The roots of orchids are unique in the plant kingdom. They are thick and mostly white, but are not produced with the same abundance as in other plants.
The chain may divide when two or more growths develop from the last pseudobulb in one year. This is how large clumps can form over several years. It is difficult to make comparisons with other structures and plants. A pseudobulb is unlike a daffodil or an onion bulb, which consists of a layer of sheafs, or false leaf bases, one on top of the other. It is also unlike a potato, which is a starchy, tuberous structure.
Perhaps the closest is the creeping rhizome formed by members of the Iris family. Inside, a pseudobulb consists of a fibrous material that can hold a great deal of water, conserving energy and storing moisture. In the wild, this ensures that the plant can survive periods of drought during the dry season. In cultivation, the dry season is represented by winter, when the plant goes into a semi-dormant state until the longer days of spring activate new growth.
Most orchid roots will remain in the container but, being naturally aerial, will often extend over the rim of the pot and continue to grow, suspended in air, or by attaching themselves to any surface they touch. The roots are not permanent structures but are made annually, sprouting from the base some time after the start of the new growth.
The leaves contain chlorophyll, which enables the plant to photosynthesize sunlight into energy. Some of the terrestrial orchids exist for long periods without leaves, producing foliage for only a short time during the growing season. A few orchids, such as Rhizanthella species, are subterranean, without any green parts, relying entirely on the microscopic fungus with which they form a symbiotic relationship. The nutrients that the orchid requires are provided by the fungus.
Some leafless monopodial orchids exist, such as Chilochista species, that are no more than a cluster of roots, and it is the roots that contain the chlorophyll to enable the plants to photosynthesize. A few orchids have thick hairs on both sides of the foliage.
The purpose of this is not fully understood, but it may be that they are a protection from insects or a means of preventing water lying on the foliage, which could be detrimental on cold nights. Other monopodials, including vandas, have leaf tips that are serrated; these enable the plant to dispose of any excess moisture taken up through the roots.
Some orchids, such as Trichotosia ferox, produce plants covered with fine, brown hair, the purpose of which is not fully understood. It is thought that the hairs may provide a layer of protection in cold climates. The stems, new shoots and base of the flower buds of Dendrobium infundibulum are covered with thick, black hairs, creating a rough surface. As the new growth starts to age, the hairs become less apparent. - 15266
The chain may divide when two or more growths develop from the last pseudobulb in one year. This is how large clumps can form over several years. It is difficult to make comparisons with other structures and plants. A pseudobulb is unlike a daffodil or an onion bulb, which consists of a layer of sheafs, or false leaf bases, one on top of the other. It is also unlike a potato, which is a starchy, tuberous structure.
Perhaps the closest is the creeping rhizome formed by members of the Iris family. Inside, a pseudobulb consists of a fibrous material that can hold a great deal of water, conserving energy and storing moisture. In the wild, this ensures that the plant can survive periods of drought during the dry season. In cultivation, the dry season is represented by winter, when the plant goes into a semi-dormant state until the longer days of spring activate new growth.
Most orchid roots will remain in the container but, being naturally aerial, will often extend over the rim of the pot and continue to grow, suspended in air, or by attaching themselves to any surface they touch. The roots are not permanent structures but are made annually, sprouting from the base some time after the start of the new growth.
The leaves contain chlorophyll, which enables the plant to photosynthesize sunlight into energy. Some of the terrestrial orchids exist for long periods without leaves, producing foliage for only a short time during the growing season. A few orchids, such as Rhizanthella species, are subterranean, without any green parts, relying entirely on the microscopic fungus with which they form a symbiotic relationship. The nutrients that the orchid requires are provided by the fungus.
Some leafless monopodial orchids exist, such as Chilochista species, that are no more than a cluster of roots, and it is the roots that contain the chlorophyll to enable the plants to photosynthesize. A few orchids have thick hairs on both sides of the foliage.
The purpose of this is not fully understood, but it may be that they are a protection from insects or a means of preventing water lying on the foliage, which could be detrimental on cold nights. Other monopodials, including vandas, have leaf tips that are serrated; these enable the plant to dispose of any excess moisture taken up through the roots.
Some orchids, such as Trichotosia ferox, produce plants covered with fine, brown hair, the purpose of which is not fully understood. It is thought that the hairs may provide a layer of protection in cold climates. The stems, new shoots and base of the flower buds of Dendrobium infundibulum are covered with thick, black hairs, creating a rough surface. As the new growth starts to age, the hairs become less apparent. - 15266