured, and processed to create a unique flavour used in many desserts and perfumes. However, the process of extracting vanilla beans from an orchid is laborious as it can take up to nine months for the vanilla beans to reach maturity.
2. Orchids Can Live for Hundreds of Years
In general, orchids have the ability to live indefinitely as long as their main structure remains intact. As a matter of fact, many orchid plants, with proper care and growing conditions, can have a lifespan of over a hundred years or more. For example, one of the oldest known orchids in the world, the tiger orchid, is in Singapore’s Botanic Gardens. The orchid is estimated to be over 220 years old and is still blooming. However, certain factors can threaten the growth and survival of orchids, and these can vary depending on their species.
3. Orchids Can Mimic The Appearance of Insects
Orchids have the ability to mimic the appearance of insects due to the unique shape of their flowers. Some orchid species, known as fly orchids, bee orchids, and spider orchids, have evolved to develop flowers that resemble female pollinating insects, such as bees or wasps, to attract males of the same species to pollinate their flowers. This allows orchids to deceive the pollinators into thinking they have found a mate or a food source, and in doing so, the orchid successfully reproduces through the transfer of its pollen.