Читать книгу Orchids For Dummies - The Editors of the National Gardening Association, Steven A. Frowine - Страница 13

About 80 percent of orchids are from the tropics in both the New World (mostly Central and South America) and the Old World (Asia and Africa). A smattering of mostly hardy orchids can be found in countries with more temperate climates.

The ones that grow in your home, though, are all tropical or semitropical origin. They mostly hail from areas of high rainfall and humidity and enjoy tropical to above-freezing temperatures during the winter.

Orchids are divided into two major categories based on where they grow:

 Epiphytes: They’re commonly found clinging to branches of trees. Epiphytes have thick roots (called aerial roots because they’re frequently suspended in the air), which are covered with a silvery material called velamen, which can absorb moisture from the air like a sponge (see Figure 1-2).

 Semiterrestrials and terrestrials: They thrive growing on or in the ground. Many of the terrestrial roots are hairy, like those found in the slipper orchid (see Figure 1-3).

© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

FIGURE 1-2: Epiphytic orchids have thick roots covered with silver velamen.

© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

FIGURE 1-3: Terrestrial and semiterrestrial orchids, like most slipper orchids, frequently have hairy roots.