orchid
/ˈɔːkɪd
/noun
A plant with complex flowers that are often showy or bizarrely shaped, having a large specialized lip (labellum) and frequently a spur. Orchids occur worldwide, especially as epiphytes in tropical forests, and are valuable hothouse plants.
- Family Orchidaceae: numerous genera and species.
- Flowering epiphytes - bromeliads, orchids and cacti - are presented most commonly.
- Because orchids are primarily tropical epiphytes and small herbs, they do not have a fossil record.
Derivatives
orchidist
- The prospective orchidist will want to have a general knowledge of the orchid family and a survey of the individual members with whom he may want later to become more closely acquainted.
orchidology
- John Lindley is known as the greatest orchidologist of the nineteenth century, a time when the interest in this huge group of plants was intense.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from modern Latin Orchid(ac)eae, formed irregularly from Latin orchis (see orchis).